What processor temperature is considered normal for a computer?

What is the safe and normal temperature range for a CPU? Join us as we show Intel and AMD processors during idle, normal, and maximum load.

All temperatures listed on this page are for processors running at default (not overclocked) with proprietary coolers. To give you a better idea of ​​the operating times of Intel and AMD processors, we have included their temperatures at different usage levels:

• Idle temperature - computer idling on Windows desktop (no windows or programs open)
• Normal temperature - computer during heavy use (gaming, video editing, virtualization, etc.)
• Maximum Temperature - The maximum safe processor temperature recommended by Intel or AMD

Most processors will begin to throttle (lower their clock speed to cut down on heat) when they reach 95 - 105°C. If the temperature rises any further, the CPU will shut down to avoid permanent damage.

We recommend that you measure temperatures for your own processor and compare them with the values ​​below.

Intel Processor Temperatures - Idle, Normal, and Maximum Load

Intel CPU Temps - Kaby Lake

*Core i3-7350K, Core i5-7600K and Core i7-7700K do not come with Intel coolers. To get their idle and normal temperature range, we combined temperature readings from a low-end air cooler (Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) and a high-end liquid cooler (Corsair H100i v2).

Intel CPU Temps - Skylake

*Core i5-6600K and Core i7-6700K do not come with Intel coolers. To get their idle and normal temperature range, we combined temperature readings from a low-end air cooler (Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO) and a high-end liquid cooler (Corsair H100i GTX).

Intel CPU Temps - Haswell

Intel CPU Temps - Ivy Bridge

Intel CPU Temps - Sandy Bridge

Standards for different loads

PC temperature monitoring should record the following average values ​​in different situations:

• No more than 45 °C in inactive mode - the computer is just standing still, programs are not running, but the desktop is loaded.
• No more than 65 °C under load - you can load the processor to check the temperature with time-consuming tasks, games, by archiving a large number of files, rendering, etc.

Already when the threshold of 75 °C is exceeded, the processor goes beyond the standard values. It begins to work in temperature conditions for which it was not intended, which ultimately affects the functioning of the entire system.

Similar indicators work for laptops. So, for example, the CPU temperature for Windows 10 on a laptop will be between 40 and 60 °C under light to moderate load. A heavy load can cause temperatures to rise to 90 °C. Despite the fact that the critical value for laptops becomes 80-85 °C.

Temperatures for AMD processor - during idle, normal and maximum load

AMD CPU Temps - Ryzen

AMD APU Temps - Kaveri

AMD APU Temps - Richland

AMD APU Temps - Trinity

AMD CPU Temps - Piledriver

AMD CPU Temps - Bulldozer

Core Temp

One such program is CoreTemp. It is free and in Russian. It has a simple and intuitive interface. The program shows information about the temperature of all processor cores, the technological process by which the processor is manufactured, the name of the processor model, its thermal package (TDP) and current consumption.

For each core, the temperature is displayed, the core load in % at a given time, as well as the recorded minimum and maximum temperature since the start of the program. Also, by default, information about the temperature of each core is displayed on the Windows taskbar.

Factors Affecting CPU Temperature

Even with stock clocks and stock coolers, there are still other factors that will affect your normal CPU temperature:

Room temperature

Ambient air temperature can affect CPU temperature by 5-10°C. As a rough gauge, 1°C increase in room temperature = 1 to 1.5°C increase in CPU temps. This is why experienced hardware reviewers and overclockers will consider the ambient air temperature when measuring temperatures.

Cooling the computer case

The CPU can handle 8 to 10°C in a spacious computer case with excellent ventilation versus a small, tight case filled with dust rabbits. Here's how to check if your computer case is actually doing the right job of keeping your CPU cool:

Measure the temperature of your CPU with the side panels removed (see picture below):

Close the computer case (return the side panels) and check the temperature again. If the average processor temperature increases by more than 5°C when the case is closed, then the computer case does not have enough cooling. You'll need to organize your computer's cables, get more (or better) case fans, and consider using a modular power supply to minimize clutter.

We know you're probably thinking about this right now... "Why don't I just leave the side panels open or go all out for an outdoor installation?"

While this method will indeed reduce temperatures in the short term, dust will quickly clog your radiators and fans (leading to even higher rates than before). Therefore, it only works if you are willing to clean your radiators and fans every two to four weeks. In fact, a good computer case with directed airflow and pressure differential will run even cooler when closed.

The appropriate operating temperature for your processor depends on the manufacturer, the top clock speed, where the sensor is located, and what programs it is currently running. However, this document should give you a general idea of ​​what temperatures are acceptable under certain conditions.

Most modern desktop processors should not exceed 35°C, and most operate between 21°-32°C. Below is a chart that lists many types of processors and their average temperatures. Keep in mind, this is only to give our users a general idea of ​​CPU temperature. If you think your computer is running too hot, you can skip to the bottom of this document for information about the safe temperature range for your processor.

Let's sum it up

From the material reviewed, it can be emphasized that due to the high temperature of the processor, both the performance and stability of the system as a whole suffers. Therefore, you should reduce the temperature of the processor cores and monitor it using the methods described above. In addition to the methods discussed in the article for monitoring the thermal value of the CPU, I do not want to lose sight of the method for obtaining the temperature value for the video card. measure the thermal values ​​of a video card using the GPU-Z utility . For example, below are the sensor indicators for the Radeon HD 7540D video card.

In addition, if you want to familiarize yourself with other ways to take thermal values ​​of video card sensors, we recommend that you read the article about gadgets that show the temperature of the processor and video card.

We hope that in the near future, thanks to the transition to new technological processes, processors will become cold and overheating will be a thing of the past. We also hope that our article will help our readers monitor the temperature of processor cores in Mac OS, Ubuntu, FreeBSD and Windows operating systems and prevent it from overheating.

How can you tell if your computer's temperature is too high?

If the processor gets too hot, you will notice one or more of the following situations. Often these problems occur when launching programs or especially when playing an advanced game.

1. The computer runs much slower
2. The computer restarts frequently
3. Computer randomly shuts down

Continuing to use a computer with a processor that is above its temperature will reduce the amount of time the processor can operate.

Note. Depending on the layout of your computer's hardware, the thermal sensors may not be located in the optimal location. This may cause the temperature to be reported as colder or hotter than it actually is. If your computer's temperature is approaching the maximum or you are facing the above problems, you can try the following recommendations to reduce it.

How to control possible overheating

No, there is absolutely no need to periodically open the PC case in order to bring the probe of a special thermometer to the CPU. To obtain the required information, it is enough to install on your PC one of the programs that have the required functionality.

Real Temp

Most of them are free. Or you can use the trial version. Here is a list of the ten most popular products of the desired type: Real Temp, Core Temp, GPU-Z, RivaTuner, CAM, Speed ​​Fan, Open Hardware Monitor, HWMonitor, Speccy, AIDA64 Extreme Edition.

Any of them can be easily found on the Internet, downloaded and installed on your hard drive. Some run in the background. Others don't. Their feature is minimal resource consumption.

You can also use the BIOS menu - in some versions it is also possible to monitor indicators. It is convenient to do this immediately after a shutdown or unexpected reboot of computer equipment.

What can I do to cool down my processor?

The more the processor works, the more performance you'll get. So if you want to overclock your processor or if it gets too hot, you may need to consider some or all of the recommendations below.

1. Keep your computer clean
   —over time, dust, dirt, and hair can build up and prevent air from flowing in or out of the case. Make sure the computer case and ventilation are clear.
2. Improve your computer environment
   —make sure your computer is running in a good location. The computer should not be placed in an enclosed space, such as a drawer or cabinet, unless there is adequate ventilation, such as the back of a drawer or cabinet. The computer should not be in a tight space, but there should be at least a two-inch space on both sides of the computer and on the front and back of the computer.
3. Checking the fans
   - Make sure all of the computer's fans are working properly. Some motherboards and computers have fan monitors that display the RPM of each of the computer's main fans and if they are working correctly. Otherwise, you need to check each of the fans and look for any spinning problems or listen for any abnormal noises to determine if the fans are working properly.
4. Thermal Paste
   - If the processor or fan has been replaced or was running on it, it may be necessary to clean and then reinstall thermal paste, which helps transfer heat away from the processor.
5. More fans
   - Consider installing additional fans in your computer. Almost all computers will come with a heatsink and fan, as well as a case fan. However, in most cases, it is possible to install a second case fan, which can help add additional air and help keep the computer cool. Computer enthusiasts and many overclockers can also build their own fan ducts to help bring in extra air or take out more hot air.
6. The best fans.
   Many computers and processors will come with cheap fans to reduce the overall cost of the computer. Installing better fans or heatsinks that can move heat away from the processor faster and faster can cool the processor.
7. Alternative solutions.
   More advanced users or users who overclock may also want to consider alternative solutions such as water cooling solutions to keep their processors cool.

What can result from exceeding the permissible values?

Yes, there is a possibility that the CPU will simply burn out. But usually such an unpleasant effect is possible for the most outdated models. New ones are well protected from this. However, if permissible temperature values ​​are constantly exceeded, their service life is reduced. This is worth remembering, especially if the chosen model is very expensive.

What other consequences could there be? Variety. For example, well, the computer turned off or restarted. Well, what's wrong with that? But in such cases, problems with the software may arise - the user turns on the PC, waits to log in, and on the screen there is a message about some kind of error. It has to be eliminated. In difficult situations, reinstall the operating system.

Yes, the processor itself may not burn out. But other components used in computer equipment may well fail. For example, maximum temperatures for most modern hard drives are in the range of 50-70 degrees. And here, literally five centimeters from it, there is a kind of “stove” heated to 90-100 degrees. And the heat has to go somewhere! And it’s not a fact that it’s not on a hard drive.

Or there will be a problem with the video card, which is almost always located under the CPU. The situation is similar for operating memory, motherboard, and other internal devices.

So the consequences could be very serious.