# Is there a way to tell if your computer is overheating? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 7, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062 "2015-04-07T19:30:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/1 "2015-04-07T19:30:51Z")
My computer has been making more noise lately and I wonder if it is overheating. Is there a way to tell for sure? Is there a way to find out what temperature my computer is running at? I have windows 7 and a HP computer. ---
**Author:** ![CinnamonBabka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bbce88/32.png) [@CinnamonBabka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CinnamonBabka)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/2 "2015-04-07T19:39:20Z")
[Speccy](https://www.piriform.com/speccy) will usually show the important temperatures. Regardless of the results I’d recommend getting a can of compressed air and cleaning out the inside of your computer case if you’re getting a lot of noise and are worried about heat. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/3 "2015-04-07T19:39:25Z")
There is software that will tell you what the internal temps are. Here’s one: > **[TechPowerUp](https://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/)** > > Real Temp is a temperature monitoring program designed for all Intel processors. It runs on 32 bit and 64 bit Windows without installation. Here’s another: [http://openhardwaremonitor.org/](http://openhardwaremonitor.org/) Don’t know if they are free or not. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/4 "2015-04-07T19:42:37Z")
I use the free program [HWMonitor](http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html) for this. It will grab your computer stats and let you know the temperature. If it’s your fans that are running at full speed creating the noise, it’s possible. Real overheating means your computer would shut off for its own safety though. However, if it’s a grinding or clicking sound it’s much more likely that your hard drive is going bad. This will also eventually result in your computer shutting off, but it presents a lot more errors and telltale problems before doing so (and of course will result in your computer never booting properly again given it goes far enough). ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/5 "2015-04-07T20:02:38Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > I use the free program [HWMonitor](http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/hwmonitor.html) for this. It will grab your computer stats and let you know the temperature. > > If it’s your fans that are running at full speed creating the noise, it’s possible. Real overheating means your computer would shut off for its own safety though. However, if it’s a grinding or clicking sound it’s much more likely that your hard drive is going bad. This will also eventually result in your computer shutting off, but it presents a lot more errors and telltale problems before doing so (and of course will result in your computer never booting properly again given it goes far enough). If you download that program does it come with any adware or spyware? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/6 "2015-04-07T20:15:34Z")
> [@CinnamonBabka](#): > > [Speccy](https://www.piriform.com/speccy) will usually show the important temperatures. Regardless of the results I’d recommend getting a can of compressed air and cleaning out the inside of your computer case if you’re getting a lot of noise and are worried about heat. I like this program. It not only gives you the temps and tells you if they’re within range, you can click on each component and it gives you intimate details of the manufacturer, model, etc, which helps if you’re looking for updates online. ---
**Author:** ![Inna\_Minnit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Inna\_Minnit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inna_Minnit)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/7 "2015-04-07T20:16:53Z")
Mine usually dies. Boom! Black screen. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/8 "2015-04-07T20:41:16Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > If you download that program does it come with any adware or spyware? I would never recommend a program that comes with adware or spyware. If you think I would, then you shouldn’t be asking a message board for recommendations for what to install on your computer. Speccy is also a good program. I have used that as well in the past. I use it more to find hardware part information without needing to crack the case, but it will also handle temperatures. Regardless of whether your computer is running hot or not, you should still use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of your computer at minimum once a year. ETA: Computers run fine up to high 60s celcius. Once you hit mid 70s the computer will shut off automatically to keep from damaging itself. So, considering the high temperatures involved it’s usually easy enough to tell if your computer is running hot just from sticking your hand next to the vent. But don’t be shocked if you see it’s running at 58 celcius or anything. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/9 "2015-04-07T20:44:57Z")
I use speedfan > **[SpeedFan - Access temperature sensor in your computer](https://www.almico.com/speedfan.php)** > > Hardware monitor for Windows that can access digital temperature sensors located on several 2-wire SMBus Serial Bus. Can access voltages and fan speeds and control fan speeds. Includes technical articles and docs. Mine is running hot, so I have a cooling pads and a small fan pointed at the laptop. That cuts the temps. ---
**Author:** ![RandMcnally](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b782af/32.png) [@RandMcnally](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandMcnally)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/10 "2015-04-07T21:00:46Z")
I found out when mine started smoking… ---
**Author:** ![Calatin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/439d5e/32.png) [@Calatin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Calatin)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/11 "2015-04-07T21:03:39Z")
If it’s on fire, odds are it might be overheating. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/12 "2015-04-07T21:58:23Z")
if the noise is a failing fan (power supply, chip heat sinks, case fans) they will be needed to be replaced. a power supply or heat sink fan failing could either destroy that part (or the part it cools). if the noise is the hard drive then it might die soon and you should copy the data from it now. if a case fan you need not panic on that. the other issues are such that using the computer very little until you identify and cure the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/13 "2015-04-07T22:06:50Z")
> [@RandMcnally](#): > > I found out when mine started smoking… That’s what happens when you keep it so long that it gets to be legal age to buy cigarettes. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/14 "2015-04-07T22:49:06Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > . > > ETA: Computers run fine up to high 60s celcius. Once you hit mid 70s the computer will shut off automatically to keep from damaging itself. I knew someone who had a windows vista laptop and some part of the electronics overheated and melted, ruining their hard drive and they lost all their data. They think one of the fans might have quit working causing it to overheat. How come it didn’t shut itself off to prevent damage? ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2015, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/15 "2015-04-07T23:42:31Z")
> [@Macca26](#): > > I would never recommend a program that comes with adware or spyware. If you think I would, then you shouldn’t be asking a message board for recommendations for what to install on your computer. > > Speccy is also a good program. I have used that as well in the past. I use it more to find hardware part information without needing to crack the case, but it will also handle temperatures. > > Regardless of whether your computer is running hot or not, you should still use a can of compressed air to blow the dust out of your computer at minimum once a year. > > ETA: Computers run fine up to high 60s celcius. Once you hit mid 70s the computer will shut off automatically to keep from damaging itself. So, considering the high temperatures involved it’s usually easy enough to tell if your computer is running hot just from sticking your hand next to the vent. But don’t be shocked if you see it’s running at 58 celcius or anything. Mine has run at 90C while gaming. 70C sounds low to shut itself down. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2015, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-way-to-tell-if-your-computer-is-overheating/717062/16 "2015-04-08T01:53:11Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Mine has run at 90C while gaming. 70C sounds low to shut itself down. Agreed. The laptop I’m on now idles at 60 something. 70 is just starting to get warm. I wouldn’t be concerned until it got to almost 90.