The CPU is one of the most important components in your computer. It does all the calculations and processing that makes a computer function. A motherboard regulates power to the CPU, which means it can tell when your CPU overheats and turn off or slow down its speed accordingly. The temperature on your motherboard’s built-in thermal sensor is often an accurate indicator of how hot your CPU is running–but not always! In this article, we’ll discuss what a motherboards’ built-in thermal sensor measures versus what a third party thermometer might measure, as well as some things you can do to ensure accuracy with both devices.
A lot of people are unaware that the motherboard can be a limiting factor when it comes to the maximum CPU temperature. It is important for people to know this in order to make sure they buy a good quality motherboard and not one that might fry their CPU!
The Difference Between Motherboard Temp and CPU Temp:
Motherboard temp and CPU temp are two different things.
Fight the hot: Motherboard CPU Temp Vs CPU Temp
A lot of people don’t realize that the motherboard and case can affect the temperature of their processor. The higher quality components in your computer, such as a motherboard or case, will produce less heat and allow for better airflow to keep everything cool. When you’re looking for new parts, make sure to consider how well they work with each other!
For many people, the term “temperature” brings to mind a thermometer reading of 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees Celsius. But for those who spend their days working with computers and processors, the temperature is a far more important number. And it’s one that you need to know if you’re planning on building your own PC.
Motherboard CPU Temp Vs CPU Temp: Which Is Better?
Before we can answer the question of which is better, we should first define what each one means. The motherboard temperature is usually measured by a thermometer embedded in the motherboard and this reading will be very close to the processor temperature.
This metric is used for monitoring your computer’s health and stability as it can cause serious damage if left unchecked. On the other hand, CPU temperature refers to how hot your processor actually feels when you touch it with your finger or feel its surface with an IR thermometer device.
When you enter your BIOS, it will tell you what the CPU temp is. You can also check this by going into Windows Task Manager and looking at the Performance tab and scrolling down to “CPU”. The temperature reported here should match with what’s shown in your motherboard BIOS. If there are any discrepancies or if these readings deviate from on another, then you may have a hardware or software issue.
What is Normal?
Depending on your processor type and load, the temperature should not go above 60-70 degrees Celsius (140°F to 160 °F) but it will vary depending on what kind of computer you’re running. There are various reasons for fluctuation in CPU temp; one being that some processors dynamically change their voltage based on how hot they get which can cause them to run faster and hotter if there isn’t proper ventilation present – this could be an indication that the cooling fan has stopped working properly. In rare cases, Overheating can lead to total system failure so it’s important to check these readings frequently. Most CPUs also become less efficient when they exceed 90ºC (194ºF).
Average processor temperatures:
|
Processor Name | Average temp |
|---|---|
| AMD A6 | 45°C – 57°C |
| AMD A10 | 50°C – 60°C |
| AMD Athlon | 85°C – 95°C |
| AMD Athlon 64 | 45°C – 60°C |
| AMD Athlon 64 X2 | 45°C – 55°C |
| AMD Athlon 64 Mobile | 80°C – 90°C |
| AMD Athlon FX | 45°C – 60°C |
| AMD Athlon II X4 | 50°C – 60°C |
| AMD Athlon MP | 85°C – 95°C |
| AMD Athlon XP | 80°C – 90°C |
| AMD Duron | 85°C – 95°C |
| AMD K5 | 60°C – 70°C |
| AMD K6 | 60°C – 70°C |
| AMD K6 Mobile | 75°C – 85°C |
| AMD K7 Thunderbird | 70°C – 95°C |
| AMD Opteron | 65°C – 71°C |
| AMD Phenom II X6 | 45°C – 55°C |
| AMD Phenom X3 | 50°C – 60°C |
| AMD Phenom X4 | 50°C – 60°C |
| AMD Ryzen | 70°C – 80°C |
| AMD Sempron | 85°C – 95°C |
| Intel Celeron | 65°C – 85°C |
| Intel Core 2 Duo | 45°C – 55°C |
| Intel Core i3 | 50°C – 60°C |
| Intel Core i5 | 50°C – 62°C |
| Intel Core i7 | 50°C – 65°C |
| Intel Pentium II | 65°C – 75°C |
| Intel Pentium III | 60°C – 85°C |
| Intel Pentium 4 | 45°C – 65°C |
| Intel Pentium Mobile | 70°C – 85°C |
| Intel Pentium Pro | 75°C – 85°C |
How Do I Cool Motherboard Temperature:
How do I cool down the temperature of my CPU?
It happens to the best of us, especially if you are a gamer or use your computer for long periods of time. The solution is fairly simple and should not take more than five minutes max in most cases (depending on how many tasks you have running).
Shut down all unnecessary programs that could be drawing heavily from your CPU such as antivirus software, web browsers, social media apps, etc. Focus only on what needs to be done at this moment.