Every computer, server, and networking device generates heat, and each has a ceiling it can tolerate before the hardware starts to suffer. Temperature-monitoring software lets you keep an eye on those thermals and doubles as a diagnostic tool, so you can catch overheating and act on it before it turns into permanent damage or downtime. These are our top five picks for 2026.
SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor
Networking devices rarely ship with built-in temperature sensors, but key components such as interfaces and the CPU only heat up when they are overloaded. The SolarWinds Engineer's Toolset bundles more than 60 system-management and monitoring utilities, and the CPU Load Monitor is one of them. It tracks a device's performance to make sure it is not being overloaded, and therefore overheated.
The CPU Load Monitor shows the activity of key components live on the Engineer's Toolset dashboard and alerts staff to overloading through email, text, and desktop notifications.
During setup, the utility scans the whole network for connected devices and lists them. From there, each device is monitored, with CPU load the headline metric. The monitor sets thresholds on every metric it tracks, and those thresholds can be adjusted by hand. Alerts fire only once a threshold is crossed.
That approach means staff do not have to watch the dashboard constantly. Their real job is setting sensible thresholds that leave enough lead time to fix an overloading issue before it grows into a bigger problem.
Because it is part of the Engineer's Toolset, the CPU Load Monitor can watch many devices at once, which makes it one of the most useful tools of its kind available today.
Paessler CPU Monitoring with PRTG
Paessler PRTG is a powerful, all-in-one monitor for servers, networks, and applications. It ships as a full set of sensors, and administrators choose which ones to switch on, so you have complete control over exactly what you monitor.
PRTG includes sensors that collect temperature data from network devices and servers. Both SNMP and PRTG support temperature monitoring, though some manufacturers do not enable that function on their hardware.
On Windows servers, PRTG reads CPU performance through WMI, with equivalent monitoring available on Linux. In total it offers nine sensors that can gather temperature information from network devices and servers. Even if your equipment lacks a built-in thermometer, tracking CPU load remains a reliable way to tell whether a device is running hot.
PRTG is available as a 30-day trial, and because that is the full monitoring system you can activate every sensor you need during the trial period.
ManageEngine OpManager
ManageEngine OpManager is a network-monitoring tool that tracks memory and CPU utilisation, fan speed, CPU temperature, and clock speed. If a device is not supported natively, you can build custom SNMP monitors using an Object Identifier.
OpManager is straightforward to use and helps you get to the root of a problem by letting you explore related metrics such as disk utilisation. Once you have finished diagnosing an issue, you can generate and share reports with your team.
It also includes an alerting system that sends SMS, email, or web notifications when CPU temperatures climb or environmental conditions change. OpManager runs on both Linux and Windows and is a good fit for anyone who wants network monitoring with temperature tracking built in. There is a free trial, though you will need to contact the company for pricing.
HWMonitor
HWMonitor is a hardware-monitoring tool for Windows that reads your system's voltages, temperatures, and fan speeds. It also tracks graphics card (GPU) and hard-drive temperatures, and together those readings give you a clear picture of your computer's overall health.
HWMonitor is free to download, and there is also a paid Pro version. The Pro tier adds remote monitoring for multiple devices, graph generation, and a more polished interface, with pricing that scales up depending on how many remote connections you need. Pro also surfaces the minimum, maximum, and current temperatures for every connected device at a glance.
Open Hardware Monitor
Open Hardware Monitor is an open-source monitoring tool that tracks fan speed, temperature, load, clock speed, and voltage on the computer it is installed on. Because it supports a wide range of common chips, it works in almost any environment.
Once it has gathered readings from the machine's sensors, it presents everything in a clear list, which makes it easy to scan the data and spot problems.
It is an excellent choice for anyone who wants a free, open-source alternative for temperature monitoring. The tool runs on Windows and Linux and is free to download.
CPU Temperature Monitor FAQs
Can I see my CPU temperature on my desktop?
Windows does not include a built-in CPU temperature monitor. You can read the figure from your BIOS, but it is far easier to install a dedicated tool. SolarWinds CPU Load Monitor is a strong recommendation because it helps you understand why a device is running hot, while HWMonitor is a close second for presenting BIOS-style data in a friendly graphical interface.
Why is my CPU over 70 degrees even when my laptop is idle?
If your computer is genuinely busy, a high temperature is perfectly normal. Most CPUs, though, sit closer to 45 degrees when truly idle. A higher idle reading usually points to background services and tasks still running. If a monitoring tool confirms that little is running in the background, the likely culprit is a failing or clogged fan.
How can I see my CPU usage?
On Windows, use Task Manager:
- Right-click the taskbar at the bottom of your screen and choose Task Manager from the menu.
- Open the Performance tab.
- Click CPU on the left to see a live graph of your CPU usage and performance.
How can I see my GPU's temperature?
On Windows 10 and later, Task Manager can show your GPU temperature:
- Right-click the taskbar and open Task Manager.
- Open the Performance tab.
- Scroll down the left-hand list to your GPU. Its panel shows the temperature in degrees Celsius.