How to test my CPU temperature under load?

[sbab123]

Hi all,

I have finished building my PC and I need to check whether the CPU cooler correctly cools my CPU. I have a Core i5-6500 and my CPU cooler is Cooler Master Hyper 212x.

Could somebody please tell me how should I proceed to perform the test? Which software should I use? Also, what should the expected temperature be under idle conditions and under load?

Please let me know.

Thanks

 

[Multipack]

Use HWInfo https://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

Anything up to 60c is fine at 100% load. Idle depends on ambient temps where you are, but anything over say 35c is pretty worrying.

 

[sbab123]

Thanks Multipack. I have installed the software HWinfo...It only displays the CPU temperature. How should I proceed to put the CPU under load?

 

[Multipack]

Open the "Sensors" section.

Put the CPU under load by running a stress test with this https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24075/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-

 

[sbab123]

Open the "Sensors" section.

Put the CPU under load by running a stress test with this https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/24075/Intel-Extreme-Tuning-Utility-Intel-XTU-

For how long should I be running the stress test?

 

[Multipack]

For temps, a few minutes is fine. For stability testing, anything up to 12 hours.

 

[sbab123]

For temps, a few minutes is fine. For stability testing, anything up to 12 hours.

Cool. I will run the test for 5 minutes.

In the "Sensors" section of HWinfo, I can see that for each core, there are 4 temperatures: Current, Minimum, Maximum and Average. How can a Core of a CPU have a range of temperatures at any time? Should there not be only one temperature at any time for each Core?

Also, which temperature should I monitor during the test? Is it the Maximum of Core Max?

 

[Multipack]

It's min and max since you last powered on the system. It's useful to monitor the system in the background while gaming for example. It also shows the current temp readings tho.

And yes, max core temp is what you need to pay attention to, but Intel XTU will give you an actual temp result at the end of the test.