PC temperatures: what is normal for CPU, GPU and SSD, and how to check them

Temperature is the first thing to check when a PC is loud, slows down in games or turns off. The numbers below are typical ranges: limits differ between models, so for your exact part look at the maker’s maximum.

1. How to see the temperatures

• HWiNFO (run it in “Sensors-only” mode): shows every sensor, the maximum values and whether the part is throttling.
• MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner: an on-screen overlay with CPU and GPU temperature, clocks and FPS while you play.
• Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc → Performance → GPU) shows the graphics card temperature without extra software.
• The BIOS also shows the CPU temperature, which is handy when Windows does not start.

2. How to measure correctly

• Close everything and note the idle temperature after five minutes: usually 30–50 °C for the processor.
• Then load the PC the way you use it: a demanding game or a benchmark for 10–15 minutes (stress tests and benchmarks). Look at the maximum value, not the first minute.
• Remember the room: in a 30 °C summer room everything is about 8–10 °C hotter than in 20 °C.

3. What is normal

• CPU: 60–85 °C in games and up to 90–95 °C in heavy all-core loads. Ryzen 7000 and 9000 are designed to boost until they reach about 95 °C, so this is not a fault by itself. Intel Core chips start to throttle around 100 °C.
• GPU: 55–83 °C in games. The hot spot sensor reads about 10–15 °C higher than the core and up to roughly 95 °C is normal. Memory on GDDR6X cards may be hotter.
• NVMe SSD: 30–65 °C; many drives slow down above about 70 °C, so a heatsink matters.
• HDD: up to about 45–50 °C.

4. Signs of overheating

• Clock speeds and FPS drop after a few minutes of play (HWiNFO shows “Thermal Throttling: Yes”).
• Fans run at maximum and are loud, but the temperature still climbs.
• The PC restarts or shows a blue screen under load (blue screen guide).

5. What to do if it is too hot

1. Clean the dust from filters, radiators and fans (cleaning guide); this alone often gives 5–10 °C.
2. Check the airflow: intake fans at the front, exhaust at the rear and top, no cables blocking the air.
3. Set a sensible fan curve in the BIOS: the fans should speed up smoothly before the temperature gets high.
4. Replace the thermal paste on a processor or graphics card that is a few years old (thermal paste guide).
5. Lower the heat: a power limit or an undervolt on the CPU (CPU undervolting guide) or the graphics card (GPU tuning guide) cuts temperatures with almost no loss of speed.
6. Upgrade the cooling only after the steps above: a larger air cooler, a liquid cooler or a case with better airflow.

Still not sure whether your temperatures are fine? Compare them with the table above, and if the game stutters, go through the low FPS checklist. For a build with good cooling from the start, use our PC configurator.