Please pardon the newbie question, but how do I know what temperature my CPU is running?

Is this a software thing or do I have to have some device connected to the CPU or MOBO?

I'm running an AMD X2 3800 on an ASUS A8N5X.

Thanks.

When your within windows, yes. You would need some kind of software that would read your temp sensors.

The Asus CD should have it's own temp app for the MB, or you could use other free apps off the web:

Core Temp

Speedfan

When you boot/reboot your PC, you can obtain your temps within the bios which should have some kind of health monitor. Keep in mind that when your in the bios, your CPU will have a load on it vs being within windows. So you should see lower temps while in windows, rather then in the bios.

Thanks Grimmy.

I downloaded Core Temp 0.95 and found out that my cores were running between 30 and34 C with not much going on and up to 42 c when I loaded a bunch of financial programs with lots of 2D charts (I have 2 monitors). Mostly between 30 and 33 C.

By the way, Grimmy is one of my all time faborite cartoons. I've actually written Mike Peters a couple of times to compliment his Grimmy cartoons and received replies both times. He's very nice. I have one of his cartoons about "Sleep Disorders In Cats" up on the fridge. If you have a cat, you'll know what I mean.

Thanks again.

gar

Your temps are absolutely normal. All is well. Asus should have provided you the PC Probe software with that board. It will give the same readings (or close) to what you got from Core Temp.

Thanks Nim.

ASUS may have provided the temp check software, I just may not have noticed or found it.

I have a tendency to NOT read manuals. Usually I just plug things in and forge ahead. If it doesn't work, I bumble around till I figure it out.

Thanks again.

Tsk, what a terrible thing to do

*whistles self-conciously*

If that was true, you wouldn't be here asking for help...

I remember watching those cartoon as a kid, and enjoyed them. I decided to use that name for a linux box I used a long while back when I was getting into linux, and thought why not for forumz nick.

I actually named my other linux box goose, that my dad used to use.

those temps look very good, like the other guys mentioned. I actually put systems together without reading the manual, but lately since things are changing, I do glance through them on particular things (pin outs or headers).

And sometimes I end up reading the manual once the PC is up and running downloading the PDF file on it.

"If that was true, you wouldn't be here asking for help..."

That's at least partially true.

Thank the tech God's for Tom's and you guys.

http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php