ADVANCEDPROJECTS
126 DECEMBER 2019|COMPUTER SHOPPER|ISSUE 382
Go towww.cpuid.com,and download
HWMonitor and CPU-Z. Then headto
geeks3d.comand downloadFurMark.
Finally,gotowww.techpowerup.com/gpuz
and download GPU-Z. Thesefour tools
should work with any and all hardware.
Once installed, launch HWMonitor and
you’ll seeahuge listof real-timetechnical
data. Intel processors haveabuilt-in
temperature sensor,which you’ll find
in the processor section. AMD CPUs
don’t have built-in sensors, instead
relying onasensor embedded in the
motherboard socket, so you’ll find the
processortemperature listed in the
motherboard section (typically the
first listing, with the highest figures).
STRESS-TESTING
To stress-test your processor,launch
CPU-Z and notethe Tj Max
temperature; this is the Thermal
Junction Maximum, the highest safe
operatingtemperatureof your CPU.
Your processor shouldn’t run within
10oC of the Tj Max. Open the Bench
tab of CPU-Z and clickStress Test.
The temperatureof your processor
should startto rise,and you’ll
probably hear the cooler’sfanspin up.
After awhile,the temperature should
plateau; if not, you’ve gotaserious
problem. Shut down the PC and
attend to the processor cooler
immediately: either it’s not seated
properly or you need an upgrade.
Equally,ift he temperature was
fine but the noise wastooloud, a
cooler upgrade is in order.
To test your graphic card’s cooler,load
GPU-Z and open theAdvanced tab.
Toward the bottom you’ll seeasection for
temperatures, withamaximumof typically
90oC. Notethis temperature and close GPU-Z.
Find the graphics card sectionof
HWMonitor; it will be labelled AMD or Nvidia,
regardlessof who actually made your card.
Now launchFurMark, click GPUStress Test,
then click Go.Agree to the warning (it’s
more of adisclaimer thanagenuine worry)
and you’ll see the infamous furry doughnut.
The effects and patterns are incredibly
difficultforagraphics cardto render,auseful
worst caseto te st your card’s cooling.
FurMark graphs your graphics card’s
temperatureover time ,soy ou might
not even needto use HWMonitor.
Again, hopefully thetemperature
will plateau afterafew minutes,
otherwise you’ve gotaserious issue.
FREEAND CHEAP FIXES
Heatsinks clogged with dust are
unlikelyto cause overheating, but
there’s no harm in blowing the fluff
out. A£5c an of air duster can be
very helpful. Any more stubborn
blockages within the finsof a
heatsink should be removed.
Another cheap fix isto ensure your
motherboard’s UEFI is upto date.
CPU-Z willtell you the manufacturer
and modelof your motherboard, and
you can then go the manufacturer’s
websitetod ownload the latest version
and find instructions.Youmight need
to download the motherboard manual.
Forexample,the standard AMD
cooler of our Ryzen 53600 (£189,
http://www.scan.co.uk)refused to spin up,
causing the processorto hit its Tj Max
and start throttling its speed.
Updating the UEFIof our AsusStrix
⬆Notethe Tj Max, the maximum safetemperatureforyour processor
⬅HWMonitor gives youahuge amountof real-time information on
every aspectof your computer
⬅Use GPU-Zto discover the maximum
temperatureof your graphics card
