Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about HWMonitor, sensors, and safe use.
Why does HWMonitor show several different CPU temperatures? ▼
Modern CPUs expose per-core thermal sensors and a package temperature. The package typically represents the hottest spot or an aggregate. So you see one value per core plus one for the package—all are valid; for stress testing, focus on the highest reading (usually package or the hottest core).
Is HWMonitor accurate for reporting GPU temperatures? ▼
HWMonitor is generally accurate for GPU temperature readings, as it pulls data directly from the onboard sensors. However, some users report small differences when comparing with MSI Afterburner and other tools. If you need exact numbers for overclocking or thermal analysis, it’s worth comparing with a second tool.
Can HWMonitor show how much power my GPU is using? ▼
Yes. HWMonitor can display GPU power usage if your graphics card supports it. It shows readings from the PCIe slot and the auxiliary power connectors (6-pin or 8-pin). By adding these values together, you can estimate the total power draw of your GPU. This can be helpful when deciding whether your power supply is sufficient or if you’re planning an upgrade.
What are TMPIN readings in HWMonitor? ▼
TMPIN labels are temperature sensors on the motherboard, but their exact purpose can vary depending on the manufacturer. They might monitor the VRMs, CPU socket area, chipset, or other components. Because the naming isn’t standardized, the readings can be hard to interpret without checking your motherboard documentation.
Which CPU temperature should I focus on: package, cores, or motherboard? ▼
The most important temperatures to monitor are the CPU package and the highest individual core temperatures. These reflect the real thermal state of your processor. Motherboard CPU readings are often lower and less precise. As long as your CPU stays below 90–95°C under load, it’s within safe limits for most modern CPUs.
Why can CPU activity exceed 100%? ▼
Since version 1.53, HWMonitor computes CPU usage with utility counters (aligned with Windows Task Manager logic) but does not cap the value at 100%. Turbo and higher clock speeds can make the reported utilization exceed 100% to reflect that the CPU is doing more work per unit time. This is expected behavior; see Microsoft’s documentation on CPU usage exceeding 100% for details.
What does the “*” mean on some cores in the clock section? ▼
The asterisk (*) marks the fastest cores on the processor when the CPU has preferred cores (e.g. for turbo). These cores can run at slightly higher clock speeds than the others.
Why does the NVIDIA PCIe PEX errors counter increase? ▼
The PEX (PCIe) error counter can increase due to link state changes (e.g. speed/width changes, power management), not only real errors. The other PCIe counters should stay at 0. If they do not, that may indicate real PCIe errors or incompatibility between the motherboard and the graphics card. Persistent non-zero values on those other counters warrant investigation.
Does HWMonitor have a portable version? ▼
Yes. CPUID provides a Portable (ZIP) build. Download the ZIP, extract it, and run the executable—no installation. The same build supports 32- and 64-bit Windows. See the Download page.
What’s the difference between HWMonitor and HWMonitor PRO? ▼
HWMonitor PRO is an extended version. A notable extra feature is remote monitoring of multiple computers over a network, which is useful for IT teams and authorized fleet monitoring. Feature set and pricing are on the official CPUID site.
Is HWMonitor a “Process Hacker” replacement or a task manager alternative? ▼
No. HWMonitor is in a different category. It focuses on hardware sensors (temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, power, clocks). Process Hacker and task managers focus on processes, services, and resource usage at the OS level. If you need a system monitor or task manager alternative for processes, use a dedicated process/network tool; HWMonitor does not replace those.
Is HWMonitor safe to download? What about antivirus warnings? ▼
HWMonitor from the official vendor (CPUID) or reputable mirrors is safe. Antivirus warnings are often false positives because monitoring tools access low-level hardware. To stay safe: download only from official or well-known sources, verify the file (signature/hash if provided), and avoid unofficial repacks.
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