There are many failure points in a computer, perhaps too many. From memory errors to an excess of temperature, unstable voltages in the power supply, and the SMART data of drives starting to scream, the territory to cover is huge, and we definitely need help. One of our main allies is HWiNFO, the quintessential free program for measuring temperature and voltages on your PC, or on any other machine that does not behave correctly.
Sometimes our articles begin with a little story, and the most recent one I can share is... I don't have a PC! That's right: if you allow me automotive terms, the monster is in the pits, and for some days I have to go out with the backup machine, which I prepared on a whim one weekend. Most likely it's a memory failure or a power supply problem. If it's the former, it will take me hours to detect the faulty module. If it's the latter, the warranty process will be a real torture.
One thing is certain: it is not due to temperature problems. Why? Because measuring temperature and voltages is a routine task for me, and it should be for you too. Hardware is expensive and can betray us at any moment. You should take advantage of every resource that lets you anticipate these issues and/or perform more accurate diagnostics. There are many free maintenance-oriented programs, but if there's one that cannot be missing, it is HWiNFO.
How to Measure Temperature and Voltages with HWiNFO
HWiNFO has three startup options: summary, sensors, or full startup. The summary is more than enough to learn the basics of any computer, and the full mode generates the equivalent of an entire system audit, but today we are interested in its sensor readings. The level of information depends on everything HWiNFO has detected: processor, motherboard, GPU, memory, SMART readings on storage drives, and network activity are the main references, updated in real time.
Every time you hover over a value, HWiNFO will share a general description of it. For example, if we see “memory frequency”, the number may seem lower, but HWiNFO reminds us that it is double data rate, and we must multiply by 2. The temperature sensors on the processor also deserve attention, because readings are not always correct. If you look closely at the images, you will surely detect strange readings like -1 degrees on the GPU and 1.8 degrees on the CPU. FM2 processors are odd when reporting temperature, and HWiNFO warns about this in its descriptions.
In any case, the information HWiNFO presents to the user is extremely useful. If you need to measure temperature and voltages on your PC, it should be your first option. HWiNFO has 32-bit and 64-bit editions, is free for personal use, and if you also like retro hardware, you should definitely download its DOS-compatible build.
Official site and downloads: Click here
