Everything in your pc has an address. It's how info is passed from place to place. Back in the day, yes years ago, when Hwmonitor was written, addressing was much simpler. Nowadays, it's become highly complex. This leads to some confusion, especially since different vendors use different addressing. Ie: Hwmonitor is looking for the cpu temp at 0x00005642. However, on your mobo, that number is the address of the Sata controller chipset, which normally does run at those temps. Or the VRM's. Or the Northbridge (pci express) chipset, or mosfets.... Hwmonitor reads my tmpin4 at 255°C and tmpin6 as -125°C. Both are physically impossible on a mobo. HWInfo (sensors only!) is more reliable, for Intel systems speccy is decently accurate, coretemp, msi overdrive for amd, SIV, cpu-z. Answer from Karadjgne on forums.tomshardware.com
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Capterra
capterra.com › home › it management software › hwmonitor › hwmonitor all reviews
HWMonitor Reviews 2026. Verified Reviews, Pros & Cons | Capterra
I'm really satisfied with the accuracy of the information that HWMonitor gives me. ... Being a software with a single function that performs correctly, I do not see any negative points.
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G2
g2.com › products › hwmonitor › reviews
HWMonitor Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features | G2
I regularly check on HWMonitor to make sure that my hardware, including the CPU is running at acceptable temperatures. There is not much configuration, and it is very easy to use straight out of the app. No set up required. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.
Discussions

Have any experience with HWMonitor?
HWMonitor is VERY widely used in the tech and hardware reviewer industry, and this would be the first time I've heard of it being referred to as a 'poor piece of software' , quite frankly...; perhaps the correct/latest chipset driver is not installed allowing correct interpretation of all data ... More on forums.tomshardware.com
🌐 forums.tomshardware.com
8
0
April 14, 2019
PSA: STOP USING HWMONITOR. USE HWINFO64 AT ALL TIMES. REFER TO EFFECTIVE CLOCKS. That is all.
Interrupting this to point that both devs are single devs, and should deserve more praise than critics. The dev from cpu-z - hwmonitor is an absolute legend. Maintains cpu-z, hwmonitor, and while they aren't perfect (are there any ?), you're getting them for free, and you're getting a good chunk of info and features from them. Overclocking/monitoring devs are very few, and while criticism is always welcome, please keep it constructive. You all tend to view us like gifted, lazy devs. Did you know, for instance, we have all a hard time getting our hands on new CPUs before launch ? They reserve those few samples for press or YouTubers. Us ? While we're useful to many, we're afterthoughts at best, or we just wait for enthusiasts to keep up to date and test for us. There are exceptions - in my case, Cooler master, Nzxt and Asetek . I'll keep this short as this is turning into a rant, but I want to point, looking at some comments, that you should not act like you're entitled - calling free software shit when it's doing a good, not perfect, job is very questionable. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/overclocking
109
159
February 7, 2023
HWmonitor pro: worth it?
So I’m finding I kinda want to see some graphs from HWmonitor, and I’m not against throwing some money at CPUID. I’m not finding the actual cost anywhere though, and apparently it needs to be updated every time something new comes out. Also the actual price doesn’t seem to be listed ... More on linustechtips.com
🌐 linustechtips.com
6
January 18, 2020
A good hardware monitor program? :: Hardware and Operating Systems
IIRC hardware unboxed rated and reviewed x570 boards with the MSI x570 pro being the worst for vrm cooling. HWMonitor is free and good. More on steamcommunity.com
🌐 steamcommunity.com
January 22, 2020
People also ask

Who uses HWMonitor?
Typical users of HWMonitor include: Self-Employed, Small-Business, Midsize-Business
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softwareworld.co
softwareworld.co › home › hwmonitor
HWMonitor Reviews Feb 2026: Pricing & Features | SoftwareWorld
Is HWMonitor safe?

HWMonitor just reports on the output of sensors that are already embedded in the hardware of your computer. It cannot damage your equipment.

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comparitech.com
comparitech.com › home › net admin › hwmonitor review & alternatives
HWMonitor Review & 10 Best Alternatives (Paid & Free)
How do you read HWMonitor?

HWMonitor displays data in categories. Each category has a node point that can be expanded. Some categories have subcategories. In order to see all of the subcategories, click on the plus symbol (+) next to the category name. When a category expands, that plus sign turns into a minus sign (-). Click on the minus sign to collapse a category’s display down to its heading.

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comparitech.com
comparitech.com › home › net admin › hwmonitor review & alternatives
HWMonitor Review & 10 Best Alternatives (Paid & Free)
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Slashdot
slashdot.org › software › p › HWMonitor
HWMonitor Reviews - 2026
HWMonitor user reviews from verified software and service customers. Explore ratings, reviews, pricing, features, and integrations offered by the Hardware Monitoring product, HWMonitor.
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SourceForge
sourceforge.net › projects › hw-monitor › reviews
HWMonitor Reviews - 2025
HWMonitor
HWMonitor user reviews and ratings from real users, and learn the pros and cons of the HWMonitor free open source software project.
Rating: 5 ​
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Software Advice
softwareadvice.com › home › it management software › hwmonitor
HWMonitor Software Reviews, Demo & Pricing - 2026
I've been an user of HWMonitor since December 2020 and I am very happy with the results it has given me. Having built my first PC I had to be sure that everything worked correctly and HWMonitor was the one that helped me. It's not a demanding software and fulfills its function.
Find elsewhere
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Comparitech
comparitech.com › home › net admin › hwmonitor review & alternatives
HWMonitor Review & 10 Best Alternatives (Paid & Free)
March 26, 2026 - The main reason you should use HWMonitor is that it is lightweight. The basic layout of the table design makes it easy to scroll and find the data you need. You won’t get lost or sidetracked by other features.
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SoftwareWorld
softwareworld.co › home › hwmonitor
HWMonitor Reviews Feb 2026: Pricing & Features | SoftwareWorld
Its intuitive interface presents data in an easy-to-read format, allowing users to quickly identify potential hardware issues and optimize system performance. By offering detailed reporting and alerting features, HWMonitor empowers organizations to proactively manage their IT infrastructure, reducing the risk of downtime and hardware failures.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/overclocking › psa: stop using hwmonitor. use hwinfo64 at all times. refer to effective clocks. that is all.
r/overclocking on Reddit: PSA: STOP USING HWMONITOR. USE HWINFO64 AT ALL TIMES. REFER TO EFFECTIVE CLOCKS. That is all.
February 7, 2023 - Literally just came out of a thread discussion where HWMonitor was reporting 6.4Ghz on an r5 7600x with no overclock. I had a skylake 6700 non k blk overclocked once, and it reported 800mhz and 45'C, which all cores loaded at 4 2ghz P95, flogging it. Reports Ryzen chips at idle doing 1.5v because it hammers the sensors so hard it spikes the voltages.
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SourceForge
sourceforge.net › software › product › HWMonitor
HWMonitor Reviews in 2026
Learn about HWMonitor. Read HWMonitor reviews from real users, and view pricing and features of the Hardware Monitoring software
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GetApp
getapp.com › home › it management › hwmonitor
HWMonitor 2026 Pricing, Features, Reviews & Alternatives | GetApp
Interested in HWMonitor? Read GetApp's full overview to help inform your software purchase, which includes pricing options, features, integrations, and recent user reviews in 2026.
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SaaSHub
saashub.com › home › monitoring tools › device management
HWMonitor reviews. Is HWMonitor good? - SaaSHub
HWMonitor is well-regarded because it provides real-time data on the system's hardware performance. It effectively monitors temperature, voltage, fan speed, and other critical sensor information for computers, which helps users keep track of ...
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CNET
download.cnet.com › hwmonitor › 3000-2094_4-10793486.html
HWMonitor for Windows - Free download and software reviews - CNET Download
September 1, 2025 - HWMonitor provides a stable, lightweight, and highly dependable way to monitor essential PC health metrics. It avoids unnecessary complexity, focusing instead on delivering accurate readings for temperatures, voltages, and fan speeds. While it lacks flashy visuals or advanced alerts, its clean ...
Rating: 3.7 ​ - ​ 44 votes
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CPUID
cpuid.com › softwares › hwmonitor.html
HWMONITOR | Softwares | CPUID
HWMonitor for Windows® x86/x64 is a hardware monitoring program that reads PC systems main health sensors : voltages, temperatures, powers, currents, fans speed, utilizations, clock speeds ... The program handles : CPU and GPU-level hardware monitoring LPCIO chips with monitoring features ...
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Pages
cpu-temperature-monitor.pages.dev › posts › best cpu temperature monitor: core temp vs hwmonitor review
Best CPU Temperature Monitor: Core Temp vs HWMonitor Review | Cpu Temperature Monitor
June 24, 2025 - Two popular contenders, Core Temp and HWMonitor, offer distinct approaches. This review compares their features, ease of use, and accuracy to help you decide which best suits your needs. We'll also provide a step-by-step guide to help you get started. Core Temp: The Focused Specialist Core ...
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Capterra
capterra.com › home › it management software › hwmonitor
HWMonitor Software Pricing, Alternatives & More 2026 | Capterra
I'm really satisfied with the accuracy of the information that HWMonitor gives me. ... Being a software with a single function that performs correctly, I do not see any negative points.
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Softpedia
softpedia.com › windows › system › system info › hwmonitor
HWMonitor - Download - Softpedia
2 weeks ago - hwmonitor_1.64.exe · 5 screenshots: main category: System · developer: CPUID · visit homepage · Tested & reviewed by: Roberto Zamfir · 4.5/5 · With each new advancement in the field of consumer technology, computer hardware gets more powerful, and sometimes more power-hungry, requiring better cooling.
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Linus Tech Tips
linustechtips.com › software › programs, apps and websites
HWmonitor pro: worth it? - Programs, Apps and Websites - Linus Tech Tips
January 18, 2020 - https://linustechtips.com/topic/1146105-hwmonitor-pro-worth-it/ More sharing options... Followers 2 · Go to topic listing Programs, Apps and Websites · Water temps ok? seem high for cooling power · Rngds · 58 minutes ago Posted in Custom Loop and Exotic Cooling ·
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Steam Community
steamcommunity.com › discussions › forum › 11 › 1745643015566392212
A good hardware monitor program? :: Hardware and Operating Systems
January 22, 2020 - IIRC hardware unboxed rated and reviewed x570 boards with the MSI x570 pro being the worst for vrm cooling. HWMonitor is free and good.
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TechSpot
techspot.com › downloads › 4596-hwmonitor.html
HWMonitor Download Free - 1.64 | TechSpot
2 weeks ago - 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.
Rating: 4.6 ​ - ​ 133 votes