The Max column tells you how hot a part became. It does not tell you when, or for how long. For that you need a record over time. HW Monitor includes CSV logging for exactly this purpose.

Start and stop a log

  1. Open HW Monitor.
  2. Press F5. The status bar at the bottom of the window shows that logging is active.
  3. Use the PC as normal, or run the game or task you want to study.
  4. Press F5 again to stop.

What gets recorded

The log is a CSV file, short for comma-separated values. Each line is a moment in time, and each column is a sensor: temperatures, voltages, fan speeds, power, utilization and clock speeds.

Open the log in a spreadsheet

  1. Open the CSV file in Excel, LibreOffice Calc or Google Sheets.
  2. If everything lands in one column, use the import or Text to Columns option and choose the right separator.
  3. Select the time column and one sensor column, such as the processor package temperature.
  4. Insert a line chart.

You now have a picture of the whole session, with every spike in view.

What to look for

  • Slow climb that never levels off: the cooling cannot keep up. Check dust and airflow.
  • Sharp spikes that fall straight back: normal behaviour when a processor boosts for a short task.
  • Clock speed dropping while temperature is at its peak: the processor is slowing itself down to stay cool.
  • Fan speed flat while temperature rises: the fan curve may need adjusting in the BIOS.

Good moments to log

  • Before and after cleaning a PC or replacing thermal paste.
  • When testing a new cooler or a new case fan layout.
  • When a game stutters after half an hour and you want to know why.
  • When checking that a new build is stable.

A one-off report

If you only need a snapshot, the File menu can save the current monitoring data as a text file. It is handy for sending your readings to someone who is helping you.

Prefer to watch live?

Real-time graphs draw the same data on screen while it happens. Right-click a sensor and choose Add to Graph.

Need more?

HW Monitor PRO adds more advanced logging, including a graphs generator. For most home use, F5 and a spreadsheet are enough.