ThermalMonitor

A PowerShell script to monitor and log CPU/GPU usage, system temperatures, and potential thermal throttling causes on Windows laptops. Helps identify resource-heavy processes contributing to overheating. Optional integration with Open Hardware Monitor for temperature data. Ideal for diagnosing performance issues.

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How the Script Works

• Logs Data: Saves output to a log file in C:\Temp with a timestamped filename (e.g., ThermalMonitor_20250722_083512.log).
• CPU Usage: Uses performance counters to get real-time CPU usage percentage for the top 5 processes, with fallback to CPU time if counters aren't available.
• GPU Usage: Attempts to retrieve GPU engine utilization using Windows performance counters (availability varies by system and GPU).
• CPU Temperature: Tries Open Hardware Monitor first, then falls back to Windows built-in thermal zones if available.
• Thermal Throttling Check: Compares current CPU clock speed to max clock speed to detect potential throttling.
• Monitoring Loop: Runs for 5 minutes, checking every 10 seconds, and logs all data.
• Visual Feedback: Displays progress bars, spinning animations, and colored status messages during monitoring.

Prerequisites

• Run as Administrator: Performance counters and some WMI queries require elevated privileges. Right-click PowerShell and select "Run as Administrator."
• Open Hardware Monitor (Optional): For enhanced temperature data, download and run Open Hardware Monitor before executing the script. The script will attempt to use Windows built-in thermal sensors as fallback.
• Windows 10/11: GPU performance counters work best on modern Windows versions with supported GPUs and drivers.

How to Use

1. Download and save the script as ThermalMonitor.ps1 to any directory of your choice.
2. Open PowerShell as Administrator.
3. Navigate to the directory where you saved the script (e.g., cd C:\Downloads or cd "C:\Your\Preferred\Path").
4. Run the script: .\ThermalMonitor.ps1.
5. Watch the progress indicators in the console.
6. Check the log file in C:\Temp for detailed results.

Interpreting the Log

• High CPU/GPU Usage: Processes consistently appearing in the top 5 with high CPU or GPU usage (e.g., >50%) are likely causing heat.
• Temperature Spikes: If using Open Hardware Monitor, look for temperatures above 85°C correlating with specific processes.
• Throttling Indicators: If the CPU clock speed is significantly below the max (e.g., <80%), throttling is likely occurring, and the listed processes are suspects.

Notes

• Temperature Data: The script tries multiple methods for temperature detection - Open Hardware Monitor, then Windows thermal zones. Some systems may not expose temperature sensors.
• GPU Data: GPU performance counters vary by system. The script will report if GPU monitoring is unavailable.
• CPU Monitoring: Uses real-time performance counters for accurate CPU usage. Falls back to process CPU time if counters fail.
• Visual Interface: The script now shows progress bars, completion status, and clear instructions about where to find log files.
• Customization: Adjust $monitorDuration or $interval to change how long or how often the script checks.
• Alternative Tools: If you prefer HWMonitor or other tools, manually correlate their readings with the script's process logs.