I’m new to Linux and have just set up an old laptop to run Ubuntu a few weeks back. I spend a good chunk of my weekends playing around with it and I’ve learnt a lot so far. One of the things I’ve done is set up an application to monitor my CPU’s temperature. My laptop gets quite hot at times and this is one way to keep track of it.
Luckily, Linux has just the thing I was looking out for, in the form of lm-sensors. This little piece of software is lightweight and easy to install. If you’re an Ubuntu user, first you have to enable the ‘universe’ repository via System > Administration > Software Sources. Once there, check the box near ‘universe’.
The next step is to actually install lm-sensors. You can either install them from the Synaptics Package Manager or through the terminal. If you’re selecting command-line install, then the command you need is sudo apt-get install lm-sensors. After installation, type sudo sensors-detect. After detection, you may be asked to update some modules. Say yes.
lm-sensors will monitor your temperatures but you will need another piece of software to actually see the results. That would be the sensors-applet. Type sudo apt-get install sensors-applet. After installation, just add the applet to your panel. Right-click the panel, choose ‘Add to Panel’. In the resulting pop-up, navigate to Hardware Sensors Monitor and hit ‘Add’. You will now be able to see your CPU’s temperature on the panel in the form of a color-coded thermometer.
High CPU temperatures are dangerous to your machine and can result in damage in the form of failed hardware components. So it’s always a good idea to keep track of the temperatures. Monitoring can also help you determine if other components like fans are doing their job properly.
Do you monitor the temperatures of your CPU? What software do you use? Is monitoring temperatures worth it? Let me know in the comments.
