Check CPU Speed in Real-Time: For a more dynamic assessment, you can check how fast your CPU is running in real-time. Press Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open the Task Manager.

Although some of the suggested CPU stress test tools do have their own monitoring, it’s also important that you can keep track of temperatures, power draw, and clock speed during a stress test.

Wondering how to check the CPU temperature on your computer? Even some of the best laptops are guilty of running hot — and an overworked or failing CPU could be an issue. Learning how to check ...

Processor frequency (aka clock speed), multithreading, microarchitecture generation, the type of CPU (desktop or mobile), and software optimization also play a role.