CPU Fan

First introduced in Windows Vista, sidebar gadgets are designed to provide fast access to frequently used programs or information, directly from the desktop. Such an application is CPU Fan, a lightweight utility for monitoring and displaying the amount of resources used to cool down each CPU core.

Since it is a sidebar gadget, it can only be accessed from the desktop, but even so, it includes important information that can help you prevent system overheating.

The main interface simulates a running fan and it comprises details about the available memory and the amount of core power usage (in percentages) needed to cool each core of the CPU. Depending on the system configuration, it can be used with computers that have up to 4 cores.

In addition to this, the gadget automatically calculates and displays the average core usage percentage that is needed to spin the fan and reduce the temperature of the selected cores. You can choose which cores to include in the average calculus by using the 'Settings' section. Opening multiple instances of the gadget can help you keep an eye on the fan power consumption for each one of the cores.

Right-clicking on the gadget enables you to adjust its opacity and place it above of any other opened window. You can change its appearance by adding shadow effect to the spinning fan and make it transparent.

Although it is just a simple sidebar gadget, CPU Fan can display information at a glance regarding the resource requirements for keeping the CPU at optimal temperature parameters. It comes in handy for anyone who wants to keep an eye on the CPU usage, while making sure that the hardware components do not overheat.