Temperature sensors report under load

How it tests

Reads the CPU temperature sensors (coretemp or k10temp) every second while every thread runs a busy loop for 20 s. The safety watchdog stops the load 5 °C under critical.

How it decides

Supported: plausible readings (5–115 °C) that rise 2 °C or more (or the watchdog had to stop it). Partial: readings don't rise. Failed: no CPU sensor or impossible readings.

How sure it is

Direct and well bounded. Only CPU sensors are judged; GPU and SMC sensors aren't.

On a real Mac

• On a MacBook Air (13-inch, Mid 2012): 48 to 64 °C.

What could mislead it

• Could fail when it shouldn'tA Mac already hot from earlier tests rises less than 2 °C.