CNET Editors' review
Motherboard Monitor's documentation may not explain every detail of the program, but it is safe to call it a sensor monitor for your PC. The interface is a collection of dials, check boxes, and taskbar icons that read data from motherboard CPU temperature and fan speed sensors. While it isn't a mess, it is difficult to accurately predict where to find settings and information.
Setup is not for novices. You first need to know the make and model of your motherboard and then be prepared to answer quite a few questions that may stump even some advanced users. If you've answered everything correctly, Motherboard Monitor places icons on your taskbar. (The icons depend on which sensors are available on your motherboard.)
The program stores data over time and can shut down overheated systems. You can fine tune the program, but the documentation is spotty. On our first test machine, Motherboard Monitor reported the temperature of our CPU and case at the freezing point of water. Adding to the disappointment, the program can't determine if you've input the correct board manufacturer and revision. Many of our test machines had motherboards not recognized by the utility.
If you're an advanced user who has overclocked your system, this program will help monitor your CPU. Everyone else has little use for Motherboard Monitor.
Publisher's Description
From Alex van Kaam:
Motherboard Monitor (MBM) is a tool that will display information from the sensor chips on your motherboard in your Windows system tray. MBM supports a wide range of chipsets and sensor chip combinations. It can sense temps from CPU, HDD, and GFX. It does also sense fan speeds. If it senses that your hardware is overheated it can protect it by shutting it down (user configured). To see if MBM5 supports your hardware check out the Motherboard List. It does also record all temps and fans for later viewing. This is a great invention if you want to overclock. Example to see how well cooled your computer runs over a time. Full load or idle time. Its recomended for all home built systems. Specially if you make your own heat sinks or just test you newly overclocked CPU or GFX card.
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All versions:
2.2 starsout of 45 votes
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Current version:
2.2 starsout of 45 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Can't use unless you have details of your motherboard."
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
None None None None None None
Cons
Need details of mother board - which is not always available.
Summary
Find another package
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"old old old"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
none that i could get to
Cons
Doesn't work on Win7
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"Only supports some motherboards"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
Installs....
If you are lucky, your motherboard is in the listCons
They should ask for your motherboard before install so you don't waste your time.
Summary
Look for something else
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"Didn't work for me"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
Lots of older motherboards supported
Cons
None of the three MSI motherboards I have in my custom builds were supported.
Summary
I cant really offer much of an opinion as it did not work for me. I have two AMD socket 939 mobos and a P45. None of them were supported. It seems that supported motherboards are mostly older. So if your motherboard is more than 4 years old it seems you have a higher probability of it being supported.
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"What a cluster-fubar program."
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
If you happen to be an experienced user with lots of motherboard to OS experience, this program may be useful... I think. I did get it to accurately report core temps on my taskbar.
Cons
Setup is clearly not designed for anyone without considerable experience. It's just not worth it.
Summary
Tried this program on my AMD notebook and my home made ASUS mobo driven machine. I'm sticking to cpuid.com. It's not like we need that many trinkets. I would say; if you are a developer or tester, go for it. But this program is NOT for normal or even intermediate users like myself.
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"Light weight and informative"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
The light weight application and the informative values about my computer's CPU temp and fan. In addition the ease of installation
Cons
The unavailability for plug-ins such as something simple like displaying date and time in the dashboard and the absence of the official website. By the way I use version 5.3.3.0
Summary
Very good tool for the mother boards comes with no monitoring software such as my board Shuttle AK31.
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"no hp support"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
quick install
Cons
had to restart, no support for Hp motherboards
Summary
did not live up to hype
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"Missing DLL so wasred time downloading & installing"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
nothing comes to mind
Cons
It doesn't work after 2 downloads and installs. Missing DLL not in the free DLL web site
Summary
Skip it
Mixed up this review before. Monitor does not work well on this planet. My cpu was minus 178 celcius and half of the voltage indicators were unpowered. I have Win ME so maybe it works for better OS
Updated on Jan 16, 2010 -
"Did not work on my PC"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
None t all
Cons
It did not work, what a waste of time!
Summary
Didn't work on my pc, but you may have more luck
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"Didn't show accurate CPU Temperature"
Version: Motherboard Monitor 5.3.7
Pros
It didn't do what it was supposed to.
Cons
Incorrect CPU Temperature
Summary
It doesn't give a correct CPU Temperature.
