CookieCrumble
Honorary Poster
If your computer is overheating, here are some things you can do about it:
- Dust Out Your Computerās Case: You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. in desktop PC cases and even laptops over time, clogging fans and blocking air flow. This dust can cause ventilation problems, trapping heat and preventing your PC from cooling itself properly. Be sure to clean your computerās case occasionally to prevent dust build-up. Unfortunately, itās often more difficult to dust out overheating laptops.
- Ensure Proper Ventilation: Put the computer in a location where it can properly ventilate itself. If itās a desktop, donāt push the case up against a wall so that the computerās vents become blocked or leave it near a radiator or heating vent. If itās a laptop, be careful to not block its air vents, particularly when doing something demanding. For example, putting a laptop down on a mattress, allowing it to sink in, and leaving it there can lead to overheating ā especially if the laptop is doing something demanding and generating heat it canāt get rid of.
- Check if Fans Are Running: If youāre not sure why your computer started overheating, open its case and check that all the fans are running. Itās possible that a CPU, graphics card, or case fan failed or became unplugged, reducing air flow.
- Tune Up Heat Sinks: If your CPU is overheating, its heat sink may not be seated correctly or its thermal paste may be old. You may need to remove the heat sink and re-apply new thermal paste before reseating the heat sink properly. This tip applies more to tweakers, overclockers, and people who build their own PCs, especially if they may have made a mistake when originally applying the thermal paste.
TS