{"id":29227,"date":"2017-02-16T23:01:48","date_gmt":"2017-02-16T15:01:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/?p=29227"},"modified":"2017-11-24T19:13:25","modified_gmt":"2017-11-24T11:13:25","slug":"cool-down-heating-pc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hongkiat.com\/blog\/cool-down-heating-pc\/","title":{"rendered":"Solutions to PC Overheating & How to Keep it Cool"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is your PC heating up like Uncle Tom\u2019s grill? Well, it\u2019s definitely one of the signs that your computer might be in trouble<\/a>. Heat can slow down your PC<\/strong> and automatically shut it down leading to data loss, or permanent damage the components. If your desktop or laptop is heating up to the point of concern<\/strong>, then you need to take action immediately.<\/p>\n

In this post, I will show you everything you need to know to cool down your heating PC<\/strong> and get it back running smoothly.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\t\t\tRead Also:<\/strong>\u00a0\n\t\t\t\t\t10 Things To Consider Before Building A Custom PC<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Understanding PC heating and cooling system<\/h2>\n

Before we delve into the tips as how to cool down your PC, it is important to know why PC heats up and how the cooling system works<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Every PC has multiple components with moving parts that generate heat while working. CPU and GPU are the most heat generating components. The harder these components work, the more heat is generated<\/strong>. If this heat isn\u2019t cooled down, then it can stop the PC from working and may damage the components as well.<\/p>\n

Usually, computer manufacturers fit fans inside the PCs to keep the airflow going<\/strong> and its components cooled down. There could be multiple fans, one on the CPU, another on the GPU and more near other components. Also, on your laptop or desktop, you may have noticed one or more ventilation areas at the bottom or back<\/strong>, through which your PC fans ventilate the air to keep the components from heating.<\/p>\n

Note:<\/strong> There are also other methods to cool down a PC<\/strong>, like liquid cooling or even air conditioning. However, these methods are rarely used and there isn\u2019t much you can do (apart from taking it to a repair shop) if there is a problem with them.<\/p>\n

So for this guide, we will assume that your PC uses fan\/air cooling system to cool down the PC.<\/p>\n

Now if your PC is heating up, there could be only two reasons for that. Either there is a problem with the cooling system, or the components are heating up to the point your PC\u2019s cooling system can\u2019t handle it<\/strong>. In this guide, we will be giving solutions to both the problems.<\/p>\n

How much is your PC heating up?<\/h2>\n

To take a suitable action, we first need to see how much is your PC is heating<\/strong> up. For this purpose, HWMonitor<\/a> is a great free tool that will show you the current and max temperature of your CPU and GPU<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Launch the tool and you will see both GPU and CPU temperatures<\/strong> along with some other hardware related information. Here check the \"Max\" temperature<\/strong>. If it\u2019s anywhere over 60\u00b0C while your PC is heating, then it should be of concern and you should follow all the below-mentioned solutions to fix your heating PC.<\/p>\n

\"monitor<\/figure>\n

Going up to 55\u00b0C max isn\u2019t too much of a problem if you use your PC for gaming<\/strong> or using heavy applications. Although, you can still follow some of the \"good to know\" tips below to ensure you don\u2019t face any heating issue in the future<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Fixing cooling system problems<\/h2>\n

First, we will talk about fixing problems with the cooling system of your PC<\/strong> as it is usually the cause of PC heating up. Below are some ways you can fix cooling system problems<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Check if the fan is working or not<\/h3>\n

If the fan of your PC isn\u2019t working fine<\/strong> or for some reason it can\u2019t ventilate air, the result will be an over-heated PC. In such a case you will have to get it fixed from a repair shop. Here is how to check if the fan is working properly or not<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

When you press the power button to start up the PC<\/strong>, you hear a satisfying \"vroom\" sound. Well, that\u2019s the sound of the fans inside, which run at full throttle at first and then slow down as the PC boots. If you can\u2019t hear that sound<\/strong> when the PC starts, or maybe you feel the sound is less powerful than before<\/strong>, then there is a chance that the fans aren\u2019t working well.<\/p>\n

To investigate further, you can open up the PC to see if the fans are working<\/strong> or not. If you are not comfortable with opening the PC, then use a flashlight to see inside the PC\u2019s ventilation holes for running fans<\/strong>. If you are not able to see any movement, you should immediately take it to a repair shop before the heat melts down the components.<\/p>\n

Avoid blocking the vents<\/h3>\n

You should never place your PC on your bed, blanket or any other soft surface<\/strong> while working. Such soft and uneven surfaces block the airflow from the vents, resultantly warming up the PC<\/strong> (especially if they are located below the PC). Instead, always place the PC on a hard surface, preferably a wooden table or laptop tray, so that the ventilation area never gets blocked<\/strong><\/p>\n

Clean up the PC<\/h3>\n

If you haven\u2019t cleaned your PC in a while, then dirt is most probably the cause of the heating PC<\/strong>. It is easy to clean a desktop, but laptop users may prefer to take it to a repair shop and get it serviced. If you want to clean the PC yourself<\/strong>, follow the below-mentioned steps:<\/p>\n