All electronics devices due to electrical resistance generate heat. However, you can also easily identify if your CPU is overheating. If you feel immense heat and you can’t even touch the internal hardware, or your fans are going haywire, or your PC suddenly shutdowns, your screen freezes, or you see dreaded blue screen crashes.
If you are doing resource-intensive tasks like editing gaming Videos or steaming videos online. The CPU overheating can damage both your system software and hardware. Luckily, most PC have components that efficiently dissipate heat and provide ventilation to prevent computer overheating.
If your computer is hot but otherwise working fine, give it a break and close the resource-intensive app for a while. At the same time, it’s important to know how to identify CPU overheating, troubleshoot its causes, and take the necessary steps to prevent further overheating in the future.
Common reasons why your CPU is overheating
If you want to know what an overheating computer looks like? We can say that there are different signs or symptoms of CPU overheating which tells you that “yes” your PC is dealing with overheating problems.
Usual signs of CPU overheating include:
- Too many processes and applications running simultaneously
- Unresponsive applications
- Too many browser tabs open
- Defective fans
- Blocked air vents
- Outdated software
- Viruses or other malware
- Overheated CPU or GPU
- Dust buildup on your PC’s fans and vents
Among other factors, build-up dust is the main cause that blocks the air to the internal components causing the CPU or GPU to overheat.
How To identify the signs of an overheating CPU
Never take an overheated CPU easy task because if you keep using the overheating computer it will lead to permanent damage.
Listen to the CPU fans: Listen to your fan, CPU fans aren’t supposed to run at full speed all the time. (You can also install the best fan controller software to see the fan RPM)
PC becomes laggy/slow: Is your PC struggling to perform even simple tasks. Open Task Manager and check the Performance tab.
Dealing with random shutdowns and restarts: Is your PC shut itself down while using certain apps. Modern CPU has a fail-safe that shutdown PC when it starts overheating.
Check CPU temperature: Try using third-party CPU temperature monitor software to check the PC’s temperature. (Read our guide to understand the normal CPU temperature range)
How to cool down your computer and prevent CPU overheating
The most straightforward solution to keep your overheated CPU healthy is by placing your computer in a cold environment. If the problem is still there, then don’t worry there are other methods as well to control PC temperature.
Remove the computer’s cover
To fix the CPU overheating problem first remove the side panel of the computer but before doing so switch off the PC. Usually, this simple method solves the CPU overheating problem. Because more fresh air will quickly pass through PC components a result decreases PC heat.
Regularly clean your PC
To avoid CPU overheating, build a habit of regularly cleaning your PC. Because dust particles and debris accumulate in the PC case which blocks the passage of air from the surrounding.
In almost all overheating of the computer, there is piled-up dust in it which prevents effective airflow. To prevent overheating regularly clean your computer, for that you should buy a can of compressed air and a mechanical oil dropper.
Carefully remove dust from heat sinks and power supply fans. This method will surely help in decreasing the problem of CPU overheating in the computer.
Make sure that fans are running properly
Usually, there are three fans installed in every computer even the failure of one fan can increase the chances of CPU overheating. These three fans are located on the CPU, power supply unit, and back of the computer casing.
If you are facing computer overheating then there might be a problem with one of these fans. To solve this problem open the computer case and check if the fan is broken or is unplugged. Immediately fix the PC fan otherwise excess heat will damage the internal components of your PC.
Install a Liquid cooling system or buy a laptop cooling pad
The liquid cooling system is an alternate method to lower the CPU overheating threat. The water cooling system performs more compared to the common air cooling system.
Usually, those who overclock the CPU to gain more performance uses a liquid cooling system. If you have installed this type of cooling system then you should properly check it. If it is a leak then it will fry your internal hardware.
Create Enough Space for Ventilation in a Computer Case
Remove blockades from the front and back of the computer casing. It will increase the flow of fresh air and fix CPU overheating.
Reapply thermal paste
Thermal paste is a heat-conductive material connecting the CPU or GPU with the metal heat sinks that help dissipate heat to keep your PC cool. Thermal paste can dry out over time, especially if you regularly push your PC beyond its natural limits.
Related: Best Thermal Paste for CPU and GPU – PC Thermal Compound
Thermal paste is located in the PC, so you’ll have to take your device apart to replace it. Unless you’re an expert, find an experienced technician to do this. Reapplying thermal paste can be an effective cooling method, especially with older PCs.
Temporarily close programs or shut them down
The simplest way to cool down your CPU is to close an app that is consuming high disk usage or shut down your PC momentarily. It will cool down your computer and will also clean up and speed up your PC.
How Your PC Lowers Its Temperature?
Computer components generate heat during normal use, that’s why several cooling systems are built into most PCs to mitigate CPU temperature. The airflow is one of the most common cooling systems.
All computer cases draw cool air from the outside and expel hot air that builds up in the case. In this way, the chances of CPU overheating are reduced.
Related: 11 Easy Ways To Prevent Computer Overheating & Keep Your PC Cool
But how the main airflow works in your PC, depends on the computer’s case and design. The ordinary computer case has a single PC fan with vents on both sides.
To counter CPU overheating on high-performance PCs, you’ll likely see more than one intake and exhaust fan designed with the purpose to deliver proper airflow all over the interior components.
CPU and GPU are the biggest heat generators and have additional cooling systems placed on them. Usually, a heat-sink is attached to a CPU that’s designed to pull heat off the processor and an attached CPU fan throws that heat away from the CPU and heat-sink.
Conclusion
If your computer seems to be performing poorly, the fans are running on the full-throttle even when your PC is idle, or you get random shutdowns and blue screens, an overheating CPU could be the cause.
If you’ve cleaned out the case and components and replaced the thermal paste and still find your system is running too hot, consider replacing the fans or adjusting their placement within the case to optimize airflow.
