How to Deal with Desktop Computer Overheating?
Why Overheating is Bad for Computer
Health?
If your computer becomes
too hot, it is possible to destroy and shorten the lifespan of the hardware
inside your computer, leading to irreparable damage and potential data loss.
Besides losing your data, heat pecks away at your computer's internal
organs—the motherboard, CPU, and more—significantly shortening its lifespan.
Besides the most obvious
reason to keep your computer cool, a hot computer will also run slower than a
cooler computer. So to prevent your computer from slowing down, make sure that
it is running at a moderate or low temperature.
What Temperature Should My Computer Be
Running At?
Because of the different
types of computer makes and models out there, the safe temperature range your
computer should run at varies. The safe operating range depends on
things like processor type, manufacturer, and other factors that make it
impossible to give an answer that applies to all CPUs.
Most monitoring software will try to identify your system type so it can accurately interpret the temperatures a PC generates. But this tends to be a broad-brush, approximate approach.
For greater precision, you can look up the optimal operating temperatures for your system on the maker’s website. For example, if Intel says your laptop’s CPU chip has a maximum safe operating temperature of 100°C, with that information in hand, you can more accurately confirm that the machine is not overheating.
All the major system vendors and component makers publish similar data, often in technical sections of online product spec sheets.
According to the folks at
the Overclockers Club (a site dedicated to pushing CPU performance to its
limits without overheating your CPU): “AMD and Intel both have maximum
temperature ratings for their CPUs listed around 80C. If your CPU gets this
hot, you've got some serious problems. Most people try and keep the CPU
temperature below 40C at idle and below 55C at load”.
How
to Check PC Temperature?
Most motherboards, CPUs, and hard drives have
temperature sensors built in. Oddly, most operating systems largely ignore
these sensors. But with the right software, you can tap into your PC’s built-in
sensors to tell exactly how hot it is inside the case.
Several freeware programs to check temperature on
your PC will be reviewed in the freeware section of this blog for your
convenience.
The Heat Is On
The truth of the matter is, anything that consumes
energy generates heat. The power supply, the processor, the graphics card, the
hard drives, and all the other components of the computer that require power
for it to function generate heat. The amount of heat depends on the
device - for example processors and video cards generate HUGE amounts of
heat. You have probably noticed at one time or another, the big finned
heat-sinks (cooling devices) on some of the components inside your
computer. These are there to help preserve the useful life of these
devices.
It is true that all personal computers, whether they
are Desktop PCs or Notebook PCs, come with a cooling system. However, the
standard cooling system that comes with your PC may not ultimately be adequate
for the PC you now have. Plus, to work efficiently in protecting your PC
from overheating and possible damage, several things have to be considered. We
will provide some practical recommendations below.
Air Flow
PCs are generally air cooled. This means they
need lots of air flowing inside them to carry the heat out of their
chassis. To keep the internal airflow at maximum there are a few things
to watch out for in your desktop computer:
- Keep Cables Neat - the cables inside your computer can become a block to proper airflow, so be sure they are organized so that they do not restrict airflow. Whenever you repair a PC, try to avoid using excessively long cables. Long cables can take up space within the case and inhibit airflow.
- Dust - accumulating dust inside your PC can be deadly. It acts to insulate the devices it covers, keeping heat in, plus dust clogged fans and vents restrict the amount of airflow possible. Keep your PC blown out and dusted regularly.
- Fans - periodically check your PC's fans to make sure they are working effectively. Fans can fail, resulting in significant reductions in airflow - in some systems a single fan failure can be enough to damage your PC.
- Covers On Tight - your PC's chassis was designed for proper internal airflow across the various components. However, if your PC's enclosure is open, this then dramatically changes the cooling dynamic. It can reduce or eliminate cooling of some components altogether, so make sure the case's cover in on tight.
PC Placement
As mentioned before, good airflow inside the PC is
very important, but airflow around the outside is important as well.
Blocking the exhaust or intakes can reduce the internal airflow substantially.
Set up your personal computer away from other
equipment or appliances that generate heat. Keep your personal computer
away from direct sunlight, and make sure that your PC is placed in a
well-ventilated area. Placing Desktop PCs and their monitors flat against walls
or in enclosed areas should be avoided - leave at least 6 inches of space
between the back of the PC and the wall.
Desktop PCs have ventilation fans at the rear of the
unit, and depending on its design, may even have ventilation fans on its sides,
top, or at the front of the unit. Make sure that these ventilation fans are not
blocked in anyway as to constrict the airflow that is needed to cool the
internal components.
Some people place their Desktop PCs on the floor.
While this may save your desk space, having your PC on the floor also makes it
more susceptible to dust (and animal hair if you have pets in the house). It is
safer to keep your PC off of the floor to minimize foreign matter from entering
the computer case. Avoid placing the Desktop PC near drapes as they may
end up blocking the ventilation of the computer case as well.
Other Recommendations
When purchasing a new PC, some advanced planning can
save you the trouble of dealing with an overheating PC. Choose a Desktop PC
case which is large enough to easily accept all the components you wish to
install, and still have strong airflow. A good case with enough breathing room
will help deal with cooling issues well into the future. However, if you are
building a system, buy a case with extra ventilation to be on the safe
side.
If you are installing multiple hard drives, do not
stack them one on top of the other (if possible). Skip a drive bay to allow air
to flow between the hard drives. Keep your cables tidy. Tucking them to the
side opens up the airways and lessens air turbulence inside the Desktop PC case
increasing airflow. Likewise, choose a good power supply unit equipped with a
large fans to efficiently extract the hot air from the Desktop PC case.
Make sure the CPU cooling system is adequate and be
sure that the CPU heat sink is installed per the manufacturer's
requirements. The same for your video card - be sure it also has adequate
cooling, since the CPU and video card tend to be the devices that produce the
most heat.
Another great
option for controlling heat is to begin replacing traditional hard drives with
solid-state drives. Solid-state drives do not contain any moving parts and
therefore operate at a cooler temperature than regular hard drives do.
If you're not sure
what overclocking is, you're probably not doing it so you don't have to worry
about it. To the rest of you, you're well aware that overclocking pushes your
computer's capabilities to its limits. What you may not realize is that these
changes have a direct effect on the temperature that your CPU and any other
overclocked components operate at. If you're overclocking your PC's hardware
but haven't taken other precautions to keep that hardware cool, I definitely
recommend reconfiguring your hardware to factory default settings.
If your Computer Overheats Anyway
Here's a word of caution: If your computer is
overheating, resist the urge to take the side of the case off the computer.
It's a rookie mistake that will often make the problem worse. Because most
computers are very carefully designed to ensure that cool air is delivered to
critical components, removing the side of the case disrupts the circulation
(convection) system.
Instead, shut down the computer and let it cool
down. From then on, you can plan a course of action that involves doing some
cleaning if necessary, potentially upgrading your BIOS (check your
motherboard's manual or web site for details), or planning some system-cooling
upgrades if necessary.
If your computer is clean, your BIOS is up to date,
and you're still having temperature problems, crack open your computer and
check for damaged fans and heat sinks. Check for cracks, missing pieces, and
make sure all the push pins are secure and all the appropriate fans are
running. Secure and/or replace any loose or damaged cables. If you find you've
got broken fans or a damaged heatsink, you can buy and install new cooling
hardware for relatively cheap, and finding a highly rated, compatible fan or
heatsink can potentially go a long ways toward keeping your computer cooler.
Sources
and Additional Information:
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