How to Fix an Overheating Computer?

There are times when your computer suddenly freezes or shuts down while you are in the process of using it such as encoding videos or playing computer games. There are also times when you will see the dreaded "blue screen of death". So, what exactly is the problem?

Well, you can come to terms with the fact that maybe, your computer is overheating, which usually happens when there is excessive heat coming from its components because the use of some applications. When this happens, you might feel a bit panicky, particularly because overheating may cause further hardware damage and may cause the computer to disintegrate-which is such a hassle because mostly everything that people do these days need the help of a computer. There are also other reasons why a computer overheats and here are some of them:

* Where it is placed. You might not think about this too much, but sometimes the location of your PC is the problem. You have to make sure that it is situated in a well-ventilated area so that the fans of the computer can do their job of getting cool air, and inhibiting warm air from getting in. It will also be nice if your air-conditioner or some other electric fans in your house are running, too.

* Over-clocking. This happens when the CPU runs in a way that's faster than it is supposed to. Sure, it's good to have a PC that works fast, but when you over-clock your CPU, you can also expect that your PC will overheat-and that its life won't last long.

* Dust. It's important that your CPU is clean, and that the fans are working, or else, dust will settle on the heat sink and it may cause the PC to smoke up.

How to Fix it?

If your PC is experiencing problems, do not worry. Listed below are some tips that would be able to help you prevent your computer from overheating.

* First and foremost, don't forget to check the specifications. Check the CPU's manuals to see how much heat it can handle. You can also check "UEFI" or "BIOS" settings to see the PC's temperature values, or download programs that will help you determine the amount of heat your computer is giving.

* Get to know where the heat is coming from. When air is not properly flowing, heat transfers to your computer, so check the air vents and see if they get to blow some air, or if they are just stagnant.

* Check if fans and other hardware are properly working. Sometimes, when a PC overheats, it is because fans, graphic cards, and other parts of the CPU were unplugged or failed from doing what they have to do. Lift the sticker off and drop some mineral oil so that it could work properly.

* Check for Proper Ventilation. Never put up the computer against a wall, a heating vent, or a radiator because these things would prevent the fans from cooling the CPU down.

* Work on heat sinks. Take off the heat sink first then apply some thermal paste again because it may already be old or it may not have been installed properly. This often happens to PC's with parts that have been brought overtime, and are not part of the original CPU in the first place.

* Don't use too much data. Sometimes, the problem is caused by the fact that there are too many running applications, especially those that run on start-up. Use the task manager to check how much data each application is getting, check for the amount of CPU usage, and how fast the processes load. If they take too much time, it means more work for your PC, which of course will cause it to heat up. Free up some space.

* And, don't forget to get rid of dust. From the computer case, to various hardware, dust accumulates and causes the PC to overheat. So it is best that you make sure that your PC is clean at all times. Clean the case to prevent build-up, and make sure to unscrew the doors of the fans so you can properly clean the fans themselves. Clean cooling channels, as well.

Prevention is better than cure

As cliché as it sounds, if you know how to take good care of your PC, it will not overheat. So, make sure that you check your PC's temperature, and keep the tips that were listed here in mind so you'd know what to do once you encounter this problem.