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A computer processor on a motherboard overheats and smokes, glowing yellow hot.

How to handle an overheating computer

Nov 2024
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Especially in the warmer months, overheating can be a real concern for computers. Computers can crash in cases of extreme heat, but even a little overheating can affect the lifespan of your storage and CPU. That’s why computers come with cooling systems as standard.

Cooling systems include convection or cooling fans, with water-cooled systems as a more niche option for performance enthusiasts. Larger, more important machines such as servers are kept in air-conditioned rooms with redundant fans in case of a fan failing. This is, however, impractical and largely unnecessary for home computers.

Identifying the problem of an overheating computer

A professional uses a laptop on a desk. The laptop shows a warning sign with a bulb thermometer, indicating an overheating problem.

How can you tell if your computer is overheating? There are some straightforward signs.

  • Your PC is hot to the touch: Computers will typically feel warm when in use, but there is a point past which it is detrimental to the system. Apps can be used to monitor computer temperatures. While CPUs vary, 90˚ Celsius or higher is typically abnormal and a sign to implement one or more remedies.
  • Your fans are noisy: Fans will obviously be more active when your computer is working harder. However, if they are loud enough that the noise is intrusive, that’s a sign they are either straining to deal with an unusually high temperature or they’re malfunctioning (which will likely lead to unusually high temperatures).
  • You experience abrupt shutdowns, screen freezes or blue screen crashes: Most computers have in-built “safety valves” to prevent damage in the event of overheating. While these can kick in abruptly and rarely come with user alerts, they are necessary to preserve the integrity of your system’s components.

What makes computers overheat?

An open computer case on a workbench encrusted with thick layers of dirt and dust.

Overheating is caused by a variety of factors, many of which are related.

  • Running too many applications or processes simultaneously: The harder your CPU is working, the more heat it produces. This can easily contribute to overheating in extreme circumstances, such as simultaneously gaming and livestreaming.
  • Too many tabs open: Much as with the above example, overuse of your computer’s web browsers can tax its CPU if overheating is possible. Tabs that have been inactive for a long period are usually not an issue, but opening several dozen all at once may create issues.
  • Unresponsive applications: If an application is failing to respond, your operating system is likely to allocate significant resources to trying to remedy the issue. Unfortunately, when application errors cannot easily be remedied, this can lead to ongoing high-intensity CPU usage and a risk of overheating.
  • Defective fans: Fans do a lot to control the temperature of computers’ internal components. While some systems come with redundant fans to maintain the internal temperature in the event of a mechanical failure, not all manufacturers go to this effort. A failing or defunct fan can be extremely dangerous for the components that rely on constant temperature control.
  • Outdated software: Programs that are not up to date with the latest security patches, operating system updates or other software developments can tax computers’ resources in several ways.
  • Dust build-up on fans and vents: Both fans and vents are invaluable for keeping computers at operational temperatures. Unfortunately, both are prone to becoming gummed up with dust over time, which reduces their effectiveness and can even contribute to mechanical failure.
  • Blocked air vents: Air vents are vulnerable to more than just dust. If access is obstructed by objects such as other hardware (like monitors, printers or external drives), they can fail in their task, meaning that heat remains in the system.
  • Viruses or other malware: While viruses and malware are rarely intended to cause mechanical failure via overheating, the additional stress that they put on a system’s resources can contribute to it.

Troubleshooting an overheating computer

A technician wearing gloves uses a brush to clean the inside of a computer case on a workbench.

When you’ve identified the cause of your computer’s overheating, you can act to mitigate it. Here are some common troubleshooting methods.

  • Clean your PC: Removing dust, dirt and other detritus in and on your PC can improve your computer’s airflow and performance. You should be cleaning your system at least twice a year. If you work in an area with a lot of particulate matter, such as an industrial building, consider cleaning your computer more regularly.
  • Improve airflow: Ensure your computer is resting on a hard surface so that its vents aren’t obstructed, with plenty of space around it on all sides. Printers and other peripherals are often responsible for blocking vents.
  • Check the fans: If your system’s fans are too loud or working badly, they may be blocked or malfunctioning. Cleaning your PC will improve the airflow. As a last resort, consider replacing your computer’s fans.
  • Reapply thermal paste: This heat-conductive substance connects a CPU/GPU to metal heat sinks so they can dissipate heat, but it can dry out over time, especially with computers regularly working at or beyond their limits. Unless you’re an expert, get an experienced technician to take apart your system and reapply the thermal paste.
  • Use an external cooling system: You can supplement your laptop’s ventilation with a cooling pad that blows cool air.
  • Shut down programs: This should go without saying, but reducing the workload on your computer is an easy way to cool it. Seek out which applications are the most resource intensive. You can use Windows Task Manager (found in the Start menu or Ctrl + Shift + Esc). The Processes tab shows you all the processes on your PC and how much memory they’re using. An application that uses a lot of CPU power can contribute to overheating – but you can close it and run it later, when your computer has cooled down and you have fewer apps running. Try to use only one resource-intensive app at a time and minimise tab usage in your browser, especially when you’re gaming or using other tools with a tendency to consume memory.
  • Refining the settings: You can potentially change your computer’s settings for better performance, depending on the kind of computer you have. You’ll need to investigate your specific computer model, and which settings are best for heightened performance. Adjusting these settings can reduce overheating by cutting down on pressure for your computer’s internal components.
  • Turn it off: Of course, the most reliable means of cooling down your computer is shutting it off to let it rest. Computers, much like humans, can benefit from a stretch of inactivity to return to their baseline.

If your computer is overheating because its memory and processing capabilities are being overtaxed, a memory upgrade may be helpful. Memory, such as Kingston’s FURY Renegade Pro DDR5 RDIMM, can make a substantial difference.

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