16 Ways to Keep Your Computer Cool from Overheating

We all know the importance of keeping your PC cool. It is the basic rule of the universe that every action has an equal and opposite reaction, so when you run something for a long time, obviously, it is going to dissipate heat. However, if you don’t keep your PC cool, you can face unexpected shutdowns, lost data, and hardware damage as well.

A computer is a concoction of many particles, and obviously, when they run, they generate heat. The primary heat dissipaters are the CPU, GPU, and power supply unit. So, if your computer overheats, it will shut down. There might be some data loss and hardware damage as well, which could be a nightmare.

No doubt, computer overheating is a huge nightmare. That is why we are all searching for ways to prevent overheating. Nowadays, many gadgets are put forth in the market that can help cool your PC down, but you do not have to spend a penny if you follow our methods provided here in this article.

We have described several methods in this article to help you learn how to cool your PC. So keep reading and stay tuned till the end!

Contents

How Does A Pc Keep Itself Cool To Prevent Computer Overheating?

Whether a desktop or a laptop, heat is dissipated out of the computer’s case. This is achieved with the use of PC fans. Computer fans are the primary cooling systems. If hot air cannot be removed, your computer will overheat. The problem can get so severe, and it will damage your PC.

We recommend checking your PC temperature from time to time. So, keeping your computer cool should be your top priority.

How Hot Is Too Hot For Cpu And Other Pc Components?

Your PC temperature varies depending on your hardware components. Each PC part dissipates heat differently and has a different temperature range. While focusing on overheating, keep an eye out for how hot your GPU should be. As we already said, it is one of the leading causes of your system overheating.

Your GPU temperature should be 60 to 80 degrees when you play games. If it goes beyond 80 degrees, it will cause overheating. The idle temperature should be between 45 to 63 degrees.

Ways To Prevent Computer Overheating From Desktop Pc And Laptop

There are several ways you can prevent your computer from overheating. We have described several methods in this article. Instead of spending money on expensive gadgets, try these DIY methods for an easy solution.

1. Allow Airflow

This is, by far, one of the simplest ways to prevent overheating. To keep your computer cool, all you have to do is give a little breathing room. You can achieve this by removing any obstacles in the way of your air vents.

To help improve airflow, there should ideally be 2 to 3 inches wide space surrounding your computer. Significantly, the backside is the problem area, so make sure that nothing is sitting at the backside of your computer. Besides this, you can also place an external computer fan to provide even more airflow.

If your computer is kept inside a desk, make sure that the door is kept open most of the time. The cool air enters from the front and leaves out the back. If you keep the door closed all day, hot air cannot escape and keeps recirculating and makes your computer overheat.

2. Your Computer

There are fans inside your PC that cool all the hardware and prevent your CPU from overheating. But a lot of times, fans do not put forth the performance they are supposed to. Besides this, your vents can clog up due to dirt, dust, pet hair being trapped. This causes fans to block and trap hot air, and it will most definitely heat your system up.

It does not matter if your PC is modern or spacious. Dust will always find a way to get in your case. As a result, fans are louder than usual and become overheated too. The best way to avoid it is to clean your PC parts every other day, and that can be achieved with the help of compressed air, microfiber cloth, and 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Open your computer and clean each fan. Then, you can blast them with a can of compressed air or use an alcohol-soaked cloth. Shut down your computer before doing this and take it outside to open space. If this does not solve your problem, you might be dealing with a broken fan.

3. Set Higher Fan Speeds

Your computers are set to a specific default speed. But, sometimes, they do not provide sufficient cooling. This is because fans run too slowly at times and do not cool your PC down. Another main culprit is the GPU, and it provides a lot of heat dissipation. The software of a GPU activates the GPU’s fan under a specific load range. So, downloading software like SpeedFan is the best PC fan controller software. 

This software allows you to enhance your PC’s cooling because it will enable you to manually increase or decrease your fan speed. You have to click on the up arrow to increase the fan speed percentage. If you keep your fan speed at around 50%, this will keep your PC running at cool temperatures.

4. Improve Cable Management

If you own a PC, you know that the hardware cable takes a lot of space on your PC. In some cases, if you do not tidy up your space, cables are twisted and curled around your computer, and this can cause overheating due to airflow obstruction.

Buy zip ties and create a clean and tidy, fuss-free cable environment to overcome this headache. Always turn your PC off before you do this to avoid getting electrocuted. This requires plugging and unplugging your components, so always make sure to switch off your PC.

5. Install More Case Fans

Installing case fans solves all your overheating problems. But this will cost you around 10 dollars. The more fans, the better the airflow.

Case fans are small fans. You can attach them to the front or back. The primary role of a cooling fan is to help circulate air throughout the computer. Fresh air is circulated through the system, and hot air is taken out, leading to better efficiency and a cooler system. Install two case fans, minimum, to help you achieve optimum cooling. Case fans are easy to install as well. However, laptops do not have this option, and it is best to buy them a cooling pad.

6. Stop Overclocking

Overclocking causes overheating. We all know that. This is because when your system overclocks, it pushes your computer’s limits and causes an increase in the temperature of your CPU and other hardware.

7. Upgrade Cpu Cooler

The CPU is one of the most critical parts of your computer. It is the brain of the whole thing. So, it is also the most potential to heat and cause problems. Upgrading the fan in your PC will ultimately cool better, providing better airflow.

The cooler should only be replaced when all other cooling solutions fail you. When installed, there are lots of CPU coolers in the market, which provide efficient and better cooling. They come in large and small heat sinks. Large ones, obviously, absorb more heat due to having a larger surface area, and smaller ones would obviously provide lesser cooling compared to larger heatsinks. Be sure to know the size of your case before purchasing one, though.

8. Replace The Power Supply

Upgrading your power supply unit will enhance cooling. The power supply has a huge fan built into it. If you do not have a case fan, your heat is dissipated only through the power supply fan. So, it will cause your system to heat up.

Unfortunately, you have to replace the entire power supply because you can not replace the power supply fan.

9. Install A Water-cooling Kit

This method requires you to splurge quite a bit. So, this should be your last resort when all other methods fail you. A water-cooling kit is ideal for high-end computers. High-end computers are more prone to overheating. So, installing a water-cooling kit can significantly reduce the amount of heat produced, thus providing optimal cooling.

The ideal thing about this is that it does not require a lot of space. The mechanism by which this works is that a fluid circulates, and that fluid absorbs all the heat and is cooled by a radiator placed inside or outside your case. They are also quite easy to install too.

10. Install A Phase Change Unit

The most useful of all cooling technologies, by all means, are phase change units. It is like a refrigerator but for your CPU. It pretty much uses technology that is similar to a fridge.

They, however, put quite a strain on your wallet and can range in price from 1000 dollars to 10,000 dollars.

11. Reapply Thermal Paste On Cpu

Thermal paste wears away with time. So, it is vital to maintain a normal temperature. It also prevents your system from overheating. It is applied in between the heat sinks and the components.

You can only apply thermal paste on the CPU and GPU. The better the quality, the better the cooling. If you buy a low-quality paste, it will stop working with time and require you to reapply frequently, so invest in a high-quality paste.

12. Use A Laptop Cooling Pad

Laptops do not have the option of installing a case fan, so simply buy a cooling pad for your laptop to keep them cool. It is inexpensive and connects with your laptop through a USB port.

13. Avoid Using Programs That Push Your Computer’s Cpu Limits

If your computer is running many programs at once or running a program that requires a lot of power, the internal components will work beyond their limits, and your system will begin to overheat.

14. Clean Your Computer’s Fans And Vents

Regularly cleaning the vents and fans will prevent debris build-up and provide for more efficient cooling and better performance of your PC or laptop.

15. Change Your Computer’s Settings To Improve Its Performance

Depending on the computer you own, you can change your computer’s settings and enhance the fan speed to help your system stay cooler.

16. Shut Down The Computer

This is by far the easiest method. If you feel that your system is overheating, give it a break. Simply shut it down, and let it rest and breathe for a while. Even we need to sleep to recharge, so your computers are no different.

Related:
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Nick Miller

It's Nick Miller a 25 year old tech enthusiast and senior editor at Flexgate, i try to make tech simple for the everyday person. You will find review about tech, tools and Computer hardware here.

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