Why Is My Computer Overheating? - 7 Possible Reasons Why Your Computer Is Overheating

Date First Published: 23rd March 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Article Type: Computer Questions & Answers

Difficulty Level: 3/10

Learn about why your computer is overheating in this article.

If your computer overheats, it becomes too hot and exceeds the ideal temperature required to run properly and avoid damage to components. This will cause it to abruptly shut down without warning to prevent further damage to its components. The motherboard temperature sensor instructs hardware, such as the hard drive and CPU to slow down to avoid further damage. Overheating of the CPU can cause instabilities in the processing of computer instructions and even destroy it. This article will explore 7 possible reasons why your computer is overheating and how to resolve those issues.

1. Dust Blocking The Fans Or Air Vents

Dust can build up over time and block the fans or air vents and cause the CPU or GPU to overheat. When the fans or air vents are blocked with dust, the airflow and cooling are insufficient. Resolving this issue is quite easy. To resolve it, fully turn off and unplug your computer, remove the side case, and use a small brush or a dusting cloth to get rid of the dust from each component. Before turning your computer on again, make sure that each component is free of dust, not just the fans or air vents. It is best to do this at least once every six months to prevent too much dust from building up inside your computer.

2. Too Many Overly Intense Applications Or Programs

Some applications or programs are too intense and use up more power than your computer can handle, which can cause it to overheat. Avoid using programs that use up excessive CPU power. Your CPU will generate more heat if you make it work harder and when it is overloaded for a long time, temperatures can get too high and generate extra heat that your computer might not be able to handle. To resolve this problem, check your applications to see how much computing power they take up. In Windows, Task Manager will show the most demanding applications. To open it, use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + Esc. Not using too many resource-intensive programs at the same time and reducing the number of programs running at once can also help prevent overheating.

3. Computer Being Placed In Direct Sunlight

Placing your computer in direct sunlight or in a room without proper air ventilation can cause your computer to overheat. You should keep your computer out of direct sunlight and avoid using it in a hot environment. If you use a laptop and don't have access to a well-shaded or air-conditioned room, you could consider using a laptop cooling pad that helps keeps your laptop running at lower temperatures for longer.

4. Virus Or Malware Infection

Viruses and malware can heavily consume computer resources without you knowing, such as the CPU and cause them to overheat. In order to resolve this issue, fully scan your computer for viruses and malware using the built-in antivirus or another antivirus that you have got installed on your computer. After the full scan has finished, remove any viruses or malware that it detects and then restart your computer.

5. Using The Wrong Laptop Power Adapter

If you use the wrong laptop power adapter (e.g. you use a charger with a higher wattage than your laptop requires), it can cause the battery and circuitry of your laptop to overheat and damage it. This issue can happen if you use more than one laptop and accidentally use the other laptop's charger. Make sure that you are using the right power adapter for your laptop and that it is not faulty.

6. Malfunctioning Or Insufficient Cooling System

All computers come with an internal cooling system. The cooling system usually consists of a small fan, which increases air circulation throughout the casing and points at the components that produce heat to lower the temperature. If the cooling system is insufficient or malfunctioning, it might not be pointing at the components. If the cooling system of your computer is malfunctioning or insufficient for its needs, it won't be able to properly regulate the temperature of the components, causing them to overheat.

7. Overusage

If you often use your computer for hours and hours without shutting it down or putting it in sleep mode, it can cause it to overheat, especially if you have been using intense applications or programs that use up a lot of computing resources. Giving your computer a break for some time will help give the components time to cool down and will reduce the amount of heat generated.

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