Have you ever been playing a game, or watching a movie and your computer has started to slow down or stutter? This is usually because the CPU fan is no longer effective at keeping the processor cool.
Big computers generate a lot of heat and this can slow down performance and damage your hardware. To keep your system healthy you need to ventilate properly as well as use high-performance components. Heating and cooling are important processes in nature and the same is true in computers.
Your computer is one of the many electronic devices in your home and uses a lot of power to do its work. This means that your PC generates a lot of heat, especially if it’s an older device that has been performing non-stop for years.
The warmth can increase the risk of overheating, which can lead to more severe damage on your computer, causing it to fail entirely. Although the consequences are significant and you should find a way to keep your computer cool, you don’t have to go overboard with purchasing expensive cooling devices or spending hours each day trying to figure out how to keep your computer cool.
If you’re a gamer or an overclocker then knowing how to keep your PC cool is essential. Not only will a lack of cooling affect performance but can pose a risk of damaging components. Heat has the ability to warp your components and shorten their life span so making sure your PC is properly cooled can give it an extended lifespan.
It’s not just gamers and overclockers who need to know how to keep their PC cool though; if you’re a standard computer user with a laptop or desktop then your system is at similar risk of overheating if temperatures aren’t kept in check.
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You can avoid this problem by making sure your processor is properly cooled, following these ten easy rules.
1 Clean PC or Laptop fans
Computers generate heat, and they need fans to be able to dissipate that heat. You’ll need to have your computer open in order to clean the fans; if you don’t know how to open your computer, ask someone else who knows or use a guide online.https://www.youtube.com/embed/dmm_9jH7s7w?feature=oembed
One of the easiest ways to keep your computer running cool is to keep the fans clean. Dirt and dust can accumulate in the grills on your fans, causing them to spin slower and not providing enough air movement. Of course, cleaning your fans happens to be one of the cheapest ways to troubleshoot cooling issues as well. By doing so, you might discover why a fan has been running faster than normal or noisy beyond belief.
2 Close your PC system case.
You’re looking at your system, and it’s really warm. What do you do? Most people recommend you start by closing your PC case. This is one of the most common PC maintenance tips and tricks to keep your PC nice and cool. But why? Why does closing the case help keeps it from overheating, slowing down, or even crashing altogether? Something so simple should have a pretty straightforward answer, but that’s not always the case when dealing with computers.
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In addition to cleaning the dust out of your computer and case regularly, try keeping it closed when the system is on and not in use. This prevents miscellaneous dust from getting in and making your computer work harder than it needs to. Not only will your system run cooler then, but it will also be more reliable.
3 Keep your PC in a Cool Place
The first thing you’ll want to do is to consider where your computer is situated. It’s not uncommon for a new computer to overheat — especially if it’s in an area that’s hotter or has a lot of dust. Have you considered changing the location of your computer? I’d recommend using a fan as well . The one that came with your computer might not be enough, and this could lead to overheating.
Computers do not like to be near temperature-sensitive areas (like windows) because of the rapid changes in air temperature. Ensure your computer is away from heat vents, as this will help reduce the heat put off by your machine, keeping it cool.
4 Don’t restrict airflow
If you want your computer to live as long as possible, it’s important to take steps to keep it cool. While most desktops and laptops include a fan (or fans) that help regulate the internal temperature, those fans can’t always overcome the heat from high-powered components. If you add additional devices or wire in some gaming peripherals, there will be no room for additional ventilation, which will elevate temperatures and cause your computer to work harder and run slower.
When I built my first gaming rig a couple of years ago it took me several attempts to get my computer’s temperature down to a reasonable level. The CPU and graphics card are the most common components to heat up, but the motherboard, hard drives, and memory chips can heat up too. Everyone knows that if you have an overheating system you could cause damage to your PC, but it can be tough to predict when they’ll overheat and what you should do. Luckily it’s quite easy to keep your PC cool by taking some precautions, keeping clutter off your desk, and making sure your fans are running strong. With a little effort you can ensure that your PC is safe from overheating.
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I keep my laptop in my lap most of the time and it gets pretty warm. I’m guessing a lot of us do the same. The problem with that is many people have their laptops sitting on bedsheets, carpets and couches which block off space for the fan to circulate. With less space for the heat to escape, your CPU fan has to work harder to keep your system cool. This shortens the lifespan on your laptop or desktop and can also lead to other heat-related problems, such as glitches and crashes.
5 Upgrade CPU fan
CPU fans are designed for cooling CPUs, but also cool other parts of your computer. Despite their ability to regulate temperatures in a few different ways, all CPU fans are designed for one purpose; to keep your computers central processing unit (CPU) from overheating. That said, you should upgrade your CPU fan if your monitor starts showing messages like “CPU overheat detected,” or if you’ve exhausted all other means to lower the temperature in your computer case.
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Most CPUs come preinstalled with lower-end fans that are engineered to cool your processor just enough to keep it running—and nothing more. For this reason, you’ll want to consider upgrading to a better CPU fan. This can help keep CPU temperatures down.
Unlike your graphics card, the larger the fan size, the better your CPU will generally be cooled. Be sure to take your case’s dimensions into consideration, though. If you’re using a smaller case that may not have enough room for a full-sized CPU fan, you can still purchase CPU fans that are shorter in height while maintaining nearly the same size of fan blades.
6 Add more Case fans
Add a case fan. As I’ve said earlier, performance-enhancing memory and graphic cards generate a lot of heat. Adding additional case fans can help increase airflow to your components by attaching to the front, back and sides of the system.
Adding a case fan can help keep your PC’s temperature in check. One or two 120mm fans in the back or top of a desktop computer can move hot air out, while one 80 mm fan in the front or bottom of a desktop can provide cool air for internal components.
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The last thing you want is for your high-powered gaming rig to melt into a smoking heap because you were too busy playing with overclocking settings or adding an advanced graphics card. You’re enamored with the idea of boosting the speed of your CPU or plugging in another gigabyte of DDR4 memory, but there are many ways to overclock your system and add memory without frying important computer components. Many people don’t realise this, but upgrading your Case fan is a start.
7 Add a memory cooling fan
For added peace of mind and to avoid headaches down the road, we recommend adding a cooling fan for you memory. Since it’s an active component in your PC that’s likely to overheat, memory can be a failure point for your computer if temperatures rise too high. So to help keep things cool in there, try one of these memory cooling fans.
8 Keep PC power supply fan in Check
Have you ever wondered how to keep your PC cool? One of the easiest ways is to check your system’s power supply fan. If your computer takes a long time to boot up and if the screen has been frozen for a while, you should check your system’s power supply fan. It might be pushing out hot air in the back or side of your PC case, instead of pushing hot air outside. This occurs when your power supply fan starts to wear down.
The power supply is the component that powers all of the other components in your computer. Without a working power supply, your computer won’t turn on. A modern PC’s power supply fan is supposed to run all the time, pushing air out of the case and pulling cool air in. If you don’t have a case fan, make sure your power supply fan is working. In some cases, a bad power supply fan can cause other parts of your PC to overheat and fail. You’ll generally hear you’re PS failing before you notice performance issues, like slow boot times or a system that feels sluggish when using it.
9 Buy a water cooling kit
If you have a gaming computer with a high-end CPU, overclocking, and adequate ventilation and cooling, you may still have overheating problems. Water cooling kits can solve this problem by cycling an unlimited supply of cool water from the case to the CPU via self-contained tubes, bypassing the more temperamental airflow and cooling requirements of a computer case fan. From there, the water is cooled in a drain at the back of your case before returning to the CPU for additional cooling. The process is similar to circulating liquid through your car engine — it is pumped through instead of air.
If you’re not sold on water cooling kits, you can opt for a specially designed CPU cooler. These fans attach directly to the CPU and draw air toward the processor using thermoelectric technology. While they’re less effective than water cooling kits, they’re also less expensive and easier to install.
10 Limit Overclocking
If you haven’t heard of overclocking, it basically involves increasing the speed of your hardware beyond its rated specifications. This enhances performance but also generates more heat.
Overclocking your components is a quick and easy way to get the most from your PC. XMP memory profiles can easily push your system’s performance to new heights. I’ve overclocked several Ballistix modules over the last couple of months using XMP, with great results. Just remember to keep a close eye on your temperatures!
Okay, we know that pushing your PC to its limits can lead to higher performance overall, but is it worth the risk? Overclocking can be tricky, and should be considered a last resort when looking for better performance. That’s why we recommend starting with the simple stuff first, like updating your operating system. Similarly, you should look into cooling the key components in your computer that are most likely causing your CPU or GPU to overheat. Although not always a guaranteed solution, these methods can be tried before overclocking.
Summary on How to keep your PC cool while gaming?
Why the heck did I compile this list? Well, if you have overclocked your system in the past, you know about the importance of keeping your system cool. While a lot of beginners don’t give much thought to cooling, it’s actually not as difficult as you might think. In essence, all you really need is good airflow and sufficient space to dissipate heat. By following these simple cooling guidelines and tips, you will be able to get the maximum performance from your PC – without going broke on water-cooling setups.
