The cooling system is the Achilles heel of many modern gaming laptops. Almost all of them are designed without any safety margin in this regard: the chip temperatures barely exceed 80 or even 90 degrees, and the frequencies automatically drop. How to help your gamebook not suffer in the heat? We give some useful tips.
Clean the dust
Compressed air cylinder
If your laptop has been serving you faithfully for at least a year, then this operation is simply necessary. And especially if you also have pets living with you. The main thing in this matter is to carefully disassemble the laptop and not damage anything with a discharge of static electricity. The best way to combat dust is a can of compressed air, since the cooler can be difficult to get to. It’s better, of course, to also keep a vacuum cleaner ready so that dust doesn’t scatter throughout the room and eventually get into your lungs or back into your laptop.
Change thermal paste
Liquid metal plate
Manufacturers often take an irresponsible approach to such simple things as the choice and method of applying thermal paste. Because of this, even a completely new laptop may not work at its best, allowing the processor and video card to overheat and reduce frequencies. Therefore, as soon as the device’s warranty expires, feel free to arm yourself with a screwdriver and thermal pads made of liquid metal - they will perfectly replace thermal paste and allow you to reduce the operating temperature of the chips.
Place on a ventilated surface
Table for a laptop
No matter how hard manufacturers try to provide all the options for using a laptop, it is difficult to do so. Therefore, you need to pay attention to the conditions under which you play on your laptop. In other words, it's best to place a running laptop on a flat surface rather than letting it sink into a blanket, for example. Also, do not place anything close to the ventilation surfaces at the back, so as not to prevent hot air from escaping. Finally, you can even take a closer look at special laptop stands with a built-in fan.
Limit frames per second
Another simple, but not the most pleasant way is to limit FPS. If the frame rate per second is not fixed, then the laptop will show as many frames as it can render. Because of this, its performance will be used to its full potential during games. However, if you limit the number of frames, for example, to 30, you will make the work of your laptop much easier, which means the temperatures of the processor and video card will decrease. To do this, you can use the MSI Afterburner program.
Many laptop users quite often experience overheating of their PCs. The internal cooler of the laptop begins to hum strongly, the computer freezes or suddenly reboots, sometimes the user even encounters the Blue Screen of Death. Constant overheating can ultimately damage the laptop, so you need to be very attentive to such processes and promptly identify and eliminate the causes of overheating. In this article I will tell you what to do if the laptop overheats and turns off, what causes this problem, and what actions will help us reduce overheating or even minimize it.
As you know, overheating of a laptop occurs due to trivial physical processes - the operation of electrical components is associated with the release of heat, and the greater the load on these components, the more heat is generated. To combat the heat generated, there is an internal laptop cooling system, aimed primarily at reducing the heating of the central processor.
If the cooling system no longer copes with cooling the insides of the PC (wear of the system, insufficient quality level of its development, drying out of thermal paste, etc.), then overheating of individual system components reaches a critical level, which causes the computer to turn off, freeze, reduce performance, or even possibly lead to its failure.
Reasons for laptop overheating and shutting down
- Clogging of the insides of the computer (in particular the cooling system) with dust. An important element of the internal cooling system is the cooler, thanks to which heated air from the laptop gets outside. The hole through which the heated air comes out (usually the radiator honeycomb) can be clogged with lumps of dust (dust felt), as a result of which the efficiency of the cooling system decreases;
- The laptop is regularly placed on various soft (fluffy) surfaces, due to which the ventilation hole of the laptop is completely (or partially) closed. As a result, the laptop does not ventilate; warm air remains inside, which causes the PC to overheat;
- Malfunction of individual electronic components of the computer. For example, some microcircuits may stop functioning normally, which, in particular, leads to their overheating;
- Malignant activity of virus programs. Some malignant software can heavily load the central processor, causing it to heat up;
- Incorrect cooling system settings in the BIOS can also cause your PC to overheat.
What to do if your laptop gets very hot and makes noise?
So, the laptop overheats and turns off, what should you do? The entire range of solutions can be divided into two main subsections: hardware solutions and software solutions.
Hardware solutions for PC overheating
If your laptop gets very hot and turns off, then in the vast majority of cases this is due to a number of hardware reasons that I described above. To correct the situation, you need to do the following:
- Clean the laptop (in particular the cooling system) from dust. Since clogging the system with dust is the most common cause of laptop overheating, it is necessary to remove the battery, bottom cover, cooler and clean the PC from dust (paying special attention to the radiator honeycombs). A good option may be to clean the radiator honeycomb from the outside using a vacuum cleaner, which will help get rid of accumulated dust felt.
It is also recommended to clean the motherboard itself from dust, but if you do not have enough qualifications to properly disassemble the laptop (access to the motherboard is somewhat difficult here), then I advise you to seek help from the nearest service center.
Software solutions for high CPU temperature
The cause of laptop overheating may also have a software basis. In such a situation, the answer to the question “how to get rid of overheating of a laptop” can be the following actions:
- Check your system for viruses. Such programs as Dr.Web CureIt!, Trojan Remover, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware and a number of other analogues will help;
- Instead of “High performance”, you should consider changing the power plan to “Balanced”, which will reduce the load on the processor;
- Remove unnecessary programs (especially those that are loaded through startup), this will help unload the system;
- Check your BIOS settings. It should not set restrictions on cooler speed, and the PC shutdown temperature threshold should not be too low (for example, 60 °C).
Also, if your laptop is overheating, we can recommend a few more tips:
- Do not keep the laptop in direct sunlight (for example, on a windowsill), as this will only cause it to overheat;
- Likewise, do not keep your laptop near radiators;
- Place the laptop on a hard surface (it is best to use a cooling pad), make sure that nothing blocks the ventilation hole of the laptop;
- Turn off your computer when you are not using it (especially when you are not at home).
Video
If your laptop overheats and turns off, then, first of all, you should determine the cause of the problem, and only then perform a set of actions to fix it. The most common cause of overheating is the laptop being clogged with dust, so it is necessary to remove the bottom cover of the laptop and clean the PC from dust (paying special attention to the cooling system). This will normalize the operation of your computer, making it fast, stable and reliable again.
In contact with
If you don’t know and if this is not the first time you have noticed that its case gets very hot, the cooler inside the laptop makes a very loud noise, and your laptop, previously fast and reliable in operation, now often slows down and crashes, and perhaps it began to suddenly turn off during your work and you just can’t understand the reason for this behavior of your computer, then it is quite possible that the root of the above troubles is overheating of the laptop itself, which, ultimately, can lead to the final failure of your device. In this material, we will look at the reasons for your laptop overheating, give tips on how to avoid it, and also look at methods for cleaning the cooling system, which will make your PC reliable, fast, and durable in operation.
What is “laptop overheating” and what to do if it gets too hot?
As a laptop operates, its electrical components consume electrical current, some of which turns into heat, helping to raise the temperature inside the PC case. Therefore, the greater the load on the central processor and video card, on the north and south bridges (chips) of the laptop, the more heat will be generated inside your computer, the more noise the cooler will make, the more your computer will overheat and crash.
Note that older laptops heat up significantly more than modern models, which is due to the use of less efficient cooling systems. Modern innovations and improvements in the quality of overheating control make it possible to improve the cooling process of modern laptops, making the operation of such PCs more efficient and reliable. Plus, modern processors are manufactured using improved energy-saving technologies that help significantly save energy consumption and reduce processor heat dissipation.
Why is my laptop overheating?
There are several reasons for a laptop to overheat; we will look at the most common ones. So:
A significant load on the system components of your laptop, causing overheating, can be caused by many simultaneously running utilities, browser tabs, as well as powerful modern computer games that use many of your computer's resources. Moreover, the use of such programs on office laptops, not intended for powerful and resource-intensive games, causes significant overheating such computers.
Cooling system contamination
A standard laptop cooling system usually consists of a radiator, a cooler (fan) and a heat pipe, as well as vents on the case.
Contamination of these holes, the accumulation of dust and all sorts of fluffy parts of matter there can make it impossible for hot air to fully escape from the laptop case, leading to its concentration inside, which can cause overheating and malfunctions of the computer.
If the user practices careless operation of his laptop, keeps it in dusty rooms and on various fleecy surfaces, and does not clean the cooling system, then the laptop will begin to overheat, and then may even fail, and this can happen within a year or two after its use. purchases.
Cooling system failure
The laptop cooling system may break down, the fans (coolers) will fail, the thermal paste, the function of which is to remove heat from the hottest elements of the system, will dry out, and the heat pipe may also break. Typically, system elements do not fail overnight; there is a gradual decrease in their performance (the cooler begins to hum and vibrate, the system begins to periodically turn off, etc.). Therefore, if your laptop cooler is loud or the system suddenly turns off - It is worth checking the functionality of the cooling system, and if necessary - replace faulty elements.
How to deal with laptop overheating?
To ensure long-term and reliable operation of your computer, it is worth focusing on the basic methods of combating its overheating. Namely:
Reduce CPU load
Try not to run many applications and web pages at the same time, this significantly increases the load on your laptop, causing it to " slowdowns", overheating and so on. Various virus programs that work hidden from the user and significantly load the processor also contribute to overheating of the computer. Conduct an anti-virus scan of your computer, do not run many resource-intensive applications at the same time, do not try to overclock your “office” laptop for resource-intensive gaming programs - and your laptop will be able to avoid overheating and will work reliably and efficiently.
Cleaning the laptop cooling system from clogging
It is necessary to adhere to the correct technique for using a laptop, do not work with it on all sorts of fluffy and soft surfaces (sofa, bed), since particles of wool and dust get into the ventilation holes of the laptop and clog them, preventing fresh air from entering inside your laptop. Therefore, it is better to keep your PC on flat surfaces (for example, on a table) or on your lap in such a position that the ventilation holes are always open and fresh air can easily flow inside.
It is also necessary to regularly (at least once a month) clean the ventilation holes in the housing from clogging. To do this, you need to remove the bottom cover of the laptop, unscrew the fastening screws, remove the cooler, and then clean the ventilation holes with a brush, removing balls of dust and hair from them. Then you should put the cooler in place, tighten its screws, and then close the bottom cover. If you feel unprepared for such a procedure, then contact a service center or IT specialist with a similar request, and they will help you clean your laptop from clogging for a nominal fee.
Changing dried thermal paste
Usually thermal paste, which allows you to effectively remove heat from the central processor, is applied to its surface and hidden from the user’s eyes by a cooler attached to the surface of the processor. Typically, the lifespan of thermal paste lasts several years and depends both on its quality and on the thickness and area of application of the layer. It is recommended to change the thermal paste every 1-3 years to prevent it from drying out and the processor from overheating.
Buy a cooling pad
To reduce overheating of your laptop, you can purchase a special cooling pad for your laptop. Universal stand models can be easily adjusted to fit the size of your laptop, and the heat-dissipating surface of the stand and the coolers built into it will help effectively cool the bottom surface of your computer.
Limiting processor power
You can also use the operating system to limit the power of the central processor, setting its maximum operation to 60-80%, which will help reduce its overheating. To do this, go to the control panel, click on “system and security”, select “power”, and then “set up power plan”. Click “change additional parameters”, then select “processor power management”, then “maximum state” and set the indicator, for example, to 60% from the network and battery.
Conclusion
The quality and speed of a laptop directly depends on the functionality and reliability of its cooling system. It is necessary to regularly clean it from clogging, take care to maintain its high performance, change failed elements of the cooling system - and then the likelihood that your laptop will serve you for many years will increase significantly. If necessary, you can contact your local service center, where specialists will clean your system of dust, change thermal paste and test other computer components.
Now you know, what to do if your laptop gets too hot and remember that regular and timely prevention of computer breakdowns is a necessary guarantee of its high-quality, reliable and long-term operation and good luck to you.
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Why is this happening and what to do. This question can be answered immediately. And, most likely, you know the answer yourself. Yes, overheating is dangerous because it can lead to breakdowns and, as a result, to spending money on repairing a laptop or buying a new device. What exactly will have to be done in a particular case depends on the degree of damage and the reasons why the laptop is heating up. Let's figure out what overheating can lead to and, most importantly, why it happens. Everything is very simple….
Consequences of overheating...
A laptop, like any other electronic device, consists of a set of boards and chips that have a maximum permissible operating temperature. If it is exceeded, the microcircuit fails (burns out), which can lead to complete (the laptop will not turn on) or partial (some elements, such as USB ports, will not work) failure of the device.
Why does my laptop get so hot...
- Poor ventilation. Each laptop has fans installed, they “drive” the air and thereby cool the most important elements. In order for air to get inside the device, there are special holes on the surface of the case. Sometimes they become clogged with dust and thereby interfere with the effective cooling of the laptop; the article presents photographs of what will happen to the computer if it is not cleaned. In addition, the ventilation properties may deteriorate due to improper use of the device, for example, when using the laptop on your lap, blanket or any other soft surface that covers the openings intended for air exchange.
- Thermal paste drying. Thermal paste helps dissipate heat from the processor to the heatsink. If it dries out, the processor stops cooling.
- Damage to the cooling circuit inside the laptop. Heat is no longer effectively dissipated, the temperature rises and particularly energy-intensive elements (processor, video card, hard drive) fail.
- Faulty electronic components. For example, one of the microcircuits on the system board failed and began to get very hot. As a rule, in such cases, the laptop case begins to heat up very much in the place where this chip is located. In this situation, laptop repair will be required, including replacing the faulty element.
The first signs that your laptop is overheating...
- Continuously running fan, especially when playing games or watching movies.
- The laptop turns off by itself. This happens especially often when launching system-intensive programs - the same games and video players. During some time required for cooling, the laptop does not turn on.
- The laptop often freezes. However, it is worth saying that this is not always due to the fact that the laptop is overheating. In most cases, freezing can be caused by errors in the operation of programs, operating systems, or drivers.
- There are periodic slowdowns in games. Extra squares, lines and other “artifacts” appear on the screen, and the laptop turns off during the game.
All of the above is related to the operation of the laptop protection system. The processor and video card have special thermal sensors that record the temperature of the chips. As soon as it exceeds the maximum allowable, the system forcibly reduces the laptop's performance until it cools down. It is at these moments that slowdowns appear; in some cases, the security system can lead to the laptop turning itself off or rebooting (most often).
You can check the temperature of particularly important components of the device and detect overheating, and not software errors, using special programs (for example, HWMonitor). To determine that the laptop is heating up, it is enough to look at the temperature of the device immediately after turning it on and after some time (10-20 minutes) of intensive use (for example, playing a modern game).
My laptop is overheating, what should I do?
- Carry out prevention. With a certain frequency (1-2 times a year). It is best to contact a service company about this, as it can lead to serious damage. There are often cases when, while cleaning with a vacuum cleaner, users knocked out the video chip (above which, in fact, the fan is located) with static electricity or, by tangling the bolts, they broke the motherboard. In both cases, laptop repair is inevitable.
- Change thermal paste. This needs to be done every few years. Just like in the case of cleaning a laptop, this operation is best left to specialists.
- Use cooling pads. Today there are many devices on the market designed for forced cooling of laptops. They are very effective and can extend the life of the device for many years. If suddenly such a stand is not at hand, and the laptop gets hot, you can use a folk trick - raise the laptop above the table level, placing some object under it. This will increase the air gap under the device and provide more efficient cooling.
- Follow the rules for using a laptop. Try, if possible, not to use the laptop on your lap or a soft surface (for example, placing it on a pillow), and do not cover the openings on the device body used for air exchange.
If the causes of overheating are not eliminated in time, the computer may work slowly and eventually even break down.
The article describes the main causes of overheating, how to identify them and the most common methods for solving these problems.
Causes of overheating
1) The most common cause of laptop overheating is dust. Just like a desktop computer, a lot of dust accumulates inside a laptop over time. As a result, problems with cooling the laptop are inevitable, which leads to overheating.
Dust in the laptop.
2) Soft surfaces on which to place the laptop. The fact is that on such surfaces the laptop’s ventilation holes are blocked, which ensure its cooling. Therefore, it is highly advisable to place the laptop on hard surfaces: a table, stand, etc.
3) Too heavy applications that heavily load the processor and video card of the mobile device. If you often load your computer with the latest new games, it is advisable to have a special cooling pad.
4) Cooler failure. You should notice this right away, because... The laptop will not make any noise at all. In addition, it may refuse to boot if the security system is triggered.
5) The temperature around is too high. For example, if you place your laptop next to a heater. I hope this point does not need detailed explanation...
You should not place your laptop next to such a device...
How can you tell if your laptop is overheating?
1) The laptop began to make a lot of noise. This is a typical sign of overheating. The cooler inside the case rotates faster if the temperature of the laptop's internal components rises. Therefore, if for some reason the cooling system does not work efficiently, the cooler will constantly operate at maximum speeds, which means it will make more noise.
Increased noise levels are quite acceptable under heavy loads. But if the laptop starts making noise after turning it on, then there is something wrong with the cooling system.
2) Strong heating of the case. Also a characteristic sign of overheating. If the laptop body is warm, then this is normal. It’s another matter when it’s hot – you need to take urgent action. By the way, the heating of the case can be controlled “by hand” - if you are so hot that your hand cannot stand it, turn off the laptop. You can also use special programs.
3) Unstable operation of the system and periodic freezes. But these are inevitable consequences when there are problems with cooling. Although the reason for laptop freezing is not necessarily due to overheating.
4) The appearance of strange stripes or ripples on the screen. As a rule, this indicates overheating of the video card or central processor.
5) Some USB or other ports do not work. Severe overheating of the laptop's South Bridge leads to incorrect operation of the connectors.
6) Spontaneous shutdown or reboot of the laptop. When the CPU gets too hot, protection is triggered, resulting in the system rebooting or shutting down completely.
Several ways to avoid laptop overheating
1) If there are serious problems with laptop overheating, for example, when the system spontaneously reboots, is unstable or turns off, you need to take immediate action. Since the most common cause of system overheating is dust, you need to start with cleaning.
If you don’t know how to clean a laptop, or this procedure does not solve the problem, then contact a service center. Otherwise, constant overheating will inevitably lead to serious damage. Repairs will not be cheap, so it is better to eliminate the threat in advance.
2) When overheating is not critical, or the laptop heats up only under increased load, you can take a number of actions yourself.
Where is the laptop while working? On the table, lap, sofa... Remember, the laptop cannot be placed on soft surfaces. Otherwise, the ventilation holes at the bottom of the laptop become closed, which inevitably leads to overheating of the system.
3) Some laptops allow you to connect a video card of your choice: built-in or discrete. If the system gets very hot, switch to the built-in video card, it generates less heat. The best option: switch to a discrete card only when working with powerful applications and games.
4) One of the most effective ways to help the cooling system is to place the laptop on a special table or stand with active cooling. Be sure to get such a device if you haven’t already. The coolers built into the stand prevent the laptop from overheating, although they create additional noise.
Laptop Stand with cooling. This thing will help to significantly reduce the heating temperature of the processor and video card and will allow you to play or work in “heavy” applications for a long time.
Remember that constant overheating of the system will eventually damage the laptop. Therefore, if you notice signs of this problem, fix it as quickly as possible.