▷ Why does my pc heat up and how to fix it

We give you the keys to why you warm up your PC, how you can fix it and how to find the focus of the problem. Hot processor? Graphic card? Chipset or a bad power supply?

A PC generates heat during operation, heat that if not removed properly can build up and cause problems over time. It is important to keep your PC running at safe temperatures, especially in the hottest months. Here's how to make sure your PC doesn't overheat, and how to fix it if it does.

Index of contents

Why a PC gets hot and why it's important to keep it cool

A PC is an electronic system that consumes energy and therefore heats up. This is because efficiency can never reach 100%, in other words, not all the energy consumed is used, but a small part is converted to heat. This untapped energy is what causes a PC to heat up. This is something that we cannot avoid, so the only option is to try to fight against the warming up, and that everything is kept as fresh as possible.

We recommend reading our post on Best heatsinks, fans and liquid cooling for PC.

The cooling system of your PC is one of the most important parts of the device. Without the cooling system, the electrical components would not be able to function, as overheating would damage the integral parts of what makes your PC work. The heat has to dissipate for everything to work at safe operating temperatures.

In short, if your PC gets too hot, it is possible to destroy and shorten the useful life of the hardware, which can cause irreparable damage and possible data loss. Another reason to keep your PC cool is that a hot computer will also run slower than a cooler one, this is because components like the CPU and GPU lower their operating frequencies to avoid burning from excess heat. Therefore, to prevent the PC from slowing down, make sure it runs at a moderate or low temperature.

Both AMD and Intel have maximum temperature ratings for their CPUs listed around 90-100ºC. If your CPU gets too hot, you have some serious problems. Most users try to keep the CPU temperature below 40 ° C at idle and below 70 ° C at full load.

How to prevent your PC from overheating

Most PCs have adequate cooling systems and plenty of fans, but here are some steps you can take to make sure heat doesn't become a problem.

Keep clean

The first step in preventing overheating is to make sure that the inside of the PC is kept clean. We have explained how to clean your PC to remove dust, which is a great culprit in increasing the temperature by obstructing the hot air outlet, and reducing the efficiency of fans and heat sinks. Powder is an insulator. When you open your PC case and it's covered in dust, you're looking at a computer facing a radically reduced life. Every inch that is covered with a layer of insulating powder increases the temperature of the components throughout the equipment. Your PC may not be so dusty, but given how easy it is to clean it it's ridiculous not to. Not taking the time to dust off your PC once or twice a year is like being too busy to change your car oil. To clean your PC correctly you need to spend little money, you will hardly need to buy a can of compressed air.

Avoid hot locations

It is also important to verify the physical location of your PC. If you have devices nearby that are generating hot air, it's not good either. Ideally, the airflow where the fans are should be stable and adequate, with room for the PC to breathe. It is more advisable to put the PC on the table or on the floor than embedded in a piece of furniture, since in the latter case, we are limiting the air flow that surrounds it.

One of the most common cases is buying a PC table, when reality… does more harm than good. Having it boxed in is not a good thing, because if you don't have an outlet, you won't be able to decently expel the heat. We always recommend a palm (20 to 25 cm) from the wall.

If you can keep your PC in the upper area of ​​the desktop we will win: less dust and good cooling. Do not cover the air vents with papers or objects!

Don't open the lid

A very common mistake is to open the PC lid if it gets too hot, hoping to reduce its operating temperature. It's a rookie mistake that often makes the problem worse because most chassis are designed with great care to ensure cold air reaches critical components, removing the side of the case disrupts the circulation system.

Change the heatsink and add fans

Many users use the Intel and AMD reference heatsink, which offers very basic features, and may be insufficient in the summer and hotter areas. It is not necessary to spend more than 100 euros on liquid cooling, as the market offers us excellent heatsinks for 30 euros or even less, all of them better than the reference models of Intel and AMD. Artic Freezer 33 and Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO are great, very affordable options. Another measure is to add fans, since most of the chassis allow to place more fans than those that come from the factory. Manufacturers like Noctua, Noiseblocker and Be Quiet! They offer us excellent solutions.

Use a good quality power supply

The power supply is in charge of giving all the components the energy they need to function. A poor quality power supply will be more inefficient, so more energy will be wasted in the form of heat, and more will heat up the entire PC. Manufacturers like Corsair, EVGA, Enermax, SiverStone, Bitfenix Cooler Master, FSP, Seasonic and SuperFlower are always a safe bet.

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This ends our article on why a PC heats up and how to keep it cool, we hope you like it and help you improve the performance of your PC. What advice do you give us to improve the heating of the PC?