How to keep your CPU as cool as possible

As gamers, we all at some point encounter an overheating PC, making us sweat too. But if CPU temperature doubles even while idling, then action should be taken quickly.

Here are several steps for you on how to get your CPU back to normal temperature and get the system running again.

Identification of the problem

The first thing to do is determine the exact temperature of your chip. Typically, a CPU runs at a temperature between 37 and 42 degrees Celsius. However, when playing games or video editing, the CPU temperature can sometimes rise to 50 – 60 degrees Celsius. Therefore, the next step should be to take a look at the running processes in the task manager, as it could be high CPU or energy usage.

This is how you do it:

Right-click on the Windows Start menu and select Task Manager. This will help identify the process that is causing the problem, as processes with the highest usage are highlighted in Task Manager automatically. If the process is important, e.g. Windows Explorer, then right-click the process and select Restart. This will reset the process and sometimes even fix the problem.

However, the majority of processes don’t have the restart option, so instead right-click on the process and select “End task”. Then reopen the application or tool that was identified as a problem. If the problem no longer occurs, it is fixed.

Maintenance tips

There are multiple general tips to prevent the PC from overheating, which include regular maintenance of your PC. In order for the computer to run well for a long time, one should keep it clean, both physically and electronically. Also, you have to keep the system up to date.

Because a PC needs fresh air for fans to be able to cool the hardware down, there are natural ventilation openings in the case that allow dust, crumbs, hair, and dirt to get in and clog the filters, causing the system to warm up. That’s why you should clean your PC thoroughly at least once a year. To do this, turn off the PC and pull the plug. First, clean it on the outside, then remove all the filters from the chassis and clean them.

For cleaning, a medium-hard brush is recommended to clean the fan blades and the inside of the case. Be careful though, because the components are fragile and usually not cheap. If you want to go the professional way, clean the inside of the case with a compressed air bottle — but you should do this outside in the fresh air and not in your room. Of course, taking your PC to a specialized PC service shop is also always an option. 

You can also replace the thermal paste on the CPU. The thermal paste/compound often dries out and then unfortunately becomes more of an insulator than a heat conductor. Also make sure that the ventilation slots of the power supply are free of dust and dirt. But be sure that the power supply is off because of the large capacitors that can give you a nasty hit. Then close the case and the PC should run like clockwork again!

Header: Intel