CPU Overheating? Easy Fix.
Thursday, November 23, 2006 by KeithMacDonald | Discussion: PC Hardware
1. First, reset your computer. If you have some like "CPU Overheat", the try this out. Beware: you computer my be set as 'disabled' so it wouldn't do the error display, so just try it anyways.
2. Now, turn your computer off, and unplug ANYTHING plugged into the tower.
3. Take the slides off of the computer.
4.Take the fan off of the CPU aluminum casing, and vacuum all the dust (My computer had a mat full of dust...).
5.While your at it; why don't you vacuum everything in you tower? It's only sense, after all.
6. When you are down vacuuming (or whatever way your dusting with), put it back to its respected position.
All you need to do now is plugging it back in and trying it!
Reply #2 Thursday, November 23, 2006 1:00 PM
Reply #3 Thursday, November 23, 2006 1:01 PM
Reply #4 Thursday, November 23, 2006 9:07 PM
Thanks for the reminder, enigma. I'm way overdue!
And Baker Street: Yes! I pasted the heatsink on my processor three years ago or more when I first built the thing, added the fan, and ne'er the gizmo gets disassembled, ever. No need, for me.
Reply #5 Wednesday, April 27, 2011 12:38 PM
Nice guide! People should open the computer sometimes if it's overheating or not to clean the case for dust.
Reply #6 Wednesday, April 27, 2011 12:58 PM
Using a ground strap is a good idea but if you don't have one just taking hold of the metal frame is enough to maintain a good ground. And if you do remove the heat sink/cpu fan combo (some computers have them) always clean off the old heat sink compound and put a fresh coat on to avoid said air pockets. Also be sure both intake and output fans are free of dust. You may also want to clean off any dust on the motherboard but be careful. Electrostatic discharge can fry your bios chip in a heart beat.
Reply #9 Wednesday, April 27, 2011 8:55 PM
bakerstreet .... I wonder where he is these days.....
Reply #10 Thursday, April 28, 2011 4:21 PM
My thoughts too, Paul, when I saw this thread yesterday.
He (too) must have joined real-life(tm) - and gotten a life......
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Reply #1 Thursday, November 23, 2006 12:43 PM
You should also know that there are many fan/heatsink (that's what you are talking bout when you say 'aluminum casing') combinations that can't be separated until you take BOTH off. you can't take the fan off of mine without removing the heatsink from the processor.
In that step you've added an iffy situation. If something were to get on the processor or the back of the heatsink, or if they clean it with some sort of dodgy chemical, etc., they could do great harm. Also, there is sometimes a compound there that helps the transfer of heat that should be replaced if it is scraped away, dried out, etc.
If there were to be a lot of air pockets in the old or newly replaced compound, if I am not mistaken, the heat can build up there, and again do great harm. Keeping the case clean inside is very important, and I'd suggest replacing fans a lot more often than people do, but you want to be careful removing the heat sink unless you take care and read up a bit first.