Any gadget that is powered by a form of energy eventually heats up over time. This is why electric appliances are manufactured to withstand that heat since it is inevitable. When your laptop begins to overheat, then it can be problematic. It will slow down performance and it can damage internal parts like the CPU and motherboard. If your laptop is overheating, there are several quick fixes you can try without taking it apart.
Start by checking intensive applications that may be causing overheating; you can pause or reduce their performance. Also check if the battery is the problem- if it is damaged, it could be overworking your processor. You can also clean the air vents using an air compressor to remove any dust that could be blocking the vests near the fan. You can buy a laptop cooling pad to increase airflow, and keep the laptop running smoothly
What Causes Your Laptop To Overheat?
Modern laptops are very powerful. They in return tend to heat up to an uncomfortable degree due to many reasons. In most cases, the major reason is an accumulation of dust in ventilation areas. The ventilation in every laptop is designed to get rid of dust from the system thus preventing clogging. When these vents are blocked or you are working in a dusty environment; then overheating will be a problem.
Related: Is there a gaming laptop that does not overheat?
Signs That Will Tell If Your Laptop Is Overheating
Sometimes it does not always mean your laptop is overheating when you notice some increase in temperature. Nonetheless; there are common signs that will alert you when the heat is not normal.
- Slow down performance while carrying out your tasks.
- An abrupt shut down during usage
- Alerts from applications that run using options like core temp.
What Are The Effects Of Overheating Laptops?
Overheating laptops will eventually result in some serious issues if not fixed. These resultant effects are;
- Slowing down the laptop’s process, resulting in low performance
- Having batteries problems
- Decrease in output and electric performance
- Damage to the motherboard
- Reduces laptop’s lifespan
- Increased risk of losing data due to damaged hardware.
Related: How many watts do gaming laptops use?
Solutions To Fixing Your Overheated Laptop
Here are some ways of maintaining a cool temperature for your overheating laptop;
Place Your Laptop On a Flat Surface
Most laptops have their vents fixed at the bottom. Suppose you place your laptop on a soft surface, you will end up blocking proper airflow inside it. When airflow is blocked, then your laptop will start overheating.
Therefore, while using your laptop, ensure you place it on a surface that is hard and flat at the same time. In case this is not achievable, due to some reasons; you can opt to get a laptop stand or laptop holder. They are very affordable and available.
Check If Your Battery Has a Problem
Different laptops come in different types and capacities. If your battery has a problem, a lot of heat will be generated. Most batteries get damaged when they are overcharged, causing them to run out and die.
Related: How to test a Laptop battery with multimeter
Clean the Air Vents Using Compressed Air
Overheating happens in most cases due to the building up of dust that blocks the vents, limiting airflow. Dust can be forced out by applying pressure. Compressed air covers this problem. It comes in a can that is fixed with a nozzle designed to fit into laptop vents.
Purchase a Laptop Cooling Pad
Nowadays, laptop cooling pads are very popular. They are preferred since they increase airflow and keep your laptop running smoothly and cool. They are available in most pc stores at an affordable price.
Reduce the Performance Of Intensive Applications
Some laptops are not designed to support multiple programs, and they could slow down if you have multiple applications running. You should always ensure multiple applications are not running at once. This will prevent overheating of your laptop. You should also ensure no background applications are running. If any, make sure you end the process immediately. They are less important and will only end up consuming a lot of o power.
Reduce Power Consumption By Your CPU
You can begin by adjusting your settings to power mode to save your energy. You can easily change it in the windows setting. Proceed to turn off the CPU’s turbo boost. This will ensure your CPU can handle intensive tasks. Always ensure you have turned off your laptop when you are done using it. Do not leave it on hibernation since this will not stop the apps from running in the background.
Conclusion
Having learned the cause, effects, and solution to overheating laptops, you have realized that you don’t need many skills to fix the problem. Some of these overheating problems are manageable and only require some basic knowledge.
Therefore the next time your laptop overheats, you should comfortably be in a position to fix it. It is even better since you won’t have to take it apart. However, if the overheating continues, you can reconsider opening your laptop and give it a thorough cleaning.
