Is my computer overheating?

[MikeSwim07]

Hi,

I think my computer may be overheating because it randomly turns off sometimes when I am using it. How can i determine if its overheating and what can I do about it?

Thanks!

 

[bicycle bill]

You could install Lavalys and then you can see how high the temps are then go from there. Or buy a can of compressed air and blow out the cobwebs and dust.

http://majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

 

[MikeSwim07]

It is hovering in the 90s Celsius when I am playing games. This seems too high to me

 

[lunarlander]

If you are talking about your Celeron 2.4Ghz cpu, then yes 90C is too high.

Use compressed can air and clear out the dust on your cpu heatsink and fan. If there are any other heatsinks, clear them out as well.

Did you overclock your system ?

As a temporary measure, you can take off the computer case cover, that will allow cold air to go into the system. You might think about buying another better performing cpu heatsink+fan. This site sells these things and have been around for a while: http://www.frostytech.com/

 

[alinxie]

take the outside cover off carry the machine to your porch,balcany whatever take a hair dryer set on cool and blow the dust and cobwebs out,take back inside clean the vents on the case leave one side off and make sure the thing has pleanty of room to breath and you should be fine.

 

[MikeSwim07]

I have a laptop so I am not really sure how to do that.

 

[MikeSwim07]

Still have this issue

 

[DoubleHelix]

The computer in your profile is a desktop, and most people "game" on desktops so that's probably why it was assumed you're using a desktop. Obviously you can't open the "case" on a laptop and still run it, so you can disregard that suggestion.

It could certainly be overheating. If it completely powers off only when using processor / graphics intensive applications, I'd say that's what's happening. How old is the laptop? Have you tried blowing out the fans with compressed air? Does it have sufficient horsepower (processor / graphics) to play the games you're attempting to play? Is it a gaming laptop?

There aren't many options for additional cooling with a laptop. You could try a cooling mat. If the laptop is outdated and/or the games are new and demanding, you need a more capable system.

 

[vpaturi]

My gateway used to shut down randomly also, even during non intensive sessions like just browsing on the internet. A can of compressed air did the trick for me. I opened up the laptop and used the spray, the problem has not come back.

 

[MikeSwim07]

The computer in your profile is a desktop, and most people "game" on desktops so that's probably why it was assumed you're using a desktop. Obviously you can't open the "case" on a laptop and still run it, so you can disregard that suggestion.

It could certainly be overheating. If it completely powers off only when using processor / graphics intensive applications, I'd say that's what's happening. How old is the laptop? Have you tried blowing out the fans with compressed air? Does it have sufficient horsepower (processor / graphics) to play the games you're attempting to play? Is it a gaming laptop?

There aren't many options for additional cooling with a laptop. You could try a cooling mat. If the laptop is outdated and/or the games are new and demanding, you need a more capable system.

Oops, that is my other computer. This laptop is only about 2 years old. It has 4g RAM, 1.9 GHz processor. I think it is not really a gaming laptop, more of a "entertainment" one. But I am only playing browser games, not memory intensive game.

I have not tried compressed air. I am suspecting that it just has bad/cheap parts which is why it is overheating. I definitely think it is overheating though because the surface I am using it on is ~1 in thick and I can feel the heat through it...