Overheating laptop can be a mess. Be prepared to deal with a number of problems starting from crashes, blue screen to loss of data. The major issue is users don’t even realize there is an overheating problem. Before they know it, the motherboard burns out.
What Causes Overheating?
How does a laptop overheat? There could be dust blocking the intake grills, the fan might be clogged or there’s a thermal grease between the heat sink and the GPU.
Signs of Overheating
- A certain sign that your laptop is overheating is when the fan is running at maximum speed. Because of the same reason, you will notice the performance of your laptop is falling short and you might not be able to use your Optimum Internet service. If you have a fail-safe software installed, it will suddenly shut down the system to prevent hardware damage.
- Check the temperature around the exhaust event. Place your hand on the bottom to feel the heat. If it feels hot, then watch out for the signs in slow performance.
- Another indication that the laptop is overheating is the sound of the fan. It will be louder than usual. This is an indication that the processor of your system is not being cooled properly. This happens because of the clogged heat sink.
How to Fix the Overheating Laptop Issue? 3 Key Solutions:
So let’s say your laptop is overheating and you have experienced the above-mentioned signs. What to do next? Here’s are 3 steps to follow to fix the overheating issue:
1: Fix the Internal Cooling
First thing’s first, when your laptop is overheating, clean its fan. This cools down the CPU and graphics card. Over time, the fan builds up layers of dust. It blocks the airflow.
Use the manual of your laptop to figure out how to open it and clean the fan. However, before you do that, make sure it’s shut down. Unplug the power cable and remove the battery as well.
Follow these steps to clean the fan:
- Take a cotton swab and dip it in cleaning alcohol. Clean the fan using this swab.
- In case the dust is heavy, use a vacuum cleaner to remove it. Don’t let the fan revolve in the opposite direction when using the vacuum cleaner. You can also stop the fan from spinning by holding it down.
- Clean the exhaust port using the vacuum cleaner. This port is located at the side of the laptop. You might be feeling hot air blowing out from the opening.
- You also need to clean the intake grills. They are placed on the side of at the bottom of the laptop. Spray canned air to clean them up.
2: Place the Laptop on a Flat Surface
Check the bottom surface of your laptop. Is it hot? That’s probably because your laptop sucks in cool air through its bottom. Surfaces like your lap, blanket or pillow obstruct the airflow. This causes heat to build up. As the surface of the laptop gets hotter and hotter, the temperature of cooling air that’s sucked in increases. Eventually, it causes your laptop to overheat.
To avoid this, a simple solution is to place your laptop on a hard flat surface. You can use a tray or buy a laptop holder.
3: Get a Laptop Cooler or a Cooling Pad
No matter how careful you are, laptops still overheat. You can stay safe by using a laptop cooler. Before investing in a laptop cooler, you must understand how air flows into and out of your computer.
If you get a cooler that sits underneath your laptop, it will simply suck air from it. This mechanism does not contribute to cooling, it accelerates overheating.
If the intake grills are located at the bottom of the laptop, get a laptop cooler which blows cool air upwards. It also makes sense to buy a passive cooler that just absorbs heat.
Call A Professional When Necessary
Heat is dangerous for any laptop. It can even cause permanent damage. That’s why every user must keep a close eye on the warning signs.
If after performing the basic fixes, you still notice your laptop is overheating, you need to see a PC repair technician. Chances are there’s a technical problem that needs to be addressed.
Conclusion
Even if your laptop does not exhibit the signs of overheating, it’s best to clean the vents and fans regularly. This will prevent the dust from building up. Use a laptop cooler to ensure good airflow. Once your laptop’s performance is back to normal, you will be able to enjoy using your Optimum Service as well.
