I’m probably not alone in having a hard time keeping my cool from time to time. I do the best I can, but some people or situations just set me off! The good news is that as I get older, it’s becoming easier to recognize the triggers that have such an effect, and take the necessary precautions to avoid an unwanted and negative reaction. In other words, it’s helped me to keep my cool. Your computer is the same way. It might seem odd to talk about overheating computers on November 2nd, but as the temperature drops, it’s even more important to remind your computer to keep its cool as well.
Let’s first focus on desktop computers. Anyone who has ever owned a desktop knows that desktops are synonymous with one thing: dust! Many of us keep our computer on a shelf or under a desk (why they still call them desktops I’ll never know – they should be shelftops), and the lower they are, the more dust they accumulate. As you can imagine, dust is a main cause of overheating in computers. Desktop cases have cooling vents on the outside that attract an incredible amount of dust and pet hair. It’s good practice to periodically wipe those vents clean to allow air to be sucked into the computer case. I’d also recommend investing in a can of compressed air. Make a habit of opening the computer case once a year (at least), and blow it out with the can of compressed air to remove dust, hair, cobwebs, etc. ALWAYS put the case back together when you’re finished. It might seem like a good idea to leave a side of the case off to help aid in cooling, but in reality, this makes things worse. Each case is designed to promote good air flow inside the case. If you remove a side and use the computer for a length of time, it will overheat because the air won’t be able to recirculate, it’ll simply spill out.
Laptops have their own set of issues. The biggest flaw is in their design – they’re meant to be placed in your lap. Unfortunately, the fastest way to melt down a laptop is to keep it in your lap! If you’ve ever felt how hot a laptop gets in your lap on the outside, you can imagine what’s going on on the inside. Obviously, space is limited on a laptop. The convenience of a compact computer that’s portable is their appeal, but it’s also a design nightmare. Components are stacked on top of each other, and airflow is at a premium. For some reason in the winter I get a run on laptop repairs more than any other time of the year. I’m not sure if it’s because people have their heat on constantly or their fireplaces burning or what, but I regularly see laptops with black screens in the winter. What happens is there’s a thermal paste on the CPU (central processing unit or brain of the computer) where a heatsink connects to it to dissipate heat. As the computer overheats, this paste basically flakes off and there’s no buffer between the CPU and metal heatsink. Most laptops have a CPU which is a combination CPU and graphics provider. When the paste disappears, so does the graphics end of it, so you end up with a computer you can hear working, but you’re only able to see a black screen. The best way to avoid all this, is to buy a laptop cooling pad. There are many different types and options (and price ranges), but you can find what you need at your favorite electronics store or amazon.com. Amazon has everything.
Keeping your cool, and protecting your investment is critical. Electronics have a recommended ambient temperature for a reason: they don’t like heat. Whatever temperature you’re feeling on the outside of the computer is multiplied on the inside. Spend a little now, or a lot later, to ensure that things are running as cool as possible.