3 solutions that may fix your slow computer

Heat is one of many enemies of electronic devices like computers. It causes parts to wear out faster, and can cause devices to behave or operate erratically. In a computer, the most important item that needs to be kept cool is the CPU. A CPU that is overheating can cause blue screen errors, applications errors, and data corruption. If it gets too hot, it can permanently damage the CPU, though on most modern computers the system will merely shut down before the CPU reaches that critical temperature.

The easiest way to avoid overheating is to have ample places for air to enter and exit the case, and make sure they are not overly restrictive or blocked. A lot of cheaper cases have fan “grills” that have thick bars. These will slow down airflow considerably. Better cases have larger slats or holes and much thinner grills, or they will simply use a separate stainless grill made with plated wire. These allow for the most airflow while maintaining protection from the spinning fan blades. Also, in general more fanes equals more airflow. Just be sure to use common sense on where the fans are placed, and which way they are blowing. Some cheaper cases have lots of fans in poor places, and that is as bad as have no fans at all.

The next easiest way to avoid overheating is by keeping the inside of the case as dust free as possible. Better cases come with filters that go in front of the fans so that much of the dust is caught before entering the case. Most cases however, do not use any filtering. They just use screens or louvers on the face of the case to allow air through to the fan, and then into the case. This is bad, as it allows any dust particles in the area to be sucked right into your computer. The simplest way to deal with built up dust inside your computer is to take it outside once a month, remove the side panel, and use a can of compressed air to blow out the case. Pay specific attention to the fans, and the heat sink on the CPU. You will likely be amazed at where dust builds up, and how much of it there is. It acts like a blanket to everything in the case, holding heat in.

Finally, if the above steps do not work, then you may want to check that the main CPU heat sink is properly attached to the CPU socket and making full contact with the CPU. An improperly attached heat sink cannot perform its job to the fullest, as its base will only be partially in contact, restricting how much of the heat gets transferred from the CPU core to the heat sink. By following these three examples, you should be able to restore good and reliable functionality to your personal computer, ridding yourself of the various errors, seemingly random shut downs, and lost data that previously plagued it.