Symptoms and signs that your slow computer is overheating

Overheating can reduce the finest PC to a paperweight in seconds. This hazard affects all components of a computer and is particularly associated with improper cooling of the CPU. The CPU consumes, by far, the most resources and produces the most heat compared to any other motherboard component. When this crucial device reaches a critical temperature, the best case scenario is an automatic shut down of the system. The worst case scenario is that the entire CPU burns up and that the motherboard may be damaged as well.

Not surprisingly, the first symptom of an overheating computer is heat. Especially on a laptop model, the user may notice that a certain area of the case or keyboard is becoming very hot. This is a serious danger sign. It’s normal for a computer to be warm to the touch but it should never be hot. Processor overheating is usually very easy to spot: The part of the case nearest the processor will be remarkably hotter than the areas around it.

Performance will tend to degrade when processors become overheated. This may mean that programs repeatedly freeze up or that the computer crashes altogether, leaving the user restarting over and over again. If the computer runs famously after being restarted but performance decreases the longer it’s left running, there is a good chance that the processor is heating up over time.

Every computer has one or more fans on the motherboard which provide cooling for the CPU and overall motherboard. On some models, these fans are permanently on their highest setting. On most models, however, these fans have a variable speed and become very loud when they turn up to their highest setting. One will generally notice the fans switching on when they do very processor-intensive tasks. Excessive fan noise is a sign of overheating. This is not because the fans are affected by the overheating but because the fans will most often be humming along quietly while providing enough cooling for the CPU. If they’re stuck in their fastest state, it’s a good sign that something is going wrong with the heat levels in the computer.

These situations must be addressed immediately. One should check and clear the air intakes of any dust or debris. Opening the case to make sure all the fans are working is a good idea, though leaving a case open during extended operation can compromise the airflow of the case and result in overheating in and of itself. One should exercise caution when doing so, but physically touching the components when the computer is turned off an unplugged may reveal whether the heat sinks are particularly hot. This is a warning sign, as well. If the heat sink is too hot to even touch, something is probably going wrong.

If a computer overheats beyond the point where the processor can endure, it will fail altogether and starting the device will be impossible. This is irreparable and means a new processor is in order.