PC hardware forum: Computer overheating constantly

Leaving the cover OFF does NOT help with the internal airflow of the computer. The systems fans are located in certain spots on the computer to help increase the airflow inside the pc. That airflow is directed over the system board, especially the Processor!

Taking the cover off will cut off the airflow path and cause your computer to overheat MORE.

You can check your fans by simply taking the side off momentarily and see if the are spinning and feel for air, then putting the side back on.

Again, DON'T leave the side panel off this messes up the airflow within the unit!

and the video card. There's dust visible in the PC power supply from the 2nd PIC. Plug it back in and see how it runs.

VAPCMD

I'm very sure my psu has sufficient wattage to support my card. It's a 430W Antec PSU.

Oh and opening up the side might not be such a bad idea, it'd greatly allow for more air to get into the case, but I don't plan on drilling any holes in my case at any time.

Processors usually run at 40+ degrees than the room temperature. So if your room is 80 degrees, you need to try and keep it in the 70's.

That being said, do the following:

1. Install some form of windows AC unit.
2. Clean all the dust, use a static free brush and a portable vaccum cleaner / blower.
3. Check connections for processor fan, HDD fan, GPU fan, etc...

If problem persists,

4. You can get a portbale fan and blow it onto the computer (keep the case open).
5. Get a new case with lots of fan's or a liquid cool system.

Since, you mentioned parents, well do what you can. If you don't at least open case soon and clean out the innards and place a household fan to blow on system you wouldn't have a working system in the future.

Understand also that as system heat goes up, the psu becomes less stable. Less stable means it loses wattage output and/or more prone to outright failure, so act quickly. I suggest also, you elivate the system off the floor to reduce sucking up dust too readily.

enuf said -----Willy

There's a first time for everything. Just use common sense and don't rush any attempts. Placing something under the case isn't a brain twister(books, 2x4's, some bricks). Further, opening the case and doing direct dust control isn't that hard either, I suggest a small paint brush, ground yourself on the metal portion of the system case before any cleaning. Getting that fan pointed at the system case, well you get the picture.

tada -----Willy

Check your air flow. If you installed the fans in the case yourself, you may have installed a fan that is drawing air in the opposite direction of the other fans. example: rear fans may be pulling the air to the rear of the case and the front fan is pulling air towards the front of the case.
Make sure the air is flowing in one direction.

It happened when I turned my computer on. It sometimes "shakes", vibrates, the programs I have running.

Had the same problem..But U half answered your own question working fine for years..Change the power supply,this should be adequate.Provided U have not incured any other damage due to power loss.This will definetly create heat problems..But I would definetely think that the power supply is the culprit

I have a large house fan blowing into the computer now and it's also propped up on a plank of wood. I have had no problems so far! I just hope it'll stay like that.

The only two games I really play these days are Counter-Strike: Source and Starcraft: Brood War. Starcraft's requirements are easily met and Counter-Strike: Source's I meet as well (I can play it at max settings with little problems). Again my video card is a 6800gt and my cpu a XP 2400+.

My 430W psu is sufficient for this, right?

Based on the fact that you now say that blowing a house fan into the open case solved your problems could mean several things:

I assume that you cleaned and blew out all fans, heat sinks and vents.

1. Double check every fan inside your computer to make sure all of them are actually running. You could have a bad fan on the processor or video card.

2. You may want to evaluate the overall ventilation layout and change the direction of one of the fans. If all of the fans are blowing in the same direction, such as out of the case, you may not have enough openings in the case to balance the air flow. Try turning the lower fan around to blow into the case. So you now have some fans blowing out and 1 blowing in.

3. Depending on your layout inside of your case, if you have any PCI cards, such as a modem or NIC card, you could try moving it to another slot away from your video card.

4. Cables, especially any wide ribbon cables can block airflow, try changing the placement of some of these cables.

5. You may have a poor thermal connection between one of your heatsinks and your processor or video chipset. You could remove and reapply heatsink compound to these areas and make sure they are seated properly.

6. You may need to purchase a better heatsink and fan for your processor or video card.

7. You could cut holes in the case and install more fans or purchase a new case, but I would only do this after you have exhausted all other issues.

Good Luck!

Dana H.

when you boot up go into the bios .. every motherboard is different but get to the part that shows you the fan speed .. if the fan speed is too low on boot up then your cpu will over heat .. same thing happened to me at boot up time the fan speed (r.p.m.)is supposed to be high say around 2000+ rpm and then as it idles it slows down .. but if its slow at boot up time it may mean something wrong with your fan and you should buy a new one

No matter how good a computer's case airflow and cooling are, if the room is too hot, the computer will be too. As the ambient (room) temperature rises, it becomes more and more difficult to cool the computer. The reason? Cooling happens by moving heat, in this case away from the chips, drives and other items which produce it in the computer and into the room. The heat is replaced by the air in the room. As that replacement air gets hotter and hotter, less and less cooling occurs. Once the temperature in your room approaches that inside your computer, no cooling is actually taking place. The only solution is to lower the temperature in the room. Other partial solutions such as getting a better power supply might help as well. 3D games draw more power from the power supply, and cause the power supply and video card to produce more heat. Some power supplys cut off if the temperature gets too high. A good power supply will produce power more efficiently, producing less heat, and also generally be able to withstand higher thermal conditions (they're also more likely to have better cooling built into them).