Overheating is one of the most frequent problems which can happen to laptop computers. There are many reasons for it and the most crucial one is the fact that making your laptop overheat is easier than it is in the case of a desktop computer.
Laptops are portable, so they are giving you plenty of options for positioning them. Some of these ways of using a laptop computer can harm it. At the same time, the design of laptops is rather condensed with a large variety of crucial elements locked in a very small space. Finally, laptop computers are still not thus powerful as desktop ones with the same parameters.
In the majority of cases, you will be able to understand that your laptop computer is overheating without any extra diagnosis. Undeniably, overheating will make it abnormally hot, will cause freezing and in particularly drastic situations, it will make your computer switch off as a preventative measure against damage which can be caused by extremely high temperatures.
In this article, you will find more information about the causes of overheating in laptops.
You are not using you laptop in a proper way
As it has already been mentioned, a portable computer allows its users to position it in various ways. Many people just use their laptop computers in any way they find convenient which usually includes lying with it keeping it on the knees or a blanket.
What many people are not aware of is the fact that the ventilation holes in the majority of laptop computers are located on the back panel underneath the keyboard. That is why anytime you put it on any soft surface, you can block these holes partially or entirely which can cause the increase of temperature.
In such a case, the solution is obvious, you just have to change the way you are using your computer. Make sure it is always resting on a solid surface.
At the same time, if you are practising positioning your computer on textiles, you can also make its filters blocked with an excessive amount of dust and particles of fabric. This will make the cooling system of the device work with its maximum power even when you are not using much of the computer resources.
If you see that changing a position and place where you are working on your laptop has not changed a lot, it might be an indication of the blockage of the filters in your laptop. This will require cleaning it. If this is your case, you can try to use a special brush and condensed air for cleansing the blockage without opening the inner part of your computer. Still, in some cases it might not be effective and you will have to get inside the computer. Then, you should be very attentive. There are step-by-step guides for opening a laptop computer which you can use effectively, however, if you make a mistake it can severely damage your computer. At the same time, you should be aware of the fact that opening your laptop will make you lose the warranty.
Finally, beware of the possibility of having your cooling system completely damaged if it is filled with an excessive amount of dust and other particles. In such a situation, in all likelihood, you will not hear any sounds of the ventilator working at all. Undeniably, you will have to stop using the device otherwise the heat will damage other parts of the computer.
Using too much of the resources of your laptop
Some rather demanding programmes such as games with advanced graphics as well as graphic and video redactors can work on your laptop even though its parameters are presumably not enough. Yet, this can cause overheating as well.
If you see such programmes are working with your device, you can still use it for them, yet, you should not do it for a rather long time. Especially, do not do it during hot weather which can make your laptop computer overheat even more.
Providing you really need your laptop computer for such tasks, you might find an additional cooling system a useful purchase. For instance, you can use a special ventilation system for laptops or just purchase a regular ventilator.
Thermal paste in your laptop has dried up
Although it does not happen thus frequently, you can still experience overheating of your laptop computer because of the thermal paste located in it for improved heat conductivity can dry up with time. As you can imagine, this makes the paste lose its features which will cause overheating of your computer.
Fortunately, it is not a serious problem and all you will need to do is purchasing fresh paste and spread a thin layer of the paste after removing the remains of the previous one.
Still, for this purpose you will have to remove the back panel of your laptop and take out several important parts of the laptop. This might not be as simple as it sounds and you might prefer asking a specialist for help with this task.
While changing the thermal paste, it will be sensible to clean your laptop from dust as well.