How to Keep Your Computer Cool

Having a computer which constantly overheats or runs slower and slower as time goes on will be a source of major frustration and disruption, causing productivity to plummet.

It’s important to make sure your computer is always running at a cool temperature, so this month we’re taking a look at how to keep your computer cool and working at a steady, safe temperature.

The dangers of overheating

Your computer is filled with components which generate heat as they operate, and if your computer doesn’t have proper ventilation or measures in place to help keep these components cool, they will overheat and become problematic. The worst case scenario is the hardware becoming damaged beyond repair, leaving your computer completely inoperable.

Overheated computers will also run much slower and less reliably than cool ones. A computer left to overheat will become unstable to run, shutting itself off repeatedly after a certain amount of time. A sure sign of this is constant crashes, freezes and the dreaded, ‘blue screen of death’. If your computer is constantly overheating, you will need to take measures to rectify the problem, as it will only get worse over time.

Dust

The most common cause of raised temperatures inside a computer is the presence of dust. It’s incredibly easy to leave your computer under your desk and let it get on with its job without ever taking time to clean it or check for dust. While your computer can survive for years without any kind of checks, its performance will certainly drop, until it becomes actively difficult to use. Regularly checking the interior of your computer for dust is a good habit to get into; dust is an insulator and its prolonged presence will drastically reduce the lifespan of your computer.

A can of compressed air is the best way to relieve your computer of dust, but you can also use a damp cloth for the majority of the work. Pay attention to fans and filters, removing clogged dust which interferes with critical air flow. Ideally you should give your computer a clean every few months or so, to prevent dust from building up.

Broken components

Most computers come with sufficient cooling measures – fans, heatsinks, ventilation grilles and filters – but, sometimes, built-in cooling measures with moving parts can fail over time. This means the components will heat up unrestricted, potentially leading to irreparable damage. This isn’t particularly common, but it is worth checking if you have noticed reduced performance in your computer, and can’t find another explanation. Simply replacing broken or cracked fans will help return airflow to your computer, keeping internal temperature down.

Exterior ventilation

The physical location of your computer will also influence how cool it can be. Fans will mainly blow hot air out the back, so having it pressed up flat against a wall severely limits ventilation. Make sure your computer has enough room around it so air can circulate properly – a few inches should be fine – and keep it away from particularly hot appliances or devices which might be blowing hot air through the intakes. Air circulation is key to a computer’s design, so anything that interferes or disrupts with that circulation will negatively affect how much cool air each component is able to receive.

Indos Computer Services provide friendly and professional IT support for small and medium sized businesses throughout St Albans, Watford and Hemel Hempstead. We always strive to provide excellent customer service, and our experienced team will keep things clear and jargon-free so you understand exactly how our services can be beneficial to you. For more information on all our services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.