The processor is one of the crucial elements in the rig. It processes all the tasks that you through to your PC. And with these tasks at hand, it produces heat.
Though it can tolerate more extensive heat than other components, overheating may shorten CPU lifespan.
For this reason, you can often face sudden shutdowns, below-average performance by thermal throttling, dropping clock speed, blue screen, and many more. Nevertheless, you can apply numerous tactics to lower your CPU temp if facing an overheating issue. And in the below article, I will thoroughly brief some practical steps to resolve your Processor overhitting.
How to Reduce Your CPU Heat
Most of the time, cleaning the PC or changing the fan speed from BIOS can decrease CPU temperature. Additionally, when your PC is one or two years old, you can reapply the thermal paste and upgrade the CPU cooler. That should decrease the CPU temperature.
Overheating is something that no user wishes to experience. Furthermore, everyone wants the most performance from their processor and other PC components. Excessive heat reduces performance and the lifespan of the CPU along with other parts of your machine.
I’ve already mentioned some steps. Next, I’ll go over those and some other strategies and how you can use them to keep your processor safe from overheating.
Follow these methods to reduce your processor temperature:
1. Clean The Rig
Your PC fans consume dust in times of airflow. And with time, this dust piles up and bothers the airflow and other activities of the units.
If you confront the overhitting issue, it’s better to clean the entire machine. Clean with a compressed air jet and wear a mask. Clean the fan blades for better flow. It’s better to make a habit of cleaning your pc often, at least once a month.
Related content you should read about how to fix CPU cooler clicking noise.
2. Control Fan Speed Control From BIOS
Almost every UEFI BIOS allows users to change the fan speed or set the speed curve to their liking. Usually, the option is set to Auto and does not work to its full potential. However, you can change it to suit your needs.
Also, with fan hubs, you can control the PC fans with specific software. Many PC cases and fan builders have recently made their hub and app to control the rotating speed and RGB effects.
Phentakes, Corsair, and many more are building these fan and RGB control hubs. And you can use their app for fan control. You can also use third-party applications like SpeedFan.
3. Add More/Better Fans
Having fewer fans than your CPU requires, increases the risk of overheating. It is preferable to add fans if necessary or to switch for better airflow.
Assume you can increase the amount of fresh air in your machine. That is always beneficial. It keeps the temperature low and reduces the overheating problem by adding more or better fans. Sufficient airflow is one of the most effective ways to keep the temperature low. It is best to position the fan to inhale fresh air from the outside and exhale hot air from the inside.
More intake, less release, or vice versa, is not a good practice for efficient airflow. It’s best to keep the proportions 50:50.
Check out the list of the best computer case fans you can buy in 2023.
4. Get a Better PC Case
The PC case design is just getting better and better nowadays. There are different types of cases with targeted desirability, like water and air cooling solutions. If your claim is old-designed and not optimized enough, it’s better to get a case with your preferred need.
You can get PC cases like Cooler Master MasterCase H500 and Phanteks Eclipse P500A, which are airflow optimized. Or if you are a fan of small cases, here’s a list of the top 5 Micro ATX PC cases available right now!
Even you can get some cases that have already attached fans. With a better PC case, it’s an obvious chance of having a better temperature. And easy to turn the case for better airflow and keep the interior at a minimal temperature.
5. Reapply Thermal Paste
The thermal component’s job is to let the heat quickly and efficiently move from the processor unit to the cooler’s heatsink.
When applying thermal paste, sometimes it gets uneven, or some areas stay out of a thermal component. Also, with time it dries up or degrades. And it’s a verified reason for the heating issue.
Thermal components are cheap and easy to reach, and you can get some well-known brands of thermal features at a meager price.
Detach the cooler from your CPU. Then dip a paper towel into isopropyl alcohol and smoothly remove the old paste from your processor unit. Also, wipe the processor’s edge carefully. You can even use a cotton swab soaked with isopropyl alcohol.
Then reapply the thermal paste evenly over the processor and attach the cooler carefully. Don’t tighten up the cooler’s single side excessively. Keep a bit of pressure, move simultaneously with each corner screw, and raise the pressure little by little.
Note: Make sure the paste doesn’t enter inside the socket. Don’t overuse the thermal paste.
Be very careful when cleaning the thermal paste off the CPU and apply the correct amount of paste.
6. Get a Third-Party Cooler For Processor
If you push your central processor intensively and the temp stays up most of the time, then getting a third-party air cooler for your CPU is better. Stock coolers are fine, but they are not efficient as after-market coolers.
When I’m gaming with my Ryzen 5 5600G with the stock cooler, in the beginning, it performs okay, and the heat issue is okayish. But after a while, it starts to go beyond overheating, and I face sudden shutdown issues often.
Then I get an Arctic A35 ARGB CPU cooler and Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut paste. I apply the thermal solution and the aftermarket cooler, and my temperature drops to my desired demand. For your convenience here is the benchmark and it’s clear how aftermarket cooler drops the temperature.
For temperature issues, these are not the only coolers. And if you are a fan of RGBs, check out the list of the top 7 best CPU AIO coolers you can buy in 2023. All these will provide remarkable results to lower the CPU temperature.
7. Get a Better Power Supply
With a better power supply and adequate voltage, it’s an excellent chance to get a balanced temperature out of the processor. Also, as a bonus, you can rearrange your cable optimally when you add PSU.
There are three types of PSU units available. Those are without modular, semi-modular, and modular. It’s better to get a semi or full modular unit. With that, it’s easy to do cable management. Check what type of power supply you have.
Modern PC builders give extra care to cable management. And it has benefits too. Messy cables sometimes hinder the airflow. That’s why it’s better to provide some time for cable management.
8. Deactivate too Many Applications FROM StartUps
Sometimes many apps, features, and services pile up in startups. And all these start to run when you start the PC. This puts heavy stress on the processor, affecting the CPU temperature.
Follow these steps to deactivate apps and services lunch on startup:
- Press Windows plus I essential.
- Go to the Apps menu.
- Select Startup.
You will find all available options about which app has how much impact. Turn off auto start for unnecessary apps.
Following these steps can solve the excessive heating issue. Also, put your PC in a fresh place where air can travel properly. Take some time to manage the cables. Use tie-down to arrange them properly.
Now check the CPU temperature and monitor it regularly.
You can scan for malware with a preferable routine. Also, update your OEM Drivers. And If you use a laptop, then use a laptop cooler.
Moreover, If you overclock your CPU, take the safety measure further. Like getting a better third-party cooler, making the airflow efficient, and more. Check out the complete CPU overclocking process without BIOS. It’ll guide you through each and every step safely.
FAQs
What is a lousy CPU temp?
Temperature around 160°F (70°C) to 195°F (90°C) is tolerable. But if it exceeds 195°F (90°C), your hardware is under heavy stress.
What is CPU cooling paste?
A thermal component is a silvery-gray substance applied to a processor before the installation of a cooling solution. It enables the efficient transfer of heat from the processor’s IHS to the CPU cooler’s base plate or water block, designed to dissipate that heat.
What liquid is used for CPU cooling?
Any liquid that transfers heat properly can be used as the liquid for the cooler. Water, deionized water, glycol/water solutions, and dielectric fluids such as fluorocarbons and PAO have commonly used fluids for water cooling.
Final Thoughts
The majority of the components inside the PC box generate heat. This may vary depending on the workload and how you use the rig. Perhaps you are a competitive gamer or work in graphics. Heat output can easily be measured by how you use the PC.
However, I have shared the best strategies for resolving this issue. And if you discover it’s overheating, act quickly. Because it can reduce the lifespan of the processor unit or, in the worst-case scenario, permanently damage it.