Dec182012

Why is my laptop generating more heat?

Bhargav Godhani asks:

My laptop is producing more heat whenever I play normal games or work on software like Microsoft Office. This happened recently. It is a Dell Inspiron 1564 with an Intel Core i5 processor and 3GB of RAM.


Browser: Chrome 23
System: Windows 7
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13 Answers - Write an Answer

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Vinh

December 18, 2012

I’ve got a few suggestions:
1. Cleaning the vents of your laptop
2. Check if there are any CPU-intensive applications running
3. Check your fan settings

I would suggest cleaning the ventilation holes of your laptop if you haven’t. Some dust might be clogging them. A compressed air can or your breath + a straw might do the trick.

You might also want to look into Task Manager to see if there are any applications using up all your CPU. Perhaps a malware or a new software you installed?

Some laptops (not sure if your Dell 1564 does) have different cooling modes. You could find it either via the Control Panel or the BIOS and, if there is that option, try fiddling with it:

Control Panel > Hardware and Sound > Power Options, then Change plan settings, then Change advanced power settings.

0 votes
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Jim Chambers

December 18, 2012

Check that the fan is spinning freely and there is nothing blocking air flow such as pet hair. Always use laptop on a hard, flat and unclutered surface.

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Fawad Mirzad

December 19, 2012

Most usual this happens when your laptop fan get dust. clean the dust (you can do it without opening your laptop) using specific dust removal hardware. if you do not have one you can purchase one at a very low price or go to a technical support agent to clean it for you.
In most cases this will help you.

0 votes
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Junil Maharjan

December 19, 2012

I back what Vinh has said. you need to clean the vents and check your settings.

1 votes
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Lisa Santika Onggrid

December 19, 2012

You have more than enough RAM for Office needs. Try checking your background processes, and scan the PC for virus or malware. Also check the air vent-it might be clogged with dust. A spring cleaning might be in order.

0 votes
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ha14

December 19, 2012
0 votes
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Jan Fritsch

December 19, 2012

I’m not sure I understand the issue – of course your hardware will generate more heat when you are performing tasks on it, especially if you play games on it. Also it will take some time for it to cool down afterwards.

You can always (carefully) clean the fan which may reduce a bit of that heat by improving cooling but the general matter of it heating up will persist.

Unless you are experiencing thermal issues like a forced shutdown we are talking about normal behavior.

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Douglas Mutay

December 19, 2012

The first thing is to check your fans and also clean the air vents by blasting them with compressed air. You can also check your BIOS settings: There are software settings that tell your computer how hot is too hot and at what temperature the fans should kick in. Sometimes, BIOS updates implement revised temperature settings, which can help you optimize cooling. Check your laptop manufacturer’s Web site for a BIOS update.
But remember, even if it’s called a laptop, if you use it on your lap, you’re just asking for it to overheat. Any soft surface impedes airflow into and out of the cooling vents. It also can cause heat to get caught underneath the unit. Also don’t set it on surfaces like a bed, couch, pillow or your lap. It won’t get the air to keep it cool and will start to have problems.
There is another point about the heat characteristics of your laptop. It will always change depending on age, environment and power usage. So even if you get yourself the perfect cooling setup, you might want to install some sort of heat-monitoring software. It’ll help you be more aware of your laptop’s fluctuating temperatures and learn how different situations can increase the heat.

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Parth Nagvadia

December 19, 2012

i think have to clean up u r exhaust fan and filter ……

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Deimarr Callender

December 20, 2012

Something may be clogging your air vents or stopping the fan from spinning at full speed. Could also be a hardware defect.

0 votes
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Sashritha Peiris

December 20, 2012

Try cleaning the vets in your PC and opening the cover to check if dust or wool has been clogged inside.

0 votes
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Paul Pruitt

January 1, 2013

Follow the advice of posters, but if you can’t figure it out, get a laptop cooling pad. From looking at Amazon the best brand and value appears to be CoolMaster. You may be able to get away with something for under $30.

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ha14

January 5, 2013

try also to benchmark pc it may tell you if you have hardware failoure

The 5 Best Free Benchmark Programs for Windows
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/5-free-benchmark-programs/

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/four-free-game-benchmarks-that-will-make-your-pc-scream/
4 Free Game Benchmarks That Will Make Your PC Scream

Benchmark & Explore Your PC With SiSoft Sandra 2011 Lite
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/benchmark-explore-pc-sisoft-sandra-2011-lite/

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