Reducing Heat Inside the PC

Reducing Heat Inside the PC
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Heat buildup can cause problems for any computer. This document can help prevent heat related problems from occurring.
Some problems heat can cause include:

Games stop responding while being played.
Windows stops responding while being used.
When starting the computer, it sometimes stops at a black screen and does not open into Windows (Windows will usually stop responding when it does open).
Mouse and keyboard stop responding.
Computer unexpectedly restarts or provides a blue fault message (Windows Vista, XP).
or
Frequent Fatal Exception, Illegal Operation, or General Protection Fault error messages occur in several different software programs (Windows 95, 98, and Me).
These errors will not be predictable. If these errors occur only in one software program, the problem is probably related to that software program and is not heat related.
Causes of excessive heat:

Dust inside the computer. Dust problems are made worse if the computer is on a carpeted floor.
A new component, like a hard drive, has been added. The extra component causes the power supply to work harder and generate more heat. Extra heat also radiates off the new component and adds to the temperature inside the case.
Some cooling fans may slow down and wear over time, depending on the usage of the computer.
High ambient room temperature.

Before you begin

WARNING: Children and pets should not be in the area due to the hazard of electrical shock.


WARNING: The edges of metal panels can cut skin. Be careful not to slide skin along any interior metal edge of the computer.


CAUTION: This product contains components that are easily damaged by electrostatic discharge (ESD). To reduce the chance of ESD damage, work over a non-carpeted floor, use a static dissipative work surface (like a conductive foam pad), and wear an ESD wrist strap that is connected to a grounded surface, like the metal frame of a computer.
Make sure you have the following items:

Philips or slotted screwdrivers
Canned air (available from most computer repair and electronics stores)
Small flashlight
Safety goggles
Dust mask

Step 1: Testing the PC with the cover removed
Remove the side panel from the computer to see if the heat related problems go away. Doing so also prepares the computer for other procedures used in this article.

Turn off the computer and unplug the power cable.
Remove the side panel screws

Figure 1: Examples of panel screws
Remove the case panels or cover to expose the inside of the PC by sliding it off.
Plug in the power cable and turn on the computer.

CAUTION: Keep any items away from the internal area of the computer to avoid damaging the PC.
With the case cover removed, open a software program that is known to stop responding frequently to see if any problems still occur.
If the problems go away, excessive heat is probably building up inside the computer case. Use the steps in the rest of this document to help reduce the temperature inside the case.
If the problems do not go away, they are probably not being caused by heat. Refer to the Related Support section for further assistance.

Step 2: Verifying fans are operational
With the power on, look inside the computer and find the cooling fans. Look for the fans near vents, around the processor, and around the video card. You can use a flashlight to help find the fans but do not put anything inside the computer.

Figure 2: Fan locations
If a fan is not moving or is making a loud growling noise, turn off the computer and replace the fan. Do not use the computer when a fan is not working properly because the high heat can damage other important components.
Go to the next step after all fans are found to be working properly.
Step 3: Cleaning the computer
Dust may have built up around some of the internal components. Dust clogs the small air passages between metal surfaces, acting as a blanket to keep in heat. Use the steps below to remove dust:

WARNING: Wear safety goggles and a dust mask when using canned air to remove dust to protect eyes and nasal passages from dust.

Turn off the computer and disconnect the power cord.
Clean any exterior vents, especially around the power supply.

Figure 3: Power supply vent
Use canned air to blow the dust off the internal parts of the power supply.
If a small vacuum cleaner is available, use the suction end to remove dust from vent holes.

CAUTION: Do not use a vacuum cleaner to clean inside the PC. Doing so may damage the PC.
Remove dust from inside the computer. Use the canned air to clean off any dusty parts inside the computer.
After the computer has been cleaned, replace the case cover.
Plug in the power cord and turn on the computer. Use the computer as normal to see if any heat related problems still exist. If any problems continue, go to the next step.

Step 4: Placing the computer in a cooler room
A small difference in temperature may be all that is needed to prevent a component from failing. Move the computer to a cooler room in the house or office. If this is not an option, continue with the next step.
Step 5: Installing an extra fan
Case fans are available for purchase from most local computer supply stores. One type of fan that works well in home computers is a slot fan. These fans can be installed into a slot next to the video card. The hot air that surrounds the video card is drawn out through the slot fan lowering the air temperature inside the case.
Installation of the fan depends on the type of fan that is purchsed. After installing the fan according to its instructions, replace the case cover, plug in the power cord, and turn on the computer. Use the computer normally to see if the heat related problems go away.

Figure 4: Heat removed through a slot fan
1 - Video card
2 - Slot fan