How to stop the computer from overheating when playing games

Computer temperature always rises during gaming, and this is absolutely normal. The fact is that heavy software puts more stress on your machine, so the GPU, processor, and other hardware components start working in an enhanced mode. Problems begin when the temperature goes off scale and your device keeps overheating. But how do you know if your PC needs to cool down? How to stop the computer from overheating when playing games? And why is it so important? Grab your coffee, and let’s hunt down the questions!

How to spot overheating: clear symptoms and warning signals

As a keen gamer, you know well how difficult it can be to get out of your favorite game and stop playing at least for a couple of hours. Even if you’ve spent a fortune upgrading your PC, the machine may still overheat during longtime gaming. But how to identify that the temperature exceeds the tolerable values? Here are the main factors indicating that it’s time to take some measures to deal with computer overheating when playing games:

• Poor performance;
• Frequent shutdowns;
• Lags and glitches;
• Weird artifacts in game textures;
• Throttling CPU;
• Excessive fan noise;
• Scalding hot computer case.

How to stop the computer from overheating when playing games

Overheating is more dangerous than you think. And if you delay solving the problem, the situation may soon worsen. Indeed, durable high temperatures slowly kill your precious computer by degrading the overall performance and damaging it from the inside. That's why you should take into account the following tips on how to stop the computer from overheating while playing games.

Close background tasks

The more background tasks your computer runs, the hotter it gets. Moreover, if you have some heavy programs open, it puts even more stress on the processor. To reduce the load, try these steps:

1. Quickly press Esc + Ctrl + Shift simultaneously and you will get to the Task Manager.
2. Inspect the CPU column and identify the tasks that use the most processing power.
3. Right-click on the task you are willing to shut and hit End task.

Close running programs

Never start playing games if you have any programs open. This applies to the browser, various applications, and even a simple File Explorer – in a word, any active processes that will give extra load on your CPU while you’re playing. You can even restart your computer before launching the game. Thus, you’ll eliminate various system glitches and close all running processes.

Clean the dust

Dust is the culprit of many PC problems, and overheating issues are no exception. No wonder regular internal cleaning is a mandatory component of proper computer care. If you haven't cleaned your machine for a long time, this might be a good option how to stop the computer from overheating when playing heavy games.

1. Shut down your PC and don't forget to pull out all wires.
2. Locate the PC case on a plane and well-lighted surface (or take a flashlight for better vision).
3. Carefully open the case.
4. Check the components of your machine and use compressed air to clean up all the dirt you’ll find. Avoid vacuum cleaner as it won’t get to the hard-to-reach corners but might only bring damage to the delicate technical parts.
5. Close the case and turn on the computer.

Increase airflow

This is one of the most effective ways to stop the computer from overheating while playing games. The airflow directly affects the temperature inside the case. So identify whether the fans are spinning properly. Clean up dirt and dust and replace fans if they show poor performance. Also, remove the wires and attach them to the back of the case if they interfere with the air circulation. Moreover, don’t keep the case open. This changes the airflow pressure and makes the fans less efficient. In addition, this contributes to dust accumulation.

Get rid of overclocking

Overclocking makes the processor run with full power, which can cause PC temperature to rise while playing games. Here are the simple steps on how to adjust the clock rate settings:

• Go to BIOS by pressing a particular key while the PC is booting (the key will be shown on your screen)
• Hit Troubleshoot, after that head to Advanced Options, and enter UEFI Firmware Settings.

• Tap Restart and wait until the PC boots into BIOS.
• Find the overclocking settings (often under the Advanced or Performance tab)
• Select disable overclocking (if available) or set all settings to Auto.

• Save the changes you’ve made and reboot your PC.

We hope this information was useful to you. Share our tips on how to stop the computer from overheating with your friends and enjoy a vivid gaming experience together!