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You can find small syringes of thermal paste by respected brands like Arctic and Noctua for under $10 on Amazon. Removing the old thermal paste with rubbing alcohol and applying a fresh layer can potentially help lower temperatures by a large amount. The thermal paste that transfers heat from your CPU to its cooler might have dried out if you’ve had your PC for a few years. If not, more intensive steps are in order. While you’re at it, check to make sure that all your fans are working correctly, pointed the right way, and that none of the vents in your PC are blocked. (Also, make sure your PC’s fans are set up for maximum cooling performance.) PCWorld’s guide on how to clean your PC can walk you through the process. Local hardware stores usually charge outrageous prices for canned air, but you can pick up a bottle for about $8 on Amazon. High CPU temperatures are often caused by years of dust and grime built up inside a PC, clogging fans and crucial air pathways. If you’re regularly encountering high CPU temperatures, there are some steps you can take to try and fix the issue.įirst, clean out your PC. This is expected, but if temperatures cross 85° C, be concerned. One notable exception: We sometimes see more powerful laptop processors hit the low 80s during gaming sessions when plugged in, at which point they start throttling back performance. Check your hardware for broken fans or dust build-up, and if you’re overclocking, dial back your settings-especially the voltage if you’ve tweaked it.
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80° C to 90° C: Now we’re getting too hot for long-term comfort.If you’re not, definitely check to make sure your fans are working and there aren’t dust bunnies clogging up your system’s airflow. 70° C to 80° C: This is hotter than you want to run unless you’re pushing an overclock.Consider cleaning the dust out of your PC if CPU temperatures continue to creep up over time. 60° C to 70° C: Still running fine, but getting a bit warmer.
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