By Chima M. Oleru
Overheating Problems
Check the temperature. If your computer supports
temperature monitoring, use the vendor-supplied utility to check temperatures.
Anything above 140 degrees Fahrenheit should be considered suspect.
Identify faulty fans. Any fans not moving under
load with high heat showing should be immediately replaced in desktops. If your
laptop has a faulty fan, you need to have it professionally serviced.
Add more cooling fans to your desktop computer.
Fan width is measured in millimeters. Common sizes are 80, 92 and 120
millimeters. You need to purchase fans that fit into your computer case's fan
mounts. If your computer came
with a jumper diagram for the motherboard, locate
the fan connectors, usually labeled "FAN1" to "FAN4." Determine
if the fan connectors have three pins or four pins. Buy additional fans with
the same number of pins as those already in your case have. If you can't
determine the number of pins, get fans that include "Molex" adapters
to connect to your power supply.
Start by mounting fans into the front of the
case, blowing toward the back. If the problem persists, add more fans to the
rear of the case, blowing outward.
Laptop users can purchase a cooling pad that
comes with extra cooling fans and typically connects via USB.
Add a heat spreader to the memory modules in your
desktop. This does not apply to laptop users. Open up the computer case,
consulting your owner's manual as necessary, to locate the memory modules. Pull
the retaining clip back from the memory module and pull the module upward out
of its socket. If the heat spreader's manufacturer provided directions, follow
them. Otherwise, remove the adhesive backing from one-half of the heat
spreader. Apply the heat spreader to the memory module. Apply the other half of
the heat spreader, ensuring that the screw holes or the clip slots are aligned.
Screw or clip it together. Return the module to your computer case, as when
reseating it in Section 2, Step 1.
Power Problems
Ensure your computer is plugged into a
high-quality surge suppressor, not just a power strip.
Try the computer in different outlets around the
house, especially those on another electrical circuit.
Plug the computer into an uninterruptible power
supply, or UPS.
Connect your desktop's internal components to
different power supply cables. The internal power supply has several power
converters in it, so connecting your computer's internal components to
different cables or cable bundles can spread the power load to help avoid under-voltage
problems.
