I've been having a problem with my computer overheating. It used to only happen when I was compiling maps, which would max my CPU for extended periods of time, but recently it has started forcing my computer to shut down even during Spring games.
It hasn't been cleaned for a while, and I intend to thoroughly dust it tomorrow, but can anyone help point me to other ways to fix my problem? I've asked someone I know personally about this, and he told me that generally computer fans can wear down after a while and that they ought to be replaced if the computer is shutting down on itself.
I probably won't be able to play Spring until this gets corrected, so I would be more than glad for help.
I would also like to extend my sincerest apologies to Decimator, BlueElite, zovres, swatter, and Gyles for crashing while hosting a game, I'm so sorry!
Computer Overheating Problem
Moderator: Moderators
I gave my computer a thorough dusting today, and I'm happy to say that I can successfully compile a map again without my computer dying on me. Needless to say, I need not fear crashing in Spring games either. I would switch around my fans, but it was my brother and not I who built my computer, so I don't really want to do too much poking around with it.
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SwiftSpear
- Classic Community Lead
- Posts: 7287
- Joined: 12 Aug 2005, 09:29
A: Fans are increadibly easy to replace. CPU fans generally are more difficult though, and if your computer is crashing due to overheating then it's because your CPU fan isn't blowing air through efficiently.
B: No fans do not wear down over time and need to be replaced. Fans either run properly or they do not run properly. If they do not run properly they are either stopped, or they make alot of noise and it's easy to tell there is something wrong. They don't just sort of degrade in preformance over time.
C: Dust is the #1 thing that prevents computers from running as cooly as they are designed to. Expecially dust buildup in your heatsync and processor fan blades can signifigantly reduce the airflow, and thus the cooling efficientcy of your components. A large ammout of the time overheating crashes are just caused by dust buildup.
B: No fans do not wear down over time and need to be replaced. Fans either run properly or they do not run properly. If they do not run properly they are either stopped, or they make alot of noise and it's easy to tell there is something wrong. They don't just sort of degrade in preformance over time.
C: Dust is the #1 thing that prevents computers from running as cooly as they are designed to. Expecially dust buildup in your heatsync and processor fan blades can signifigantly reduce the airflow, and thus the cooling efficientcy of your components. A large ammout of the time overheating crashes are just caused by dust buildup.
Fans do wear down and eventually need to be replaced. The lifetime of the fan can be seen on the box of it when you bought it. (ie. It should say something like Life expectation or MTBF (Mean Time Before Failure) and it will give you a # in hours.) Usually fans are about 40000 hours or so before they fail. So if your computer is like 4 years old, I would recommend buying new case fans. Its a pretty cheap fix.SwiftSpear wrote:A: Fans are increadibly easy to replace. CPU fans generally are more difficult though, and if your computer is crashing due to overheating then it's because your CPU fan isn't blowing air through efficiently.
B: No fans do not wear down over time and need to be replaced. Fans either run properly or they do not run properly. If they do not run properly they are either stopped, or they make alot of noise and it's easy to tell there is something wrong. They don't just sort of degrade in preformance over time.
C: Dust is the #1 thing that prevents computers from running as cooly as they are designed to. Expecially dust buildup in your heatsync and processor fan blades can signifigantly reduce the airflow, and thus the cooling efficientcy of your components. A large ammout of the time overheating crashes are just caused by dust buildup.
A good thing to do is to install a program that moniters your CPU temp and the temp of inside of your case. Usually, 70C is the cut off temp for a cpu (if you have that featured enabled). As you do something CPU intensive, I would def. watch the temp of your CPU. If it is getting close to 70C, I would recommend buying an aftermarket HSF for your cpu. Thermaltake is a good brand, as well as many others. If you don't want to remove the brackets on your mobo, just buy a HSF that works for just your socket CPU. Saves yourself a headache.
And as others said, keep your computer clean of dust. Dust kills the cooling capability of the heatsink by reducing the surface area of the fin. Less surface area = less air that comes into contact of the fin = loss of cooling capability.
Since I'm talking about heatsinks, don't get an aluminum one. Copper cools much better. I would also stay away from ones that have copper cores, but Al. fins. Pure copper is the best. Also buy ones that will fit in your case. Some HSF (Heatsink Fan) are HUGE, some are decently small. Make sure you get one with LOTS of fins and they are very thin, but not brittle and easily damaged. Just look at reviews b4 u make your purchase. You don't have to spend $50 on a HSF if you won't overclock, just spend <20 and you can get one loads better than the OEM one.
Anyway, thats assuming if you will get a new HSF
NOTE: Do NOT use a vacumn cleaner to clean dust from your case. Those things can send a static shock thru the plastic tubing and short out circuits. Cans of compressed air is the way to go and they are cheap. Just blast away the dust from your case and get a rag to clean it off from the bottom. I know this cuz my dad killed his Gateway trying to clean it..... I didn't mind tho, cuz I built him a new rig
PS: Also make sure your power supply isn't crapping out on you either. This could also cause system reboot. If you are just getting random shut downs with no real consistancy, it might be that your PS is dying. Power supplies generally last longer than fans, but if you got a PS that came with the case, I would buy an aftermarket one anyway cuz they are generally higher quality.
yes it has a mean time before failure, all moving parts do. but fans either work or they dont. the only thing that can slow them down is getting the wrong voltage and slowly frying the fan, and friction.MTBF
at the end of the MTBF it is xpected that the shaft will have locked up and your fan not be working. but if your fan IS working,then ou should be fine.