A CPU is the brain of your computer. It handles all the calculations your software needs to run. But what happens when your CPU starts overheating? You may begin encountering errors like “CPU Over Temperature Error,” “CPU Throttling Error,” or “CPU Not Supported Error. This article will show you what these overheating errors mean and how you can fix them.
What are the CPU Overheating Errors?
As the name suggests, the CPU Over Temperature Error is an error that occurs when your CPU starts to overheat. This can happen for a number of reasons, but the most common is due to a build-up of dust and dirt on your computer’s fans and heat sinks. When these components become clogged, they are unable to dissipate heat, causing your CPU to overheat properly.
As a result, your computer may reboot, freeze or shut down altogether. In some rare cases, it can even cause irreparable damage by melting the CPU, motherboard, or other important circuitry or starting a fire. To prevent this error, you need to ensure that the CPU isn’t overheating and that the cooling system is working optimally to keep the temperature down.
What Causes the CPU Over Temperature Error?
All the CPU overheating errors, like the “CPU Over Temperature Error,” can occur due to a variety of causes. These include:
Poor Ventilation
If your computer case isn’t well-ventilated, the heat produced by the CPU can build up and cause overheating. And when the CPU gets too hot, the computer shuts down completely to prevent any damage to critical components.
Dust and Debris
Another major cause of this error is dust accumulation. Dust and debris can accumulate on the computer’s fans, and heat sinks over time, and this dust build-up can restrict airflow, prevent proper heat dissipation and cause overheating.
Overclocking
Overclocking is the process of pushing a CPU to run beyond its stock clock speed. Gamers often overclock to increase performance, but it also increases the risk of overheating. If your CPU is overclocked, it is more likely to overheat and throw a “CPU Over Temperature Error.”
Defective Fans
If any of the fans in your computer are defective or not working properly, it can cause overheating. The CPU fan is responsible for cooling the CPU; if it’s not working properly, the CPU can overheat and cause an error.
Too many apps and processes running concurrently
If you have too many apps and processes running at the same time, it can lead to CPU overheating and the “CPU Over Temperature Error.”
How to Fix the CPU Over Temperature Error?
The best way to solve this error is to find out what’s causing this problem. This is because the cause can be different for different people. Once you have identified the correct cause, you can determine what to do next. Below are some ways to fix CPU Over Temperature errors:
Clean Your PC
One of the best ways to fix this error is to clean your computer. This includes cleaning the CPU fan, heat sink, and other ventilation areas. You can use a can of compressed air to blow away the dust. Just make sure you don’t touch any of the components with your bare hands.
Improve Airflow
Your computer uses air vents to move cool air through the chassis. However, sometimes when you use the laptop on your lap or any soft surface, it can block the vents. As a result, the air can’t circulate properly, and the CPU starts to overheat. To fix this, use your laptop on a hard surface with plenty of space around it to circulate air.
Inspect the fans
If you have a desktop, ensure all the fans are working properly. If any fans aren’t working, replace them as soon as possible.
Reapply Thermal Paste
If you have a desktop, you can try reapplying thermal paste to the CPU. Over time, the thermal paste can dry out and no longer work as well. This can lead to overheating. Just be sure to follow the instructions carefully when reapplying thermal paste.
Use an external cooling system
If you’re a gamer or power user, you can invest in an external cooling system. These systems help to lower the temperature of your CPU and prevent overheating.
Reduce CPU Usage
Identify all the demanding CPU apps that might be consuming a big chunk of CPU resources. It will likely be a video game or editing software if you are a gamer or video editor. Once you have found the demanding apps, try closing all other apps you are not using. Use Task Manager to find out which apps use the most CPU and close them all down.
Tips To Avoid CPU Overheating Errors
Overheating is one of the main causes of CPU shutdowns and CPU errors. When the temperature gets too high, the computer will shut down automatically to prevent damage to the critical components. You can try the following simple things to prevent the CPU from overheating.
Keep Your CPU In A Cool Room
If the room temperature is already high, your computer will overheat very quickly. Try to keep your CPU in a cool room to avoid this problem.
Use A Laptop Stand
When using a laptop, it’s important to use a stand that elevates the laptop off your lap. This allows air to circulate properly and prevents the laptop from getting too hot. You can also use a laptop cooling pad to bring the temperature down.
Use A Fan
You can use an external fan to help cool down your CPU. Just make sure that the fan is blowing air directly onto the CPU. Otherwise, it may have no impact on the overall CPU temperature.
Keep The Computer Clean
It’s important to keep the computer inside and out. Dust can build up over time and cause the CPU to overheat. Use a can of compressed air to clean out the CPU fan and other areas.
Monitor The Temperature
Use a temperature monitoring program like Core Temp or HWMonitor to monitor your CPU temperature. If the temperature gets too high, take measures to cool it down.
How to Troubleshoot CPU Over Temperature Error?
Don’t panic if your computer is shutting down frequently without apparent cause or displaying CPU overheating errors, don’t panic. There are a few things you can do to troubleshoot this problem.
First of all, check your laptop/computer to make sure all the cooling fans are working fine. If you find that one of the fans is not spinning, then replace it immediately. In case you are using a desktop, consider adding an extra fan to increase airflow.
Next, take a look at the ventilation on your laptop/computer. Make sure that the vents are not blocked by anything. If you’re using a laptop, don’t use it on your lap for long periods. This will block the vents and cause the laptop to overheat.
You can also try cleaning the inside of your computer. Dust can build up over time and block the airflow. Use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust from the CPU fan and other areas.
Another solution is to raise the CPU’s thermal threshold in the BIOS settings. As a result, the computer will shut down at a higher temperature then. But I don’t recommend going this route if you’re unfamiliar with CPU components because the higher temperatures can damage your components.
Finally, if you’re still having problems, you can try using a laptop cooling pad or an external fan to help cool down your CPU. In some cases, your cooling fan may also be faulty. Therefore, you may have to repair or invest in a better CPU cooling option.
Also Read: How to Turn On Laptop Without Power Button
Final Thoughts On CPU Over Temperature Error
If you’ve ever encountered the “CPU Over Temperature Error” message, you know how frustrating it can be. But, by following the tips above, you can easily fix this problem.
I hope this article was helpful in explaining what CPU over-temperature error is and how you can fix them. If you have any further questions, please feel free to leave a comment below.
