Is Your Laptop Overheating? 5 Warning Signs and Proven Cooling Solutions

Excess heat silently damages laptops, shortening lifespans and risking data loss. For users in Berkshire, 

Ascot Computer Repair decodes overheating emergencies – from sudden shutdowns to distorted performance. 

Recognise these 5 critical signs and implement our engineer-approved solutions today. 

Serving Ascot, Reading, and Bracknell with same-day diagnostics since 2012.

The 5 Critical Signs of Overheating

1. Frequent Unexpected Shutdowns  

•    Cause: Thermal safety cut-off activating at 90-100°C.  

2. Burning Smell or Hot Base  

•    Risk: Plastic warping, solder damage. Test: Too hot to rest on lap?  

3. Extreme Fan Noise at Idle  

•    Symptom: Dust-clogged vents forcing fans to max RPM constantly.  

4. Performance Throttling  

•    Indicator: Apps lag despite sufficient RAM/CPU specs.  

5. Visual Distortions/Artifacts  

•    Emergency: GPU overheating causing screen glitches/stripes.  

> "Ignoring these signs reduces laptop lifespan by 60% in 18 months" – Source: BCS Hardware Sustainability Study

Immediate DIY Cooling Fixes

For All Users:  

• Elevate Your Laptop: Use books/stand for 2cm underside airflow.  

• Close Background Apps: Chrome tabs alone can spike CPU by 40°C.  

• Avoid Soft Surfaces: Beds/carpets block vents (use lap desk).  

Advanced (Windows):  

1. Press `Ctrl + Shift + Esc` → Monitor "Performance" tab for CPU spikes.  

2. Download HWMonitor → Check temperatures (normal: <80°C under load).  

⚠️ Never open the chassis without anti-static tools – 1 in 3 DIY attempts damage ribbon cables.

Professional Cooling Solutions at Ascot