Decreased processing speeds, unexpected freezes and shutdowns, and even permanently fried hardware have been afflicting readers (and staff) of Computing in the past week as the UK's heatwave shows no sign of abating. Here are our top 10 tips to keeping your computers cool as the sun beats down.
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Keep it clean
It's especially desktops that tend to moulder under desks, their innards becoming clogged with dust, dirt and errant hairballs.
Before trying anything else, we'd suggest you open up your PC (or laptop, if possible) and have a go at removing potentially several years' worth of debris.
Dust clogs the fans, and can also get between components, reducing conductivity and causing further problems.
A few sprays of canned air can help the cleaning process no end.
Remove the case
It might sound obvious, but computers like shedding clothes just as much as we do during hot days. As long as your PC's not sitting close to dirty air vents, or open windows pouring in dust from building sites, removing the cover panels and letting the cool air rush in should assist your overburdened fan, and decrease the running temperature of your machine.
Additionally, many contemporary 'quiet' cases contain a foam layer to keep fan noise down, but may also trap even more heat inside the case.
Obviously, such a simple solution won't work so well for laptops or tablets.
Also, be aware of the risks of exposed live components if you do decide to run your PC without its cover. Probably not a good idea if you're working from home and have young children running around.
Give it some space
The fact your work machine is usually surrounded by box files and stale teacups may not usually be a problem, but it'll be gasping for all the airflow it can get at the moment. Clearing the spaces around anywhere you see an air vent could help considerably. Bear in mind air vents can also be on the top of the machine, so it's time to clear away those books, speakers and fast food toys.
Keep an eye on the numbers
There's an abundance of applications out there to help you work out whether your computer - though it may feel distinctly warmer than usual - is actually in any kind of critical danger from the heat. Your IT department can probably sort you out with a company standard, but if in doubt, a decent freeware app is CoreTemp - just make sure you deny its install program from installing a variety of other unneeded applications on the way through.
If your processors are still operating a few degrees below their max recommended temperature, you probably have little to worry about.
If your problems are greater, SpeedFan can also help you manually control your CPU fan speeds without having to burrow around in the BIOS.
