Hot Tips for Keeping Your PC Cool in Summer
Computers hate summer. That's because it comes with a computer's worst
enemy: heat. Too much heat can cause hard drives to fail prematurely
and entire systems to become slower and less stable. A hot day combined
with inadequate or malfunctioning cooling inside a PC can, in fact,
spell the end of a computer altogether.
But there are steps you can take to keep your PC cool enough in the
summertime. By paying attention to how much heat-stress your PC may be
under, you'll not only extend its lifespan but also enjoy trouble-free
computing during the time you own it.
Danger signs
How can you tell if your PC is suffering from heat-related stress?
The best way is to take its temperature directly. Because overheating
is a fairly common concern among system manufacturers today, many PCs
provide temperature readings either through the BIOS or through system
software.
Your computer's BIOS (basic input-output services) is composed of
set up screens that typically can be entered at the time you reboot your
computer. A keystroke entered at the bootup screen generally gets you into
the BIOS.
There, you will often see a screen devoted to temperature readings
from inside your PC. If the BIOS doesn't give you temperature readings,
chances are good that your system manufacturer offers a software tool that
monitors temperatures inside of your PC and can sound an alarm when
the heat reaches a dangerous level. Or you can turn to a free downloadable
utility such as Motherboard Monitor (
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=311).
A temperature reading of higher than 60 degrees Celsius on any
internal component is generally a cause for concern, especially if that
temperature
is reached at bootup, when the PC is not under stress. Occasionally
temperatures for a CPU - the main processor in your computer - will rise
higher than 60 degrees Celsius, but usually such temperatures should not
be the norm. If they are, your computer will likely slow down, as
performance-throttling safeguards kick in, or become unstable.
Keeping it cool
There are plenty of steps you can take to keep your PC cool during
the summer. First, open up your PC from time to time to make sure all
internal fans are operating. The onset of hot weather is a good time to
tackle this chore. If you're a bit nervous about having to pop open the
hood of your computer, don't worry. Usually removing a few easy-to-find
screws or a popping a simple latch is all you need to do to inspect the
inside of your computer. Most computer manuals tell you how it's
done.
Open the case while your computer is turned off. When the case is
open, turn the computer back on and make sure that all internal fans spin
up and operate consistently. You should see two or three internal fans in
your average computer - usually one fan is over the central processor,
while another may be located atop the graphics card, into which your
monitor cable usually plugs.
Second, try to locate your PC in a cool room - or a cool place
within an otherwise warm room. If your room has air conditioning, place the
computer itself as close to an air conditioning vent as possible - or
somewhere where outside air circulation is available.
The fact is that any personal computer can and will raise ambient
air temperature in a room, so it makes sense to minimize that effect for
the benefit of the PC as well as for those who work around it. If you do
not have or do not want to use air conditioning, try to get air circulating
around the computer, either with an oscillating fan or by placing it near
a window with some air circulation.
Third, make a point to remove dust from your PC - especially around
air vents, where balls of dust can accumulate and prevent proper airflow.
A dusty PC will get hotter internally - and generate more heat externally
- than a PC that's relatively dust free. Use common sense when removing
dust from the computer. Turn if off and unplug it first, and try not to
directly touch any sensitive electrical components within.
Finally, consider turning your PC off when you're not using it
during particularly hot spells. If you need to keep the PC itself running,
look for other heat-generating electronic components that can be powered
down while the computer does its work. Monitors, for instance, can also
generate significant heat, as can some printers.
Thanks to beefed-up graphics cards, supercharged CPUs, and
maxed-out memory, today's high-performance computers generate more heat
than any
personal computers before them. But by paying proper attention to cooling,
you can help to ensure years of trouble-free service from your PC.
DPA | June 19, 2007
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