How do You Know If your CPU is overheating?

Question

how is it possible to find out if CPU is overheating? also how does this happen? and how to prevent or stop it?- these questions are being asked because my PC constantly turns off by itself....

Please Help....

Answer 1

You said it computer turns off clean or replace the fan.

Answer 2

your cpu overheats by keeping the crappy cpu fan that came with your computer and not replacing it with a better one. you can tell it's overheating if you computer shuts off randomly and/or you keep the crappy cpu fan that came with the machine

Answer 3

Random Freezing,reboots and power off's are common symptoms of some components overheating.

in ure case if u are not playing a game and its happening it is likely to be a heat issue.

The quick fix remedy is to 1st wait untill the pc turns off.

when u can turn it back on agian enter the bios and look under the settings to find the one that shows u the mobo&cpu temp and fan speed.

Also take the side panel off the Pc and check the fan is spinning freely.

you may want to use a can of compressed air or a make up brush to remove any c**p that the fan blades and heatsink have gathered.

also have leave the side off and see if the pc lasts longer b4 a shutdown.

if u have a desk fan then point that in to the case,this will easily let you know if ANYthing is overheating as if the pc still shuts down after all that cool air is being blasted in then a more in depth problem is apparent.

Answer 4

Hello again Agent.  You can download little programs, like from CNET Downloads that will monitor your CPU temperature.  Check with the manufacturer (Intel or AMD) for the specific processor and see what the maximum temperature is that the CPU should be at.  Secondly, your BIOS probably has a power setting that shuts down the CPU when it is overheating.  You can change this in BIOS of course, but the better thing to do is to get a better fan/heatsink unit for your CPU.  All it takes to do this is make sure you get one that fits the SOCKET type for your mobo, if Intel duo or quad, probably an LGA775 socket or if a Pentium a socket 478.  If you have an AMD based CPU, you will need to check out which socket, there are several, including Socket 939, Socet 940, Socket AM2 or Socket AM2+ for most mono, dual and quad core processors.  You need to know which MPU you have in order to determine which socket and then buy the right cpu/heatsink assembly for that socket.  I prefer copper myself, which is more expensive than aluminum, but superior in most respects to aluminum.

Coolmaster is a good one and also Zalman.  Check them both out.

Also, don't put your computer into tight unventillated spaces and clean the computer out with a vacuum cleaner.