It can be said that the CPU or Central Processing Unit is the brain of a computer system. So, whenever you overthink, your brain gets puzzled. Similarly, when the CPU is running lots of processes or applications or has blocked air vents et cetera then it becomes overheated. Even if any one component of the CPU malfunctions, it will also result in overheating.
In this article, you will get informed in detail about how much heat can an average CPU bear and how to keep it cool.
Why Is Your CPU Running at 100 Degrees?
There are so many possible causes of your CPU running at 100 degrees or overheating. Let’s have a look at them –
- Long run time.
- Numerous running processes and applications.
- Using heavy software.
- Unresponsive programs.
- Overheated GPU.
- Defective airflow.
- Faulty cooler.
- Virus or malware attack.
- Inappropriate cable management.
- Inappropriate computer location.
How to Cool Your CPU When Running at 100 Degrees?
In this case, there are some suitable ways to keep the CPU temperature low. As you have already seen that a high temperature may cause severe damage to your CPU. So, it is necessary to solve this problem as soon as possible. Follow the given procedures to get rid of this problem –
1. Keep Your CPU Clean
With air circulation, it will automatically pull dirt and dust into your system. The only thing that moves air into and out of the CPU is its fans. So, they are exposed to far more air than most other CPU components. Over time, this grit and dust will assemble and pile up. A small amount of buildup will not affect heating, but if it remains unclean for a long time or if the CPU is in a dirty environment, it could affect performance.
Numerous issues, like electrical problems and fan failures, may arise as a result of all this dust. Even, the fan’s rotating speed will begin to slow and ventilation will be hampered. Then the heating rate will increase. Fans accumulate dust and need to be cleaned frequently, just like anything else in your home. To clean the CPU’s internal parts, use a can of compressed air. such as the motherboard, RAM, CPU cooler, and any other internal components, as well as the intake and exhaust fans.
2. Ensure Better Airflow
When there is better airflow, you can keep your CPU and its internal hardware at a cool ambient temperature. In terms of desktops, they typically intake cool air with the intake fans through the front side and exhaust internal warm air with the exhaust fan through the rear side of the PC case. So, check the fans on a regular basis and make sure they are working fine and supplying better airflow. You can add more fans for even better results if it is possible.
In terms of laptops, they intake cool air through their bottom side and have an internal fan to exhaust the internal warm air. Just place your laptop on a flat, hard surface to confirm that it can surely intake the cool air. You can also use a quality cooling pad to ensure better airflow.
3. Use Quality Fan
If too much pressure is given to the CPU, it also pushes the fans to their cooling ability boundaries. Each variety of fans is designed to flow a certain amount of air. In this case, you can set fans that can exhale much air out of the CPU. So, upgrade your CPU with a powerful fan that can push a large amount of air, is suitable size according to the CPU, and spin faster to give better performance.
4. Use Quality CPU Cooler
In the case of video editing or heavy gaming, you are certainly pushing your CPU to its limit. That means you are causing too much heating too. It also applies pressure to the CPU cooler. It is a fact that coolers provided by third-party are appreciably had better cooling power that will perfectly maintain the excess heat. The large CPU coolers contain perimeters for liquid cooling, which cool the system with water. So, ensure to upgrade your CPU cooler with a suitable and better one.
5. Maintain Cables Properly
There are lots of different cables running through the system to deliver power to the internal components by the power supply unit. When feasible, cables should be kept organized and secured. A case’s ventilation may be hampered by an excessive number of cables. In the casing, loose cables that are allowed to roam freely risk becoming stuck in other parts. It is possible that one of the power supply unit wires tripped and fell into the CPU cooler or a fan.
As a result, the fan will not be able to spin and will not be as effective at cooling the CPU. Tuck all unused cables away securely or tie them down. Some desktop cases have internal cable management systems. The number of cords in your CPU can be decreased by physically removing any unnecessary cables with a modular power supply, which is a great option for this.
6. Ensure Suitable PC Position
Possibly the surrounding area including your PC location is also responsible for the increased temperature. You can be blocking the computer from pulling that cool air in via the front of the case if your workspace is congested. Always keep your PC in a clear space, or at the very least, make sure nothing is immediately in front of it. Additionally, make sure there are no heating sources close to where the intake fans are located. You will draw hot air in via the front of the case if they are close to a heating source, which will lessen the efficiency of the circulation.
7. Use/Reuse Thermal Paste
The use of thermal paste will help keep your CPU cool. This thermal paste is a kind of sticky material that is capable of moving heat from the CPU to the heat sink. Thermal paste typically lasts for five years before it needs to be reapplied because it does have a tendency to degrade over time. The paste loses its capacity to conduct heat away as it degrades and starts to harden.
In this scenario, the thermal paste can become an insulator if it is applied excessively. Then the paste will fail to transfer the heat and will also heat up itself. When replacing the thermal paste or installing a new CPU cooler, be sure to use a high-quality paste.
8. Use Heavy Software Moderately
When you are using software that are highly resourceful or CPU-intensive, such as video editing or motion designing programs, the CPU tries to process all the GPU and CPU-related data (in terms of integrated GPU). This puts a massive load on the CPU and makes it cause overheating. Therefore, try to use the software moderately. Otherwise, ensure a better cooling system to dissipate the heat.
9. Avoid Excessive Overclocking
When you are overclocking your CPU excessively, you are not only raising the clock speed but also raising the operating voltage as well. This way you are pushing your CPU to exceed its rated speed to gain extra processing power or in other words, performance. But as a result, you are generating too much heat, that is beyond cooling by the stock CPU coolers. Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid excessive overclocking, or maintain the balance between enhanced performance and overheating with extreme caution.
10. Use Air-sufficient Case
The fact is that air-sufficient cases are more beneficial when it comes to better airflow. It allows cool air to circulate within the case efficiently and helps to keep the CPU cool. But its primary drawback is it can possibly cause dust accumulation because of the absence of enough relevant filters. So, if you think you are completely fine with cleaning your PC every week for the sake of smooth airflow, you can go for an air-sufficient case.
11. Prevent Malware Attack
Malware is harmful software that aims to access your computer without your consent. In an effort to cause your system to overheat, malware may attack the CPU cooler or system fans. This kind of malicious software can put a lot of strain on your system as it tries to carry out the function for which it was created. It typically will not result in any kind of permanent harm though it is not wise to let it do so. You may run a dependable antivirus program to get rid of any undesirable apps or files if your computer is suddenly overheated.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is 100 Degree Celsius Too Hot for a CPU?
Yes, it is. An average CPU should be kept at 40-65 degrees Celsius. If your CPU gets heat at a high level then it will be harmful to the CPU. The thermal throttle may help you in overheating situations but it is not a perfect solution. If your CPU is getting hot for a long period then surely it is near to ruin.
How long will a CPU last at 100°C?
As nowadays it is the era of modern technology, in order to avoid harm, modern computers include built-in overheating protection. When a CPU’s temperature rises too much, it begins to throttle back to prevent further heating. The computer will power off if the temperature continues to rise. Just to inform you, an average CPU may last 27 days at 100°C if no protection or precaution is taken (assuming a semiconductor has a lifespan of 20 years of continuous operation at room temperature then – in 20°C last 20 years, in 30°C last 10 years… in 100°C last 27 days).
Why is my CPU usage at 100%?
Your computer is attempting to perform more work than it is capable of if the CPU utilization is close to 100%. While typically fine, this could cause some slight program slowdown. When performing computationally demanding tasks, such as running games, computers frequently use close to 100% of the CPU. Your computer could become unbearably slow if the processor is operating at 100% for an extended period of time. In this situation, you should identify the program that is consuming a lot of CPU usage.
Conclusion
This is clear by now that 100 degrees Celsius is obviously not a suitable temperature for the CPU. It should be kept lower as much as possible to get better performance. This article will help you to have a better understanding of this problem and its solution.
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