Why Your Gaming PC is Overheating (And How to Fix It)Why Your Gaming PC is Overheating (And How to Fix It)

Nothing ruins a gaming session faster than a sudden frame rate drop or, worse, a complete system shutdown. If your PC fans sound like a jet engine taking off, you’re likely dealing with overheating. In this guide, we’ll explore why this happens and how to fix it before permanent damage occurs.

1. Dust: The Silent Killer

The most common culprit is dust. Over time, dust accumulates in your heatsinks and fans, creating an insulating layer that traps heat. The Fix: Buy a can of compressed air and clean your PC case filters and fans every 3-6 months.

2. Dried Thermal Paste

If your CPU temps are spiking even when idle, your thermal paste might have dried out. The Fix: Replace thermal paste if PC is >3 years old.

Nothing ruins a gaming session faster than a sudden frame rate drop or, worse, a complete system shutdown. If your PC fans sound like a jet engine taking off, you’re likely dealing with overheating. In this guide, we’ll explore why this happens and how to fix it before permanent damage occurs.

1. Dust: The Silent Killer

The most common culprit is dust. Over time, dust accumulates in your heatsinks and fans, creating an insulating layer that traps heat. The Fix: Buy a can of compressed air and clean your PC case filters and fans every 3-6 months.

2. Dried Thermal Paste

If your CPU temps are spiking even when idle, your thermal paste might have dried out. The Fix: Replace thermal paste if PC is >3 years old.