Computer Repair in Kalamazoo

Computers generate heat. It’s a common problem. The more you use them, the more heat they generate. If that heat gets excessive, you can damage your computer. In this post we break down the ins and outs of overheating computers!

Heat is not your computer’s friend. Computers are designed to move heat away from the delicate electronic innards of the device. The CPU & graphics card produce much more heat when running demanding applications. If your computer’s cooling system isn’t performing as it should, an excess of heat could physically damage its components

How do I know?

Typically, you shouldn’t have to worry about your computer overheating. But if you have any of the following symptoms, especially if your computer is older than a year, your computer could be overheating!

• Becomes unstable or shuts down
• Freezes or gets BSOD (Blue Screen of Death)
• Slows way down
• Fans seem to be running constantly at full blast

There are many different causes of these symptoms, so if you are experiencing any of them our recommendation is to have your computer checked out by a trusted computer repair shop like Geek Easy Computers.

What do you do?

When you bring your computer to Geek Easy Computers, we have a detailed process we use to identify & correct the issues affecting your machine.

1. We subject your computer to testing and inspection for the issue. This includes:
   1. Hardware testing and diagnostics.
   2. Recreation of the symptoms you are experiencing.
   3. Examination to identify the underlying causes of those issues.
2. For slowness, shutdowns and lockups, we specifically check:
   1. Temperatures – depending on the configuration, most computer components are considered to be overheating at consistant temps higher than 90°-100° Celsius.
   2. Air flow from the system and fan operation.

Once we have completed the diagnostics and determined that the computer is indeed overheating, we would then recommend a course of action/repair. Typically if there isn’t any heat caused damage to the processor or other items, we would recommend a “heatsink service” to reduce the operating temps of the computer.

A heatsink service primarily involves replacing the thermoconductive material (also called thermal paste or thermal grease) to your computer’s cpu. Thermoconductive material is applied between the processor and the heatsink during the manufacturing process, but over time it dries out and crumbles away ruining the heat dispersal and cooling. We also clean out dust & debris buildup from inside the computer that blocks fans and vents impeding proper airflow. Once the service is complete, we run the computer through additional testing to ensure the new thermal paste is transferring heat effectively and temperatures are where they should be.

This is just one of the many maintenance services we offer at Geek Easy Computers, and we’re ready to help with all your computer needs. Contact us with any questions in the comments below, via phone at 269-548-TECH(8234), or on Facebook and Google+!

Geek Easy Computers – Making Technology Easier!

Adonis Pointer is a photographer, a collector of vintage razors, and a certified technology geek! Adonis has been involved in computer technology since well, a LONG time! He has been involved in nearly every aspect of the industry from sales to repair to training to consulting. As the Social Media Manager he writes the majority of the posts on the Geek Easy Computers blog.