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Computing
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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