Thermal throttling can be one of the biggest frustrations when using a PC or laptop. In its simplest form, thermal throttling is when a component in your PC or laptop gets too hot, and it dials down the performance so that it can cool down. Once it is cool, it will start to operate optimally again. However, if you have inadequate cooling, it will keep thermal throttling, and you will be running in circles until you find the root cause and fix it.
There are a few different things that can cause your PC or laptop to thermal throttle itself, some of which can be fixed quite easily. One thing is for sure, if you start to experience thermal throttling, do not blow it off. Instead, make it a priority to resolve it, because not only does it affect performance in the short-term, but it will also affect the longevity of the PC or laptop.
5 Ambient temperature
The lower the room temperature, the better
It may seem obvious, but ambient temperature goes overlooked quite a bit when it comes to PC and laptop temperatures. While not a major issue for many, some countries see extreme temps near 40°C or higher, meaning your PC or laptop is already quite hot before you even turn it on. No matter how good your cooling is, your device will have a very hard time cooling itself against such odds.
If this is an issue for you, try using your device in a room with air conditioning. If this is not possible, you may have to wait until the evening when things cool down a bit before you can make full use of your computer.
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4 Overclocking
More power also means more heat
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Overclocking can also be a cause of thermal throttling. Whether you have overclocked your CPU, GPU, or both, this can cause your device to overheat and experience thermal throttling. Overclocking may give you more performance, but it comes at a cost due to the use of additional power, which also creates more heat.
Luckily, there isn't much need to overclock your CPU or GPU these days, as the out-of-box performance is generally quite good with modern chips. However, if you have set an overclock and are experiencing thermal throttling, you may need to upgrade your cooling to handle it, or you may just have to turn the overclock down or off. You may even want to look into undervolting your GPU or CPU, which will further reduce the power they use and the heat they produce.
3 Dust
It gets absolutely everywhere
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Dust has to be one of my biggest personal issues when it comes to keeping things cool, especially on laptops. Dust loves to build up inside vents, both those taking in cold air and those expelling hot air. This means that your computer should be cleaned regularly, allowing for the best airflow possible. However, in order to clean it, you will have to open your PC or laptop, which not everyone may be comfortable doing.
Cleaning dust from a PC is simpler, since it is much bigger and easier to access. When it comes to a laptop, if you are uncomfortable opening it up to dust it out yourself, I highly recommend finding somewhere that you can get it serviced regularly. It can really help improve temperatures and the overall longevity of the device.
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2 Poor ventilation
Your PC needs space to breathe
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All electronics need room to breathe, some more than others. If you have the back of your PC set up as an exhaust port, and it is right up against a wall, it is going to struggle to remove the hot air from within the PC. This will cause your PC to heat up and can cause thermal throttling issues with your CPU or GPU. The same goes for the intake area, it needs space to be able to pull the air in, so make sure your PC has plenty of open area around it.
The same goes for laptops, and it can be tricky sometimes to make sure they are well-ventilated. Most laptops have vents on the bottom, so it is best to put them on a hard surface or a laptop stand designed to help with airflow. Laptops are also smaller and use much smaller fans, so they are already at a disadvantage when it comes to circulating air. This is also why it is not recommended to use them on blankets or soft surfaces, as this can clog the vents, stopping airflow, which can cause them to overheat.
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1 Overheating CPU and GPU
The main causes
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The main cause of thermal throttling is when the CPU and GPU overheat. We have covered some of the other reasons as to why this could happen, and maybe your cooling is not good enough to dissipate the heat away from the CPU or GPU. Another factor can arise when you are running tasks that are too intensive for your hardware, causing them to overheat and thermal throttle. Reducing the load on your CPU and GPU will help to reduce the heat they are producing, thus helping to alleviate the thermal throttling issue.
Can anything else cause thermal throttling?
Yes, practically any component that uses power can be a factor, it's not just your CPU and GPU. Components such as your SSD, PSU, and even your motherboard, if its VRMs get too hot, can experience thermal throttling. Thermal throttling is designed to help make sure your components don't overheat to the point of no return. So if your PC or laptop is experiencing issues with thermal throttling, look into it as soon as possible and get your system back to normal operating conditions.
There are many things you can do to help reduce the heat in your PC. You will not want to delay, as the longer you do, the more issues it can cause.