Gaming PC Running Hot? DIY Cooling & Thermal Guide

“Gaming PCs pull in dust that clogs filters and heatsinks, causing components to throttle under load, leading to frame drops and system crashes.”

Follow these checks systematically to diagnose the root cause:

1. 1Clean Dust Filters

   Remove the magnetic dust filters on the front, top, and bottom chassis panels, and wash or brush away accumulated dust.

2. 2Audit Cooler Placement

   Ensure the CPU AIO liquid cooler radiator is mounted higher than the pump unit to prevent air bubbles from reducing liquid flow.

3. 3Replace Thermal Paste

   Remove the CPU cooler bracket, clean old paste using isopropyl alcohol, and apply a fresh layer of thermal compound.

4. 4Manage Fan Curves

   Use BIOS settings or motherboard software to adjust fan curves to spin faster at lower temperatures.

5. 5Configure Correct Case Airflow

   Verify that intake fans (front/bottom) and exhaust fans (rear/top) are oriented in the correct direction.

Dry thermal paste or CPU cooler pump failure will cause temperatures to exceed 95°C under load, trigger thermal shutdowns.

Keep these hardware safety rules in mind to protect your circuits:

• Avoid placing your gaming desktop directly on a carpeted floor, as this blocks power supply unit (PSU) air intake.

If your liquid AIO cooler pump fails or if you need professional thermal repasting, book a doorstep gaming PC technician.