The laptop heats up while playing games be it a gaming laptop or a normal laptop as video games are heavy and during gameplay, your inbuilt hardware runs at high settings specifically CPU and GPU.
As result manufacturers have to add a strong CPU and GPU into your laptop that is different from regular laptops, and due to constant pressure on your machine it intends to heat up quickly.
This can make you worry a lot as it can harm the durability of the laptops, now you have to be clear about gaming laptops’ heating it’s pretty normal but it should not constantly run above 90-95 degrees.
For instance, I am going to share all the methods in this article that I have used for keeping my laptop cool while running games yet before discussing the tips on how to fix a laptop overheating when playing games, it’s important to identify if the laptop really generating heat.
You can check this by using third-party applications and if due to heating your gaming performance is impacted then you have to take steps to minimize the warmth from your gaming laptop.
So now I am sure you have done all your testing on a laptop let’s not waste time and start discussing tips on how to keep a gaming laptop cool.
Also Read: Do gaming laptops overheat
Fix laptop overheating when playing games
1. Keep on a flat surface:
This is the basic step yet one of the best ways to keep a gaming laptop cool, you should never use the laptop on your lap or for that matter on any uneven surface.
Yea I know for convenience we all like to keep it on our thighs while operating but it actually harms your laptop’s longevity and at the same lags the performance.
Every laptop now days built with inbuilt fans which are primarily underneath your laptop, the machine intakes cool air and exhausts out hot air which keeps your laptop cool during usage.
So if you use the laptop on your lap or bed and sofa then you actually end up blocking the air intake.
As result, your device is not able to get cool air to absorb inside which makes your gaming laptop heats up and it keeps building as long as you are using it.
This can be a very prominent issue if you do not fix it, also this bad habit declines functionality, so makes sure to use always a desk or nice table to place your laptop, this allows it to breathe in good cool air.
2. Using cooling pads:
This is another best way to keep your laptop cool during heavy gaming, this actually provides your machine flat surface, also the inbuilt cooling fans make sure to enter cooling air into the device faster.
It is a very effective way to minimize hot temperatures and enhances the productivity of your gameplay.
Moreover, while bringing the best cooling pad always measure the size of the laptop specifically the bottom part, and choose the pad accordingly.
As a cooling pad comes in different shapes and sizes which is not fit every machine so double-check before purchasing one for you.
The cooling pad is available at a very cheaper price you can get the pads the budget range from $20 to above $50.
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3. Cleaning is a must:
In order to keep the laptop up and running smoothly, you have to take a few efforts as well, with time dust starts to enter the inner components through in-built fans.
Now the air is essential for keeping the laptop cool but unfortunately, you can not control dust build-up under the system.
If you do not pay attention to cleaning dust, it can start to build up in your hardware and can get worst which leads to choking air intake.
Though it’s a very simple step to clean the inner parts if you are not comfortable you can take the help of an expert who knows how to clean a laptop.
The best material to use for cleaning laptops is compressed air, you can use this it’s pretty much safe for laptops you just have to spray near fan intakes.
Also Read: Why do gaming laptops have a bad battery life
4. Keep the room temperature cool:
The temperature of your room and surrounding environment also plays a part in heating a gaming laptop, first thing you should do is try not to use the laptop outdoors as you can not control the heat issues.
Yet for regular work, you can use it, but in attempting to preserve a device you must try to keep the laptop away from sun rays as much as possible.
For instance, a few things are not in our hands such as the natural environment, and gaming laptop heats up immensely in humid places or during summer.
Again you must keep in mind that laptop takes the surrounding air to keep them cool so you should try to keep room temperature minimal.
Remember that for any tasks where your laptop uses processing power a lot the laptop starts heating, and especially while gaming, the machine operates on both graphics and processor power which consumes immense power that pushes your laptop to its extreme limit.
You can always try using air conditioners and if you do not have access then keep fans near you this will definitely help the machine to be in acceptable temperatures and it resolves the issue of overheating.
Also Read: Why is my laptop battery draining so fast
5. Change the fan settings to the max:
The next step you can take is to see the fan settings, by now you must have realized that the role of the fan is the biggest factor to keep the machine cool,
Now I do agree that high fan speed creates noise that can be irritating sometimes and many gamers prefer to keep fan speed as low as possible.
This is the biggest mistake we make while operating a laptop, especially a task such as a video editing, gaming, 3D modeling, and rendering starts to put pressure on the laptop.
This can lead to thermal throttling that reduces the frequency drastically, your CPU and GPU start to underperform and at times the machine can crush or slowdowns.
Though this is just a scenario I am explaining to make you understand the importance of utilizing fan speed.
This is pretty easy and does not require any technical knowledge, all modern laptops do come with inbuilt software you can go into the setting and set up fan settings at maximum level.
Moreover, if you have not yet bought a gaming laptop and planning to do so, then this tip can help you to choose a perfect gaming laptop with the best cooling system, every brand does describe the inner features of their laptop model.
You just have to make sure the selected laptop inner fans are placed opposite and not beside each other as opposite-direction fans provide good cooling efficiency in the laptop.
Budget gaming laptops may come with twin built-in fans but if you are spending on laptops then a higher number of fans is better for cooling.
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6. Close undue programs:
This is the biggest step you should take to keep your laptop cooling system working fine, we do not notice these small elements while using it.
We all on daily basis do a lot of work, in case you download any applications or software unknowingly we do not shut them and they actually keep using the resources in the background.
This is a very simple trick and does not need any technical guidance you just have to go on your task manager and you can see how many applications are running in the background, however, check them properly.
If you are not using some of them then you can delete unwanted apps or just use the disabled option to stop temporary usage.
This not only enhances the cooling factor but also helps boost performance as your ram gets more space to save temporary data while you are using a laptop.
7. Check thermal paste on CPU:
The thermal paste already applied to the laptop CPU by brands looks little silver, and has a greyish substance.
It has a critical role in keeping your laptop cool, even though this paste can work for more than 3 years but a lot depends on usage.
The thermal paste over time dries and as a result, the device becomes less efficient to dissipate heat, which can cause serious damage to your machine.
This is like you are giving service to your laptop CPU, so check once if any issue with thermal paste and apply it if necessary to see positive results.
Since it’s a tricky processor to paste into the CPU you can just take guidance from the below video made by TechIlliterate or suggest you consult with a person who is technically sound, if you make mistake it can damage your laptop CPU which is the brain on computers.
8. Change gaming settings to Low-Medium:
Most laptop comes with certain settings where you can set up frame rates and also keep the gaming at low, mid, high, and ultra-high settings.
Try not to put settings at high unnecessarily as few of the games do not require high settings you can still manage to get the maximum frame rate.
Just try to test out the game and how it performs as it can really permit you to keep gaming sessions smooth and you can also run it for a slightly longer time
9. Under-volting the CPU and GPU
The gaming laptops are meant for heavy tasks, in-built CPU design with high processing power and most of them are largely built-in with 45watts TDP additionally a separate graphics card also excessively takes a lot of power.
Just try to minimize the voltage of your CPU, you have to decide when to increase and decrease it.
However all depends on your workflow, this is a very useful method to reduce heat, try to keep it at an acceptable range as sometimes the machine can lag if you put it on the lowest.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does a cooling pad really help the laptop while gaming?
Yes, cooling pads are the best ways to keep a gaming laptop cool it’s a prompt and rapid solution as it has constructed with flat textures and inner fans provide air that ensures effectively reduce heat.
Again you need to find more solutions to check what is the exact issue before it becomes harmful Do not overuse it, only try to use it while doing heavy tasks such as playing games or 4k editing.
Is every gaming laptop heat?
As discussed above gaming laptops have two components that function at the same time, they have huge processing consumption be it CPU or GPU.
A temperature around 80-85 degrees is pretty acceptable, and sometimes even 90 degrees fine if it fluctuates and goes down.
But if it is constantly heating 90 degrees or above and you witness a drop in performance and thermal throttling then you need to follow a few steps and try to drop heating, you can read the above tips to keep the gaming laptop to cool.
Conclusion:
As I discussed above at the beginning you have to accept the fact that gaming laptops going to heat more than other laptops that are meant for normal day-to-day tasks.
If your laptop constantly heating above 90 degrees then it’s a big concern for you, up to 80-85 degrees is still fine, but you must follow a few steps from the beginning in order to keep the laptop cool.
Fortunately, there are many ways to keep the laptop away from overheating, however, the suggestion is if you are a casual gamer and wants a machine for video editing, and even if you are an engineering student you can get a laptop that has a dedicated GPU with Max-Q design.
The Max-Q design consumes less power while using so your laptop won’t heat as high as it heats up with a powerful GPU, and for heavy gamers, this is not going to be an option you have to prefer a laptop with a strong graphics card.
As you need maximum power-consuming GPU, so the instant solution for you is to use cooling pads, but attempt to use them solely while gaming as overuse can also damage laptops’ durability.
I am sure this guide on laptop overheating when playing games help you to reduce heating issues from your laptop, yet, if you have any queries you can comment below I will reply back with a solution.
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