Overheating problems have become common in laptops and PCs. You’ll often hear unusual fan noises, rising temperatures even in an idle state, or constant shutdown.
Your CPU can run without issue at certain temperatures but quickly becomes problematic over 80 degrees Celsius. Once it hits 90 degrees Celsius, errors such as CPU over temperature error may occur.
What Causes CPU Over Temperature Error?
You’re getting the error because your CPU is overheating and your fans can’t keep up.
This is attributed to faulty installations, dirty internal components, obstructed airflow, false temperature sensing, using your PC in a hot room, loose connection between the CPU joint and socket.
Can You Ignore the Error Message?
Yes, you can ignore the CPU over temperature error message. In some cases, the error notification is serious, but in most cases, it’s not.
For example, if you played games or used editing software for hours, your CPU may overheat and display the error message.
The higher temperature might not be harmful, but your motherboard will raise the alarm. If your setup can handle higher temperatures without melting, you can ignore it.
Similarly, overheating due to clogged vents or fans can be overlooked.
When is the Error Message Alarming?
Occasionally, you’ll get the error message on your CPU, and ignoring it isn’t an option.
For example, an immediate diagnosis is needed if your PC displays the error message when idle or you’re using it for less-intensive apps.
You’re not taxing your CPU; thus, it shouldn’t overheat. Start by opening the task manager to check for background apps that are overtaxing your CPU.
If the task manager is clear, your system has a secondary issue that’s overheating the CPU.
How to Fix CPU Over Temperature Error
Follow these remedies to disable the CPU over temperature error.
Clean Your PC
Do you ever clean your PC, and how often? Most PC users will clean everything in their home or room and forget their PC.
Over time the PC will accumulate dust, dirt, and hair in the vents, fan, and other internal components.
The dust and dirt build-up will gradually clog your fans and restrict airflow to parts that need constant cooling.
This means that the fan will struggle to cool your CPU, causing it to overheat. Also, dust build-up on internal components acts as an insulator.
The accumulating dust will retain heat; thus, making it harder to cool internal components even when the fan is running at 100%.
Cleaning with compressed air should clear the dust, dirt, and hair build-up. Do this repeatedly at least once every year to prevent overheating issues associated with dust build-up.
Clear the Area Near Your PC
To ensure optimal airflow to your fan, space is needed. Don’t use your laptop on your bed, and expect the fan to run at maximum efficiency.
Similarly, placing your PC on your desk and surrounding it with books or other gadgets will restrict airflow.
Clear the area around your PC for optimal cooling efficiency. This should reduce overheating and disable the CPU over temperature error.
Change Fan Speed
If your CPU is overheating due to lower fan speeds, consider tweaking them to match current needs. Your CPU fan shouldn’t run at 2,000 rpm when it’s under load.
Increase the speed to 5,000 rpm or more to cool your CPU when editing or gaming.
Stop Overclocking
PC enthusiasts believe that squeezing every single drop of performance from a processor is the best route to test a PC’s true performance. Is there a need for overclocking in 2024?
Current CPUs are fast and made incredible leaps in computing performance. Why would you need to overclock your CPU?
Overclocking can increase performance when using gaming, image editing, video editing, and 3D modeling applications. Any applications that increase the demand on your system can benefit from overclocking.
Unfortunately, overclocking has its downsides. For example, overclocking can void your warranty; thus, check if the manufacturer allows it before overclocking.
Also, it causes overheating problems, which is why specialists recommend overclocking on PCs. Your laptop may struggle to keep up with the heat.
If your PC displays the CPU over temperature error after overclocking it, consider reverting to original speeds. Your CPU is clearly struggling to keep up with the new speeds.
If you continue overclocking, you’ll likely damage some internal components, including your CPU.
If your CPU doesn’t offer the performance needed to run games or editing apps, understand how to safely overclock your CPU or upgrade to a more powerful CPU with overclocking capabilities.
Change PC Location
Your CPU will overheat if placed in a heated room or location. The additional heat from the sun or other heat sources only makes cooling your CPU harder. If you can, relocate your PC to a cooler room or location.
Check Heat Sink
Confirm that the heat sink is properly placed without a loose connection. If not, the heat sink will malfunction, causing your CPU to overheat.
Monitor the Temperature
Your CPU’s temperature rises when placed under load, especially if you’re gaming or editing on your PC. The temperatures will continue rising the longer you use these apps. If you game for hours, expect your CPU to heat up to extreme levels.
On average, your CPU will record temperatures ranging from 60-73 degrees Celsius when gaming.
These temperatures are normal, but if they rise past 80 degrees Celsius or 176 degrees Fahrenheit, you risk overheating your CPU.
Sustaining such high temperatures for extended periods can damage your processor. To avoid overheating even when playing games, install software that can track live temperature.
Select the sensors to appear in on-screen display for easy temperature tracking when gaming or editing.
Alternatively, place your hand over the vents to check current temperatures.
As CPU temperatures rise, more hot air will come from the vents. If the temps are too high, you can power down or close the game to conserve your CPU.
FAQ
Are Your CPU Temperatures Normal?
Normal is relative when dealing with CPU temperatures. For example, running your CPU at 70 degrees Celsius is considered normal when gaming.
However, the same temperature is worrying when the PC is idle or not under heavy load.
Also, monitor how often your CPU clocks such temperatures. Does your CPU maintain temperatures over 50 degrees Celsius all day even when under relatively easy loads? If yes, figure out the cause.
This is still a generalization because average temperatures vary depending on the processor and other factors.
For example, your new Intel processor won’t run at the same temperature as an older version under similar loads.
Do the Temperatures Ever Get Too High?
Yes, the CPU temperatures often get too hot for the CPU fan to keep up. If your PC has an intel processor, check their website for temperature recommendations.
The website will have maximum temperatures that your processor shouldn’t exceed.
For example, an i7-12700k processor has a T-junction value of 100 degrees Celsius. The T-junction value is the maximum operating temp.
Your processor should run at temperatures below that value. If it equals or exceeds this value for too long, it will shorten the processor’s lifespan.
Ideally, your processor should run at temperatures far lower than the Tjunction value. And if you get too close ensure that you don’t maintain the temperatures for too long.
Also, if your processor is consistently reaching high temperatures, there is something amiss with the fan, thermal paste, or airflow.
Conversely, it is more complicated to narrow down the AMD processors’ maximum operating temperatures. A quick search will bear nothing since all you’ll get are guesses from other AMD processor users.
Check for ranges in forums and review posts to estimate the TJ max value of your AMD processor. Make sure your processor doesn’t operate close to that range for too long or consistently.
The AMD 5000 series can handle temperatures close to 95 degrees Celsius. Your processor will rarely exceed 70 degrees and if it reaches 80-90 degrees Celsius, it’s considered normal.
What Happens If The CPU Exceeds the Maximum Operating Temperatures?
Your processor can sustain high temperatures for a limited period before the safeguards kick in. Don’t expect to continue overclocking or playing games at close to 100 degrees Celsius for long.
If the fans can’t cool it, the PC will shut down to safeguard internal components.
Sustaining such extreme temperatures can lead to overheating issues. The same applies to high temperatures close to maximum operating temperatures for extended periods. If you do, the PC will shut down.
Is Your PC Overheating?
When under load your PC will likely get hot as the CPU attempts to run at 100%. This doesn’t mean that the PC is overheating.
Your PC could just be hot causing you to panic and overreact. Not all temperature rises warrant a system diagnosis.
If your PC overheats, you’ll know as it will display signs such as errors and the Blue Screen of Death.
Final Thoughts
CPU over temperature error isn’t necessarily dangerous but learn to manage the temperatures to prevent future occurrences. CPU overheating has consequences even when the error doesn’t look serious.
