LaptopRepair

Laptop Overheating When Playing Games [Fixed]

Jack

By Jack Lin

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Laptop Overheating While Gaming

Is your laptop overheating when playing games? This is a fairly frequent problem that many laptop users are dealing with. Your laptop crams a lot of computing power and storage into a tiny package. This efficiency gain comes at a price: extra heat.

Except for your coffee, the most serious hazard to your laptop is overheating. It has the potential to cause hardware failure and long-term harm.

But don’t be concerned! Laptop Overheating While Gaming is a fixable problem. You can try a couple of the solutions listed below.

Solutions To Fix The Laptop Overheating While Gaming

Fix 1: Restart Your Laptop

Restart your Laptop

Perhaps your laptop is experiencing some transient conflicts that are causing the overheating. And, in most cases, rebooting your laptop will fix the problem. So, here’s what you should do:

  1. Unplug the power wire from your laptop after it has been turned off. (Remove the battery from your laptop if it is detachable.)
  2. For 15 to 20 seconds, press and hold the Power button on your laptop.
  3. Connect your laptop’s power cord (along with the battery). Then switch it on.
  4. Now restart your game to see whether your overheating issue has been fixed.

This solution is a quick fix, and in most cases, this simple trick works. But if it doesn’t work, there are a few other solutions you can try.

Fix 2: Update Device Drivers to Fix Laptop Overheating While Gaming

Laptop overheating when playing games can be caused by a variety of factors, including driver problems. To resolve this problem, you need to update your device drivers regularly.

Ensure your drivers (particularly the graphics card drivers) are functional and up to date, especially if you’re playing demanding graphics games.

  • Go to Device Manager using the Windows + X keyboard shortcut.
  • This will show you a list of all the device drivers that have been installed.
  • Check for a yellow triangle with an exclamation point in the middle on any devices. The indicator shows that there is an issue with the driver.
  • Select ‘Update driver software…‘ from the context menu for each one, then ‘Search automatically for updated driver software‘ from the drop-down menu.
Update Device Drivers

Additionally, if you encounter your laptop overheating while gaming, you may also go to your PC manufacturer’s official website and look for the most recent version of the drivers. Before you start the download and installation, double-check that they meet your system’s specs.

It’s true that manually updating devices might be difficult because you have to locate and update them one by one. As a result, we propose that you utilize Driver Easy to make things go much more smoothly.

The software will do a complete scan to find any obsolete, incompatible, misplaced, or corrupt drivers on your system. It then automatically gets and installs the most recent manufacturer-recommended versions without your involvement.

You won’t need to stress about downloading the wrong drivers because it reads your system specs. It is the ideal option for keeping your drivers up to date at all times and avoiding driver-related problems on your laptop.

Fix 3: Connect Your Laptop to Your Charger

Connect Your Laptop to Your Charger

Many consumers complained about their laptops overheating while gaming. These issues, as per users, may happen since certain games are hardware intensive, and if your laptop cannot deliver enough power, you may encounter the trouble of Laptop Overheating While Gaming.

Users advise connecting their laptop to the charger during game sessions to fix the problem. It provides enough electricity to keep your laptop from overheating. It’s only a temporary fix, but it could come in handy until a permanent solution is found.

Besides, if you are looking for the best vertical gaming mouse or the top best laptops for computer science students, here are the top options for you.

Fix 4: Use the Integrated Graphics Card

Gaming laptops are equipped with both integrated and dedicated graphics cards. Since a dedicated graphics card consumes more energy than an integrated graphics card to execute hardware-intensive activities, it’s possible that your graphics card is causing your laptop to overheat.

If this is the case, it is recommended that you utilize integrated graphics for the time being. It will consume less energy than a dedicated GPU and will not overheat the laptop.

However, you will have to sacrifice performance in particular games because integrated graphics cannot match the efficiency of a dedicated GPU.

Fix 5: Invest in a Cooling Pad to Fix Laptop Overheating While Gaming

Invest in a Cooling Pad

If you regularly notice your laptop overheating when playing games, it might be due to a lack of cooling. There’s no need to worry. By purchasing a cooling pad from the market, you can quickly cool down your laptop. They usually feature fans that blow on the bottom of your laptop to maintain it at a comfortable temperature.

Cooling pads are quite handy and will provide additional cooling for your finicky laptop. If you can’t afford to buy cooling pads right away, you can try using your laptop on a clean, flat surface. You should never place your laptop on your bed since the fan of your laptop might become clogged with dust, increasing the temperature of your laptop.

Fix 6: Change Chargers

Change Chargers to fix laptop overheating while gaming

Laptop overheating while gaming is a common issue that has been reported on occasion as a result of a faulty charger. If your laptop begins to overheat when it is attached to the charger, there is almost always an issue with the charger. Check to see if the charger you’re using is compatible with your laptop. If it isn’t working, switch to a new one. However, make sure you verify the wattage and output voltage before plugging it into your laptop.

Many people have claimed that their laptop charger is defective and that after changing the charger, their system has performed flawlessly. If you need to change your laptop’s charger, make sure you get one from the same brand, since using a charger from a different brand might cause you difficulties. Getting a branded charger may be a little pricey, but it will definitely be worth the price.

Fix 7: Limit FPS to Fix Laptop Overheating While Gaming

All gamers seek a high FPS since it implies a more enjoyable gaming experience. However, it might occasionally cause your system to overheat.

So, if you see your laptop overheating when playing games, it may be time to lower your efficiency level, as this is causing the problem. If you’re obtaining 100 frames per second, it implies your game is utilizing too much power and, as a result, your laptop’s temperature is rising.

You can consider lowering your frame rate restriction to 60 or even lower. This puts less pressure on your graphics card and generates less heat as a consequence.

Fix 8: Underclock GPU

Underclock CPU

Overclocking your CPU, graphics card, or any component of your PC will almost certainly result in your laptop overheating while gaming. More heat is produced when the clock rate of your system components increases, resulting in more actions per second.

As a result, to minimize overheating, you must return the clock to its normal settings. If the Laptop Overheating While Gaming problem persists, you might want to try decreasing the clock value below the default. While underclocking lowers performance, it also lowers energy consumption and the subsequent heat energy created.

Fix 9: Change Power Settings

It’s possible that your laptop’s power settings are causing heating difficulties while you’re playing. So, what is the answer to this Laptop Overheating While Gaming problem?

All you have to do is change your laptop’s power settings, which is a basic and quick procedure.

  • Open the control panel.
  • Look for and choose Power Options.
  • Change plan settings are shown right beneath your selected power plan in the Power Options box that appears. Click on it.
Change Power Settings
  • Now, select the Change advanced power settings option.
Change Power Settings to fix laptop overheating while gaming
  • Set a lower number for ‘Maximum processor state‘ (for example, 95 if it’s 100) and ‘Minimum processor state‘ under the Processor power management section (some users suggest that setting the value to 5 did the trick for them).
  • To save the changes, press Apply > OK.

Fix 10: Laptop Placement

When a laptop is utilized, it should be placed on a flat, sturdy surface while under heavy strain. And when the device is placed on a soft surface, such as a bed or a lap, some or all of the fan intakes on the bottom are obstructed, restricting airflow and prohibiting the device from functioning properly.

When a laptop is placed on a hard surface, the rubber feet of the laptop elevate it slightly, allowing the fans to take in enough fresh air. If your laptop doesn’t have a firm surface, you can keep it on your lap as long as you don’t block the fan intakes.

To lift it and fix the Laptop Overheating While Gaming issue, you can use a book, a box, or any other heavy item as a platform.

Fix 11: Clean the Laptop to Fix Laptop Overheating While Gaming

Clean the laptop to fix laptop overheating while gaming

The efficiency of the laptop is also affected by everyday dust and usage. Internal fans are exposed to dust on a regular basis, which might cause them to slow down. This causes the laptop to overheat. Even though your laptop shows no signs of overheating, it’s a smart idea to clean its vents and fans on a regular basis to avoid dust accumulation.

So, if you’re an expert, you can open your laptop’s components; otherwise, take your computer to a specialist. If you don’t want to take your laptop to a technician, you may still use compressed air to clean the fans and other internal parts.

Fix 12: Reapply the Thermal Paste

Reapply the thermal paste

Your laptop arrives with a fresh application of thermal paste when it is completely new. Thermal paste is a paste that is applied to the top of the CPU and the graphics card on your device.

This material assists in transferring heat away from the processor and dispersing it across the heatsink of your laptop, ensuring that the entire system does not overheat. Unfortunately, after time, this thermal paste dries up and no longer disperses heat as effectively.

As a result, you may wish to replace the thermal paste on your laptop with a better one to assist cool your entire system when gaming under severe stress. Since it’s such a sensitive procedure, you might want to look out how to apply new thermal paste to your specific laptop model on YouTube.

Alternatively, you may pay a modest fee to have it done properly at a local computer store.

Fix 13: Change Room Temperature

It’s probable that the area where you’re using your laptop gets too hot at times, especially during the summer. The laptop is more prone to overheat in hotter months than in cooler months. The ideal gameplay temperature is between 10 and 35 degrees Celsius (50-95 degrees Fahrenheit).

You may solve this Laptop Overheating While Gaming problem by changing your air conditioner’s thermostat settings so that your system can take in both hot and cold air. Some rooms in the home are noticeably colder than others, particularly those with adequate airflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What can I do if my laptop is overheating when playing games? Regularly clean your laptop, use a cooling pad, optimize game settings, and keep software and hardware up to date to prevent overheating.
  2. Why does my laptop overheat when playing high-performance games? High-performance games demand a lot from your CPU and GPU, causing them to generate a lot of heat. If this heat is not managed properly, it can lead to overheating.
  3. How can I tell if my laptop is overheating? Signs of overheating include frequent crashes, poor performance, unexpected shutdowns, and excessive heat felt on the keyboard or bottom of the laptop.
  4. Can overheating damage my laptop? Yes, chronic overheating can damage hardware, melt internal components, and shorten your laptop’s lifespan.
  5. Are cooling pads effective for preventing laptop overheating? Yes, cooling pads can provide extra cooling and help manage heat effectively, especially during gaming sessions.

Conclusion

Applying the measures described above should protect your device if you often see your laptop overheating when playing games. Your system can heat up because of any other CPU and GPU-intensive apps or programs as well.

Presently, the laptop is a popular gaming gadget. Not only that but it is also utilized as a multifunctional computer. Thus today’s laptops are certainly put to the test. Laptop temperature control is also a major concern since failure to do so might result in irreversible damage to system components.

Hopefully, this guide has assisted you in keeping your computer cool and learning some new cooling strategies!

Jack
Jack

10 years of experience in information and computer technology. Passionate about electronic devices, smartphones, computers, and modern technology.

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