Why is my Laptop really Hot?

Question

i had it since aug of last yr. i use it a lot. long long hrs.
but not that much any more. the fan that is supposed to be sucking in air doesn't suck in the air anymore. and when i use my laptop it gets really hot really fast! what's happening to it?
it's a compact. it is a version 2002.
i only use it for school work and to listen to music and charge my ipod. what can i do to fix this problem?

Answer 1

Get it serviced to change the fan. Most computers only have the fan to keep it cool. In a PC there is space for the air to circulate and that helps a lot, but there isn't that kind of space in a laptop. Even the heat sink is smaller so they can fit it into the laptop.


Now days high-end laptops have lower operating temperatures, but this wasn't true in 2002. Replacing the fan should not be too expensive, but if you don't do it soon you could burn out the CPU, and end up having to replace the entire machine. Try Best Buy, Frys, Microcenter or a computer dealer in your area that you trust.

Answer 2

I was going to answer this one a couple days ago, but my wifi connection kept dropping out. You've had several excellent answers, already. Clean it, and then check to see if the fan actually does come on when you power up. If it does, no problem. If not, you either have a loose/broken power wire to the fan, or the fan is burned out. A fan isn't much to replace, but service fees could bring the price up to $50-$75. Do get it fixed, or you risk frying the CPU. All this has been covered by other answers.

The other thing I would recommend is to get a cooler. I have one, and it works great. It's a thin panel that you place under your laptop. It has its own fan to increase cooling. It comes in 2 versions. One has a cable that plugs into your 'puter, and it runs off your laptop battery. The other has its own power supply and an AC cord. (When I say AC in this case, I mean Alternating Current, not Air Conditioned. So it plugs into a wall socket, and doesn't run off your computer.) This version will limit your portability. You have to ask yourself, how many times do I use the 'puter where AC is available? When I bought, I got the AC version. Battery life was a problem for me, then, and I didn't want to add something that would add to battery life problems. The self contained version (plugs into your 'puter) was around $30. The AC version was around $45. I bought the AC version, because it didn't really affect the portablilty in my case. Either one will blow cool air onto the underside of your computer, and is well worth the price. It will keep your 'puter within the ambient temperature range that is recommended for your 'puter. HEAT IS A CONCERN FOR LAPTOPS!!!!!!!!

Step one: Get the laptop's fan fixed.

Step two: Get a cooler.

Answer 3

My son has this same problem. To be able to use it and not have it cut off when you do use it put something under it as a book getting it up off the fan where it will keep going. If not it stops and cuts off. Its as if the fan needs to breathe. Or use it in a room with a ceiling fan on. I know this sounds weird but works. Not much help I am afraid.

Answer 4

If you purchased the laptop brand new, then its under warranty. If thats the case, I recommend that your contract the manufacturers service number and tell them and proceed from there. If its not new and no warranty, then you need to look to have the small axial fan inside checked/replaced ASAP. It could If you dont, its gonna BURN up and not work at all. The heat you describe is already doing damage to the electronics inside. Worst thing that could happen is a fire start - and you dont want that to happen.

Answer 5

ok you said that you do all of these things...if you do these things all at the same time that may be causeing it because a laptop is not normaly supose to do all of that... i think if you stop doing all of these things a once if you did and it still heats up try getting a new fan.

Answer 6

you said it thats a fan problem, I had gaming laptop it got a little hot but I had like 6 fans in it

Answer 7

you may need a new fan , the old one may have broken
you could by a cooling pad that goes under the laptop as well

Answer 8

Check the fan, usually it's supposed to be blowing OUT!

Answer 9

It sounds like the fan inside may be broken or clogged with dust. If you're not confortable taking it to pieces yourself, I recommend you take it to a computer shop.

Answer 10

Try to elevate it (using 4 small rectangle school erasers)..this will give your processor a little more breathing room...and it won’t move around either.