I've recently been getting in to playing PC games on my laptop, but unfortunately nearly every time I play, my computer overheats and shuts off after 5-10 minutes.
Although I have not checked the temperature while playing (I don't want it to overheat again), I can hear the fan whirring progressively louder as the game runs until it shuts down.
Here are my specs:
Model: Lenovo Win7 PC
Processor: Intel Core i7-2670QM CPU @ 2.2 GHz
RAM: 8 GB
OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit
I really know nothing about computers, so I have no idea how to fix this problem. The graphics card is an Nvidia GeForce GT 555M. I'm not sure how important that is though, because this is happening with older games (like Half-Life 2) too. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions.
Best Answer
The video card in your computer is getting too hot.
Choose laptop location
Don't use your laptop on your bed or your lap. Place your laptop on a hard surface like a table when playing games. Fabric from your clothes, or your comforter can block the inlet fans. You could also buy a laptop stand which provides extra ventilation.
Install Speedfan
Speedfan is a free program that will tell you what temperatures you are hitting in your laptop. Temperatures up to 80c are nothing to be worried about. Anything higher, and the laptop may shutdown to protect itself.
Dust Out the fans
If the fans become clogged with dust, their ability to cool your laptop will suffer. Buy some 'caned air' from your local computer store, and blow out all the dust.
Do not let the canned air spin the fans too quickly! Caned air can destroy fans. Use short controlled bursts.
Find a local expert
If your computer is still overheating, then take it to a computer repair shop. They will be able to diagnose if the thermal paste should be replaced, or if you are experiencing early signs of hardware failure.