PC overheating suddenly with no hardware changes in over a year

Natas_Xnoybis

I have had the same computer for a few years. The hardware configuration hasn't changed in over a year. Recently while playing Guild Wars 2 the computer will just completely freeze up, and I have to do a hard shutdown/reboot.

On a hunch I removed the side panels and blew everything out with an air can. There was a bit of dust build up but nothing huge. I played for a few days with the sides off and things worked just fine. Put them back on and Boom it freezes up again when playing GW2. Took them off again, and runs just fine.

So it seems pretty clear to me that this is an overheating issue, but I am at a loss as to why. Again, no hardware changes in over a year, The power supply, cpu, v-card fans appear to be running fine.

Any ideas what could have changed on the software end that would cause this? Could it be a fan that is on its way out, and while it might be spinning, it isn't actually going as fast as it should?

any feedback appreciated.

Skeith

Download Speccy, and played GW2 in windowed mode so you can see what's going on with the temperature of your motherboard and CPU. See which one of them is starting to red line. You could try reseating the heat sink with some new thermal paste though, that might fix it.

Noizlanif

Usually if you have cheap thermal paste or if it's not seated properly, or if it gets moved / knocked around it can dry up / burn off. Try that first, see how it goes. Dust is a serious problem so clear it out ever 3-4 months, looks like you have already though.

Nosf

If you're feeling brave, disassemble then blow parts out. It's almost impossible to really clean things out well when its all assembled. There could be some big chunk of dust lodged in the video card fan that you just can't get the airflow angled right to dislodge.

Shadowfire

It's locking with the case assembled, but with the panels off it's fine? Check your fans, make sure they're all running and they're pointing the right way. If they're all pointed inward or outward, instead of creating wind flow, that can cause a problem.

Hevach

Also, with the fans, while the computer's off try to spin them with your fingers. They should spin quietly, freely, and with light resistance. If they make noise or feel tight (especially if there's a vibration feeling in the resistance) the motors are going and they probably aren't getting up to speed.