7 year old PC. CPU is getting WICKED hot (up to 100 C) while playing games. is there any software that can underclock/undervolt it?

Submitted ⁨⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨frenchfryenjoyer@lemmings.world⁩ to ⁨[deleted]⁩

The same thing was happening with my GPU so I underclocked and undervolted it to hell and now instead of getting 85 C it’s around 70 C. my CPU fan is always loud. i think the thermal paste is gone. I’m not willing to take my computer apart because where my computer is it’s really awkward. rn the package temp is idling at 46-55 C, jumping every second. the max temp is 80 C idling. i’m getting spikes in high temperature that last a second or so but when I’m playing a game it can spike to 95-100 C

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Vaggumon@lemmy.zip ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
The thermal paste needs to be redone every so option too, it dries out and looses its thermal reducing quality. I redo mine every 2-3 years.

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- xavier666@lemmy.umucat.day ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  remove dust
  
  reapply thermal paste
  
  make sure cables are managed properly for better airflow
  
  Undervolting is treating the symptom, not the cause.
  
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  - Vaggumon@lemmy.zip ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Exactly. Or like putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. It’s not going to do much to fix the issue.
    
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HiTekRedNek@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Why is it that so many people do absolutely zero maintenance on their computers, and think that’s completely normal?

Clean that bitch out at the very least. Allowing dust to build up in all the little books and crannies means it’s not getting enough air flow.

It’s typically common sense that when your AC isn’t working well, you clean/replace the filter(s) to keep it operating at peak efficiency, and if you don’t, you risk burning up fan and/or compressor motors.

Same thing with your car’s cooling system. Keep that radiator grill clean of mud and dirt, or it’s more likely to overheat and burn up your engine.

Why the fuck don’t people think of that when it comes to their computers just blows my damn mind.

A tube of Arctic Silver thermal grease is less than 10 bucks. A can of compressed air is like 20 bucks, and will typically last for months.

Once a month, take the PC case outside, and blow out all the damn dust.

Every year or so, replace the thermal grease/paste.

“My computer runs slower and slower as times goes by!” Yeah no shit, it’s trying not to burn itself up. Clean the fucker.

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- SupraMario@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Thermal grease can last for a good while now. The older stuff would cake up and not be able to transfer heat as well. New stuff is pretty incredible, I retired my AM4 build about 6 months ago, and I’d had the same CPU in it for around 5 years without changing the paste. Pulled the cooler and it was pretty much the same consistency as when I put it on. This was some kronaught stuff.
  
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- Valmond@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  I’d say clean it every year, maybe twice but monthly seems like you’d be wandering on the slope of a possible accidents.
  
  I have never changed the paste (I do put in good stuff from the beginning) but I’d do if I detected temp changs ofc.
  
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- tonyn@lemmy.ml ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  Books and Crannies is a great name for a bookstore that also sells oatmeal cranberry cookies.
  
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- xavier666@lemmy.umucat.day ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  “But i never have to clean my phone!” /s
  
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  - elucubra@sopuli.xyz ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Many phones need a charging port clean-up every so often
    
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Glide@lemmy.ca ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Underclocking your CPU like crazy because you don’t want to replace the thermal paste is an insane thing to do, and probably still won’t help, as the thermal paste being gone means there’s nowhere for the heat to go. It’ll just build and build until you hit a spike; you’ll just reach that spike slower. You’re rapidly sacrificing your parts by not just opening it up, cleaning out the dust and replacing the thermal paste, even using some kind of heat-reduction work around.

85 degrees is high but normal for a component that is pushing it, so software solutions, like underclocking, are viable. 100 degrees is “most computers will turn off to protect the components” territory, suggesting something has gone wrong with your cooling solutions and it really needs to be opened up.

But, that’s not the question you asked just a word of warning I felt compelled to add. Depending on the processor and motherboard, there are BIOS solutions and in-OS solutions. Check your mobo for settings in advanced. If they’re there, they’re there. If you’re using an old Ryzen, (I believe the 1000 series is 8 years old now?) there’s an app called AND Ryzen Master that lets you tweak CPU speeds and voltages. Realistically Google “CPU name underclock” and you’ll find a guide that links you to software, if it is available for your processor. I’ve never heard of a catch-all third party software solution for CPU underclocking the way Afterburner does that for GPU.

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Strider@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Adding another vote for you to clean your pc, possibly redo thermal paste and locate the core issue instead of doing that hack job.

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SolidShake@lemmy.world ⁨2⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
A can of air

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Skyrmir@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Where your computer is located is too awkward to open, and it’s overheating… you do know that’s likely related?

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- frenchfryenjoyer@lemmings.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  it’s an open space. it’s awkward because my desk isn’t a proper desk it’s a heavy cabinet, was the only place in my room to put the PC. the plugs are to the side and the gap is really narrow so it’s a pain to unplug it and plug things back in
  
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  - Skyrmir@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    If you can’t reach the plugs, most likely the air around them is recycling through that space getting hotter. Put a box fan over there and see if your temps improve.
    
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Takapapatapaka@tarte.nuage-libre.fr ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
This website seems to indicate that you can either do it in the bios directly, or with traditional overclocking softwares like MSI's Afterburner.

Though you specified you don't want to take it apart, i'd recommand changing your thermal paste anyway to avoid damaging your cpu. Maybe you can bring your pc somewhere else if the place where it's at is the problem. But anyway, that's none of my business.

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- frenchfryenjoyer@lemmings.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
  i’ll try that. thx!
  
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  - _stranger_@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
    Do you have an all-in-one liquid cooler on your CPU by any chance? Something like this Image
    
    I’ve had one of these leak slow enough that after 7ish years the liquid evaporated and my CPU killed itself.
    
    I had another fail the same way but I caught that one before the CPU failed.
    
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SatansMaggotyCumFart@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨weeks⁩ ago
Just mist your GPU with a water bottle occasionally as you use it.

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