I accidentally knocked my computer over while trying to walk away with my headphones tangled up. It fell to its side but didn't shut off, so I'm wondering if this could affect its performance while gaming. What should I check to make sure everything is still functioning properly?
5 Answers
If nothing seems damaged, then don’t worry too much. PCs can take a bit more than we often think.
Honestly, just play some games! If your computer turns on and runs without any issues, you should be fine.
If your PC powers on and operates normally, you’re probably in the clear. The most at-risk parts are moving components like hard drives (if it's not an SSD), fans, and any AIO pumps. Most of the crucial parts are static, so they should be safe.
The heavy components like large air coolers or GPUs could potentially damage the motherboard if they fell, but if everything seems intact, you're likely good to go. Computers are built to withstand a little rough treatment.
First things first, check the temperatures of your components, both when idle and during gaming. Also, make sure all the fans are spinning properly. If your computer has a traditional hard drive, run an error check on it just to be safe. If everything looks good, you might want to consider switching to wireless headphones next time!
Also, you might want to verify if all your RAM is being recognized. Using a tool like GPU-Z can help you check if your GPU is running at its optimal capacity.