I recently cleaned the inside of my PC with compressed air, but instead of improving performance, it seems to have made things worse. My computer has slowed down, and I'm concerned about the CPU temperatures I'm seeing. Here's a link to my CPU temp readings: https://imgur.com/a/echcv2z. Are these temperatures normal for a desktop? If they're too high, what steps can I take to cool it down?
2 Answers
Yikes, your CPU is clearly overheating. It should be chilling around 40-50°C when idle. To help cool it down, you should re-seat your cooler, make sure it’s clean, and definitely replace the thermal paste if you haven't done so in a while. If you have an AIO cooler, check that the pump is functioning and that there’s no air trapped in the system.
The temperatures you're seeing definitely don't look normal! A CPU hitting 100°C is way too hot and can cause throttling, meaning it's slowing itself down to prevent damage. First, check that all your fans are working properly—if they're old or not spinning well, that could be a problem. You might also want to consider replacing them if needed.
I built my PC in late 2020 and I don't think I've ever reapplied thermal paste. I recently bought some but besides that, what should I check on my AIO cooler?