I recently decided to start using my PC again after letting it sit for a whole year. However, it struggles to run games like Fortnite even on low graphics settings. The computer also gets really loud and warm while I'm trying to play. I'm not too knowledgeable about PCs or their components, so I'm not sure what to check or how to fix this issue. Here are my specs:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F, 2.90GHz
- GPU: GeForce RTX 3060
- Storage: 464GB (217GB used)
- RAM: 16GB (Teamgroup).
Is there anything else I should consider?
5 Answers
Another thing to consider is whether there are any Windows updates happening in the background. Check your updates in the Settings; sometimes, those can slow things down significantly. It might just be really busy updating and needs a restart to get back on track.
If it’s been sitting for a year, your thermal paste might have dried up, which can really impact cooling performance. You might want to consider reapplying it or checking if your cooling components are working properly.
Sounds like you're dealing with thermal throttling, which happens when components heat up too much and slow down to avoid damage. It’s weird that it’s slow now after a year. Try using HWMonitor to check the temps when you run something demanding. If anything is over 85-90°C, that’s a big red flag! You might need a new fan or even a new cooler.
It sounds like you should be able to run Fortnite just fine, but if it's struggling, there could be several things going on. First, check to see if your PC has an SSD or an HDD, as this can affect performance. Also, overheating might be an issue—maybe your fans are broken, the coolers are poorly mounted, or it's just full of dust. Make sure to clean it out!
Thanks for the advice! I’ll definitely check on the dust and fans.
By the way, I noticed you mentioned having 17GB of RAM? That’s a bit odd; are you sure it’s not actually 16GB? Just double-checking!
My bad, it's 16GB. Thanks for pointing that out!
Should I check the temps while I'm running something resource-heavy or just when I’m on the home screen?