overheating computer

[nice sax]

I have recently noticed that my computer is getting very hot and after a time there is a smell of hot plastic. I have cleaned all the vents and am pretty sure that the fan is running.

Can anyone advise me of what action I can take to resolve this problem, any help will be appreciated.

Thanks

Nice sax

[daffy654]

Open the case of your computer and clean out any fluff and dust that has gathered in there,paying careful and close attention to the fan blades.
Make sure there is plenty of space around the tower itself to allow the air to circulate.

[ChuckFickens]

is this a laptop or a desktop?

if it's a laptop make sure you are using it in a flat hard surface that allows air to flow underneath it else it will overheat (i.e. do not use it on your lap)

[rufflesnet]

Assuming this is a desktop pc. Dirty fans are not a massive problem. Obviously don't let them so ridiculously dirty to the point they are not spinning. When it comes to computers overheating there are two main things to look at. First and most common is the fan/cooler on the graphics card not spinning due to dust. The next is that the heat sink (NOT THE FAN) on the CPU is covered with a wad of dust. This is very common. Both of these problems usually result in instability of the machine and with the Graphics card (If you have a dedicated one) the display may shutdown randomly and the computer continues to run.

However it does not sound to me like your problem is cooling, again if this is a desktop. I would suggest that the heat from the machine is normal. My first port of call would be the power supply. PCs are getting build more and more with poor quality power supplies and they are almost always the first part to go. Usually without warning but it is not uncommon for them to produce the plastic burning smell your talk of. It is the most likely component to do this and it happens often. If this is the case stop using the computer and have the PSU replaced. I have seen this 3 times in the space of a year. On two I replaced the PSU and the first of the three failed entirely and took out most of the machine at the same time.

Ruffles

[rufflesnet]

Finally if this is a laptop I would totally agree with Chuck 'IT God & Lord of the Cyber Wave' Fickens. DON'T use your laptop on you lap if it gets excessively hot for a few reasons. One: it may have a defective battery and could explode and burn you badly (I know this is a bit extreme but it can happen). Two: Most laptops have cooling vents on the base and feet that are designed to lift the machine of the surface to allow for good cooling. If it is on an uneven surface like your lap this can't work and the machine can overheat. Some laptops are happy enough on your lap and in my opinion if it is not excessively hot then your ok. Also there have been some laptops manufactured with wires to close to coolers resulting in cables burning.

Ruffles

[deggers316]

i had this it was the power supply fan that was failing it actually made the top of my pc very hot to the touch .get a new fan installed and clear the inlet vent on the power supply as well as the outlet vent