An overheating processor can lead to game crashes. Below are general steps you can take to reduce overheating.
- If you are playing on a desktop, power off your system and carefully open your computer's case to check for dust or debris, as this can reduce airflow. Use compressed air to remove the dust.
If you are on a laptop, opening the computer may not be an option. However, you should still be able to easily locate any vents on the device for the internal fans. Make sure these are free of dust and debris and, if possible, position your device in a way that these openings are not blocked while playing. - Play in well-cooled environment. If you live in a hotter climate or are attempting to play the game in the heat of summer, make sure the room you are playing in is adequately cooled, as the ambient temperature of your room will impact the average temperature of your system.
- Make sure your fans are working correctly. If you have a case with a glass side panel, you can visually observe them spinning. Otherwise, you can often hear or feel the fans spinning up when running demanding programs that call for more cooling to maintain safe operating temperatures.
If your computer has any hardware configuration software, make sure you are not running in “Quiet” or “Passive Cooling” mode, and instead have enabled an adequate cooling profile. These settings can often be found in graphics card control panels, or system configuration tools installed by the manufacturer. If you are more experienced with computers or have high end components, you may have standalone software for configuring your fans. - Disable overclocking. While overclocking can push your components to perform better, it also results in hardware generating significantly more heat. Without adequate cooling, overclocking can cause more issues than it resolves when it comes to performance.
Please note that overclocking, underclocking, and modifying related settings is an option only recommended for experienced users, as these changes can seriously damage your computer components if not handled correctly. If you are unfamiliar with the process, it is recommended that you avoid changing any options related to overclocking. If you must, we encourage you to reach out to a local tech professional for assistance in doing so safely.
Address overheating issues promptly, as prolonged overheating can cause physical damage to the hardware. If you cannot reduce the temperatures to a safe level or are unable to perform the steps above, seek assistance from a local computer professional.