Just like your automobile , home, or anything else, computers can become run down over time. With the lighting quick pace at which new technology becomes yesterday s news, many of us never see the effects of time on our machines before they are relegated to the scrap heap. Unfortunately, this often leads users to neglect the physical needs of their machines , which can lead to hardware failure. With computer owners feeling the squeeze in this economy, it s good to know that there are simple things we all can do to help increase the lifetime of our machines.
Overheating is one of the biggest issues for hardware, and one of the simpler ones for users to reduce or prevent in the first place. Between the small moving parts and electrical currents running through everything, the inside of your computer can heat up quite a bit, and this can damage everything inside. The first thing to do is to keep track of your PC s temperature. If it feels hot to the touch (not just warm) or the temperature goes up significantly after it s been running for a while , you may need to do something about it. All computers have small fans to help get rid of the heat generated inside the case. In a computer that s suffering from heat problems, these may be broken or just not powerful enough. You can replace these fans (heat sinks) yourself, or hire a professional. You can also reduce overheating issues by never pushing your PC past its capabilities (overclocking) and ensuring that the vents are clear of obstructions.