Surprisingly unknown to many consumers is a large “killer” of PCs; heat.

The computers of this era produce truly amazing amounts of heat for their size.

And that is why PC manufacturers have gone to great lengths to properly dispose of this generated heat to keep running for a long time.
However they can only do so much, which is where the user comes in.

It is up to the user to keep the system running efficiently and effectively.

Here are some steps you can do to keep your systems running cooler and longer.

1. Dust management. Keep as much dust as possible away from your devices. This means surfaces for laptops must be clean. This means floors, desks, and cabinets for PCs must be maintained.
   To further this, invest in some canned air and blow out vents and fans in your PC. Just make sure it’s not on, and try to avoid spinning the fans.
2. Room to breath. Another common issue is space.
   I see it too many times. PCs crammed into spaces meant for non-electronic objects, no space for the vents, no natural airflow, no room for the heat to escape.
   Have your PC in the open so it can get fresh air, and dispose of the heat.
   This means no little cabinets for your PC despite what the description of the desk says.
3. The choke. Keep laptops on a hard, flat surface. There is no exception to this rule.
   They cannot breath through fabrics or solids.
   Try breathing through your jeans or a couch cushion and you’ll see how hard it is to get a good breath without gasping.
   If you need to be in less than ideal conditions, invest in a lap desk. $30 is a lot cheaper than a new laptop.
4. Keep it moving. A rising trend I’m seeing in older PCs is that fans are finally dying.
   Make sure you note any sudden drop in noise from your PC to see if any fans have stopped.
   If your system tells you there’s an issue with your fan, don’t wait, have it replaced with the appropriate type. Consult your local pro for this.