How do I check for ‘high CPU/GPU load’ as a possible cause?

If there is no change in the first step, compare in order through ‘Check CPU/GPU usage and temperature’. If symptoms disappear immediately after certain actions or the conditions for their occurrence change, this can be an important clue in narrowing down the cause.

PC FIX

Computer Troubleshooting Guide

Overheating

Computer fan sound suddenly becomes very loud

Q: What should I check first if I notice a loud fan noise?

First, proceed with the ‘Use on a hard floor without blocking the ventilation holes’ step. Using it on a bed or blanket or with clogged intake and exhaust vents significantly reduces cooling performance. We recommend that you avoid changing multiple settings at once and check to see if your symptoms change after each step.

If the current symptom is closer to “loud fan noise,” first check for high CPU/GPU load and dust. Temporarily reduce high loads, check the temperature, fan, and ventilation conditions, and then check the cooling system and power settings.

Solving Order
We've organized the methods starting with the simplest and least expensive ones. Please check the solutions one by one, starting from the top.

Do you have these symptoms?

Fan noise is loud
computer takeoff sound
fan full load
laptop fan noisy

main causes

High CPU/GPU load
dust
Fan bearing or heat issues

How to solve

Please check them in order from the top. If the issue is resolved, you do not need to proceed to the next step.

Do not block the ventilation holes and use on hard floor

Using it on a bed or blanket or with clogged intake and exhaust vents significantly reduces cooling performance.

Difficulty Easy time 3 minutes cost 0 won

1Place your laptop on a flat, sturdy surface.
2Secure intake and exhaust space around the PC.
3Visually check to see if the vents are clogged with dust.

confirmation point

After these steps, see if the “loud fan” symptom decreases or disappears. If there is no change, the possibility of high CPU and GPU load is also checked in the next step.

Check CPU/GPU usage and temperature

Distinguish between normal high-load heat and abnormal background tasks.

Difficulty Easy time 10-20 minutes cost 0 won

1Check which apps are using a lot of CPU/GPU in Task Manager.
2Compare temperatures during gaming/rendering and when idle.
3If utilization is high even when idle, that process is addressed first.

Cleaning dust from vents and fans

If dust clogs the heatsink airflow, the fans will speed up and the temperature will rise.

Difficulty Moderate time 10~30 minutes cost 0 won

1Shut down your PC and unplug it from power.
2Remove dust from external vents.
3If disassembly and cleaning are required, a service inspection is recommended if you do not have experience.

Compare power and performance profiles one level lower

Reducing the maximum boost and high power limit can lower heat and fan noise.

Difficulty Easy time 5-10 minutes cost 0 won

1Compare Windows power modes as balanced.
2Change the performance/turbo mode in the manufacturer app to standard mode.
3Check for performance degradation and temperature changes.

Check for BIOS, chipset, and thermal management software updates

Fan control and power management firmware issues may be improved with updates.

Difficulty Moderate time 20~40 minutes cost 0 won

1Check your PC manufacturer's support page for BIOS and chipset drivers.
2Keep manufacturer thermal management utilities up to date as well.

Checking the status of fans, heat sinks, and thermals

If high temperature, abnormal noise, or fan stoppage persist even after cleaning, there may be a problem with the cooling hardware.

Difficulty Advanced time 30 minutes or more cost Repair costs may apply

1If there are manufacturer fan diagnostics, run them.
2If the fan makes a grinding noise or does not spin, reduce heavy load use.
3For a product under warranty, contact the official service provider before disassembling it.

Precautions

If you notice a burning odor, smoke, battery swelling, or abnormally hot surfaces, immediately turn off the power and stop using.

Frequently Asked Questions

We've put together a list of things we frequently check regarding this issue.

Related issues

If the symptoms do not match exactly, please check the issue below.

Overheating

Problem with computer temperature becoming too high

If the current symptom is closer to “computer hot,” first check for dust on the vents and heat sink, and high CPU and GPU load. Temporarily reduce high loads, check the temperature, fan, and ventilation conditions, and then check the cooling system and power settings.

View solutions →

Overheating

Laptop getting too hot

If “laptop is hot” repeatedly, it is better to narrow it down to clogged vents, fans, and heat dissipation issues rather than changing several settings at once. Temporarily reduce high loads, check the temperature, fan, and ventilation conditions, and then check the cooling system and power settings.

View solutions →

Overheating

Fan keeps spinning fast while the PC is idle

When troubleshooting a problem where the fan continues to spin rapidly even when no action is taken, it is important to rule out the causes one at a time. Based on the “fan keeps turning on” symptom, check the background CPU usage, thermal profile, and BIOS before proceeding to the next step. Temporarily reduce high loads, check the temperature, fan, and ventilation conditions, and then check the cooling system and power settings.

View solutions →

Overheating

Problem with CPU/laptop fan not spinning

If the current symptom is close to “no fan,” first check whether the fan zero RPM is operating normally and whether the fan cable or fan motor is checked. Temporarily reduce high loads, check the temperature, fan, and ventilation conditions, and then check the cooling system and power settings.

View solutions →

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