Root cause and solutions to CPU overheating
A CPU that dissipates heat through a heatsink with a fan is overheating. Name at least three possible reasons and relevant solutions to solve the problem.
A CPU can overheat for many reasons, let's explore the most common root causes, how to debug and solve them:
| Root cause | Debugging process | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Fan not working | Check if fan blades spin | Connect fan, ensure fan has power supply, replace by new fan |
| Fan running at low speed | - | Increase fan speed, replace for a fan with increased flow |
| Heat sink dirty | Check if heat sink dusty or clogged | Clean heat sink or replace by new one |
| Heat sink not properly installed | Check if heat sink is in contact with CPU | Install heat sink properly |
| Thermal paste in bad condition | - | Clean old thermal paste and install new one |
| CPU overload | - | Reduce computing load to CPU |
| Ambient temperature too high | Measure room temperature | Move to colder environment |
In addition to get a sense of your technical skills and experience, interviewers try to understand the way you structure your answer and expose your reasoning. So, explain the what, how and why for every of the solutions you propose.