1. Why Does Your PC Overheat When Running Multiple Programs?
If you often use CapCut, OBS Studio, and Windows VMs (Virtual Machines) at the same time, you may notice your PC slows down or feels hot to the touch. The root cause is overheating hardware—for example, an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS CPU can reach 80-90°C under high load, and the GPU may exceed 70°C. Prolonged overheating not only reduces performance but also shortens the lifespan of your PC components.
Before fixing the issue, you need to monitor real-time temperatures of your CPU and GPU. HWMonitor, a free and easy-to-use tool, is perfect for this task.
2. Step-by-Step Guide: Download & Use HWMonitor
HWMonitor shows accurate temperatures for your CPU, GPU, and hard drive. It also supports portable use (no installation required). Here’s how to set it up:
- Search for the official website
Open Bing, type “HWMonitor”, and click the official link labeled “www.cpuid.com” to avoid third-party risks. - Download the portable version
Once on the website:
– Click “Software” in the top menu, then select “HWMonitor”.
– Scroll down to find two download options:
– “Installer”: Requires manual installation.
– “ZIP Package”: Can be used directly after unzipping (recommended for convenience).
– Click “DOWNLOAD NOW!” next to the ZIP Package to start downloading. - Unzip and launch the program
– Right-click the downloaded ZIP file and select “Extract All” to unzip it.
– Open the unzipped folder:
– For 64-bit Windows: Double-click “HWMonitor X64”.
– For 32-bit Windows: Double-click “HWMonitor” (32-bit version). - Check core temperatures
When the program opens, collapse irrelevant hardware info. Focus on the “Temperature” section under your CPU (e.g., AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS) to view real-time and maximum temperatures.
3. Cool Down Your PC With Windows Power Settings (No Extra Tools)
After confirming high temperatures, you can lower CPU/GPU heat by adjusting Windows power settings. These changes won’t affect normal app use but will significantly reduce overheating:
Step 1: Switch to “Balanced” Power Mode
- Open Windows Settings
Click the “Start” menu, select the “Settings” (gear icon), and click “System” in the left panel. - Change the power mode
– Click the arrow next to “Power & Battery”.
– Under “Power mode”, switch from “Best performance” (keeps CPU at full speed, causing overheating) to “Balanced”.
– “Balanced” mode adjusts CPU frequency based on load, balancing performance and cooling. - Optional: Turn on “Battery Saver”
– Enable “Battery Saver” to lower screen brightness and reduce power use (ideal for laptops). Disable it if you need high screen brightness.
Step 2: Adjust “Processor Power Management”
For more precise cooling, tweak advanced settings to limit maximum CPU performance:
- Search for “Power Plans”: Type “Power Plans” in the Windows Settings search bar and click “Choose a power plan”.
- Access advanced settings
– Click “Change plan settings” next to your current power plan.
– Select “Change advanced power settings” to open the detailed settings window. - Modify processor states
– Expand “Processor power management” to see two key options:
– Minimum processor state: Set to 5% for battery mode (reduces idle frequency) and 10-15% for plugged-in mode (avoids lag).
– Maximum processor state: Lower from 100% to 95%. This cuts CPU heat by 20-30°C with almost no performance loss.
– Click “OK” to save the changes.
4. Verify the Results: Cooler PC, Smoother Performance
After applying these settings, test your PC by running CapCut, OBS, and two Windows VMs at the same time. You’ll see:
- GPU temperature drops from 70°C to around 37°C.
- CPU usage falls from 50% to 20-30%, and temperature drops from 80-90°C to 30-40°C.
- No more lag—all apps run smoothly without overheating.
With HWMonitor and simple power tweaks, you can keep your PC cool even under high load—no hardware upgrades needed!
5. Demo Video
You can watch the following demo video by select the subtitle to your preferred subtitle language.