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CompTIA

220-802 · Question #231

A technician notices a computer is overheating after 30 minutes of use. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

The correct answer is B. Internal dust buildup. Internal dust buildup restricts airflow over heatsinks and fans, which is the most common physical cause of a computer overheating after sustained use.

Hardware and network troubleshooting

Question

A technician notices a computer is overheating after 30 minutes of use. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?

Options

  • AClogged temporary file folders
  • BInternal dust buildup
  • CIncorrect input voltage setting
  • DACPI is disabled

How the community answered

(25 responses)
  • A
    8% (2)
  • B
    88% (22)
  • D
    4% (1)

Why each option

Internal dust buildup restricts airflow over heatsinks and fans, which is the most common physical cause of a computer overheating after sustained use.

AClogged temporary file folders

Temporary files are stored on disk and consume storage space - they do not affect CPU or system temperature.

BInternal dust buildupCorrect

Accumulated dust clogs heatsink fins and fan blades, significantly reducing airflow and thermal dissipation. After 30 minutes of use under load, the CPU and GPU generate enough heat that inadequate cooling becomes apparent, causing thermal throttling or shutdown.

CIncorrect input voltage setting

An incorrect input voltage setting on the power supply would likely cause immediate boot failure or component damage, not gradual overheating after 30 minutes.

DACPI is disabled

Disabling ACPI affects power management features but is not a direct cause of overheating from sustained use - the thermal issue originates from a physical cooling problem.

Concept tested: Diagnosing overheating caused by dust buildup

Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troubleshoot/windows-client/performance/computer-overheats

Topics

#overheating#dust buildup#thermal management#hardware maintenance

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