Computer performance can be impacted by many factors, but there are some that are more serious than others. If you suspect that your CPU is damaged or dead, you’ll need to take some steps to confirm the issue and get it fixed. The problem might not seem like a major one—after all, what’s the big deal if your CPU is no longer working properly? But this kind of hardware failure also indicates that there may be other problems with your computer. It could even mean that you have to invest in a new computer sooner than you expected. Here’s how to know if the CPU is dead and what you need to do next.
How To Know If CPU Is Dead
It takes a long time to start
If you’re having trouble starting your computer, the first thing you should do is check the power supply. If it’s not working properly, this will cause your computer to shut down abruptly. But if the power supply is fine and you’re still having trouble starting your computer, it could be due to a bad CPU. So, the first step in knowing if the CPU is dead is checking whether or not it takes too long to start up.
The fan doesn’t spin up when you turn on the computer or put in a disk
The next thing to check if you have problems starting your computer is whether or not the fan starts spinning when you boot up or insert a disk into your drive. If it doesn’t, then there could be something wrong with either your motherboard or CPU. In that case, you may have to replace both parts of the system in order for it to work properly.
Your computer crashes or freezes
A lot of times, problems with a computer can be traced back to the CPU. If your computer is crashing frequently or freezing, it could be due to an overheating CPU that’s on its way out. In that case, you’ll have to replace the CPU in order for your computer to continue working properly. You may also need to replace your motherboard as well if it’s faulty.
Your computer is slow or lags when opening programs or loading pages in web browsers
If you’re having trouble with programs and web pages loading, it could be because of a malfunctioning CPU. This can result in sluggish performance and stuttering when using programs and web browsers like Internet Explorer and Firefox. In that case, you will have to replace both parts of the system—CPU and motherboard—in order for it to run properly again. You may also have to the browser you experience a lot of problems when opening programs or loading pages in the browser, it could be due to a slow CPU. The problem might also be related to a faulty RAM or hard drive. In that case, you’ll need to replace both parts of the system in order for it to work properly.
Your computer has problems with running games
If your computer is having trouble running games, then it could be due to a bad CPU. If that’s the case, you’ll have to replace both parts of the system in order for it to work properly. As we mentioned before, replacing your motherboard may also be necessary if it’s faulty as well.
Check For Software Problems
- Check for software problems. First, uninstall all of your programs to see if something is causing the CPU to be unresponsive. If you’re running an antivirus program, try disabling it to see if that helps.
- Check for computer problems. If your computer is acting up, take a look at the motherboard and see if there are any signs of damage or poor contact between parts of the motherboard and components on the board. Is the CPU socket secure? Is there a loose connection somewhere?
- Check for overheating. If the CPU is overheating, you can take some steps to cool it down and see if that helps. You might be able to get the temperature down by lowering the CPU’s speed or increasing its fan speed.
- Check for loose parts or pieces of your computer’s hardware. Are there any screws that are missing or loose? Is there anything else that might be causing problems?
- Check for damaged hardware. If you have a laptop, look at the bottom of your laptop and make sure everything is secure and in place.
Run A CPU Diagnostic Test
- Download a CPU diagnostic test program. You can find these programs online by searching for “CPU Diagnostic Test” or by visiting the manufacturer’s website. For example, if you have an Intel CPU, you can download Intel CPU Diagnostic Tool from intel.com/products/processors/cpuid/.
- Install the program and run it. If the program starts up and runs without any problems, then your CPU is probably dead and you should get it replaced as soon as possible. If the program won’t start or runs with errors, then your computer should be fine; this is most likely a minor problem that can be resolved through software updates or other fixes.
- If the program runs with errors, you can try to resolve them. For example, if the program is unable to find your CPU, then you may have to install the correct driver. You can also try reinstalling the program.
- If your CPU doesn’t show up in the test at all, then your computer is most likely fine and you shouldn’t worry about it too much.
- If your CPU shows up but isn’t working correctly, then there may be another issue that needs to be addressed. For example, if it takes a long time for your computer to boot up or freezes when you are using certain programs, then this could indicate a problem with memory or other hardware components inside your computer. In this case, you should take some steps to resolve these problems before trying to determine whether or not your CPU is dead.
Check The Processor Fan And Voltage
Check the Processor Fan
Place a small screwdriver exactly 5cm from the CPU fan and turn it to the right. If you hear a grinding noise, then it’s normal. If you hear nothing, then your processor is probably dead or broken. If you hear a grinding noise and your CPU fan isn’t turning, then there’s something wrong with it. You may have to replace your processor with a new one if that happens.
Check the CPU Voltage
If you can’t find any replacement parts for your computer, the next step is to check the voltage of your CPU. To do so, simply hold down the power button on your computer until it shuts off and unplug it from its power source for five minutes to reset any current in it. Once that is done, plug in your computer again and open up its battery compartment (if applicable). Look at the voltage of your battery compartment and compare that number with what you see on your motherboard. If the voltage is higher or equal to what you see on your motherboard, then there’s no problem with your CPU.
Constantly Running Processes
- You see a lot of process exe files on the taskbar.
- Your computer is constantly running processes, such as virus scans, updates, and system maintenance programs.
- You see a long list of processes in the Processes tab in Task Manager but can’t find any that are relevant to your computer’s operation.
- You have a virus scanner or some other program that is constantly scanning your computer for viruses or spyware (malicious software).
- You notice that your CPU is running extremely hot after it has been idle for an extended period of time; this is usually only noticed when the PC is turned off and then restarted after the system has been left sitting idle for a while (the entire night, for example).
Conclusion
If you suspect that your CPU is broken, you’ll need to take some steps to confirm the issue and get it fixed. The problem may seem like a major one, but fortunately, CPUs are easy to replace. A CPU failure may indicate that there are other problems with your computer as well. This is why it’s important to diagnose and repair any issues as soon as possible. If you have any other issues with your computer, make sure to follow these steps to diagnose and repair them as soon as possible.