Well, TF2 is unplayable. I can play for 10 minutes, and then I lag, my FPS dies, and then I get crippling Choke or Loss. I can only sustain 20 FPS for this time, and then it all goes kurblam. And It heats up dangerously hot underneath. I regret to inform you all, that I will not be playing in the TF2 server for a long, long time.

With great displeasure, I bid you farewell.

Reggie. For all of a moment.

Daww.

I'll be posting, but a lot less frequently, and only in 3 of the boards: Music And Film, Minecraft and the Intros/Apps. Maybe Classifieds.

But don't expect me on TF2 much, only for Matches, assuming I run OK. Spy isn't too demanding, just stab or stand still.

I take it you are playing on a laptop as you stated it is hot underneath? The cpu is most likely thermal throttling due to high temperatures.

You will need to clean the heatsinks as they are often very fine fins and clog up with lint and fluff and block airflow.

Some laptops are easier to clean than others. Try looking into the vents around the side of the case. You may be able to get compressed air or blow into the vents to improve airflow.

I'm 14, firstly, so I highly doubt I understand what you're talking about. I know what a Heatsink is, but not a clue on how to clean it. If I even have one. I'll see if I can get it checked, but it looks dire from here on in, and I need it on Sunday...

Post here your precise model of your laptop, please...

A can of compressed air should clean the laptop without opening the chassis, vacuum cleaner help too if you don't have small parts there or know what you are doing. The can of compressed air works even better when opening the chassis. Also, elevate the farther side of the notebook (under the screen) a little bit it helps greatly! But the cleaning is needed because you could have the outer temperature cold as stone but inside it can be hot as hell. The dust is very pesky enemy when playing on a laptop (even peskier than spies ). I am using an active laptop cooler (it has fans and lifts the laptop from the desk), passive laptop cooler just lifts the laptop from the desk, thus enabling the air circulation.

I don't even bother with compressed air, just pop into your local card/party shop and pick up a balloon hand pump. Far easier on the wallet and just as effective, I've been using mine for years to clean the fluffiness.

I think it dates from the late sixties judging by the typeface and bright orange exterior. I remember as a child attempting to blow up balloons with it with limited success. I also used it in the hamster cage to simulate mini tornados. Hamster was unharmed (RIP Hammy).

Oh dear, I've just read the description on the side, 'Li-Lo Hand Pump for Plastic Inflatables' eek!

/showers

It's the ever-old Dell Precision M90. It's more of a mobile workstation than a craptop, and it's been upgraded from shit to slightly better. It normally used to get about 10~ FPS constantly, but now gets 28 for 10 minutes. Tis annoying, as I can't practice a game I've spent a thousand hours on...

Here is the section of service manual regarding the system fans for your laptop.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/s ... #wp1000550

It definitely sounds like it's something worth doing. Any kit you have will benefit from a little regular spring cleaning and maintenance. If you don't feel up to it, then ask someone to help you.

Are you using directx8 and a high fps config? If not, then visit http://fakkelbrigade.eu/chris/configs/ and install the maxframes cfg.