Older cases often have poor cable management, which blocks air. Bundle loose IDE or SATA cables.

This is the single most effective way to lower temperatures. Remove the CPU cooler. Clean the old residue with 90% isopropyl alcohol.

Over 15+ years, the paste between the CPU and the cooler turns into a brittle, insulating crust.

If the capacitors around the CPU socket are bulging or leaking, they struggle to provide clean power, leading to excess heat.

Apply a pea-sized amount of modern thermal compound (like Arctic MX-4). 2. Focus on the Chipset