The Microsoft Surface Studio is one of the best computers on the market, though the inability to use the screen as a regular monitor is a problem for many. Now, the device was created mainly for creators, which means, it is powerful enough to play some games.

Surface Studio overheating while gaming

Many owners have been using their Surface Studio to play all sorts of games, and with that comes a lot of problems. The latest we’ve come across is a user who complained about his Surface Studio overheating while gaming.

This particular user was having issues with Rainbow Six Siege and other games that were not named. With this in mind, we summarize the problem had nothing to do with the games themselves, but rather the computer.

Gaming related heat is nothing new, but when it comes down to the Surface Studio 2, we have to look into these because it is not a common occurrence:

Surface Diagnostic Toolkit
Heat transfer and airflow
Do not play demanding games
Update drivers and firmware

We will now talk about this problem in more detail.

1] Surface Diagnostic Toolkit

Most problems related to the Surface line of computers can be fixed by running the Surface Diagnostic Toolkit. The Microsoft Surface Diagnostic Toolkit is a lightweight, portable diagnostic tool that runs through a suite of tests to diagnose the hardware of Surface devices.

If there are any problems with the diagnostic tool to fix, then it will do so. There are times when the toolkit isn’t capable of getting the job done, so in that case, let’s look at some other options.

2] Heat transfer and airflow

One of the main culprits that cause a Surface computer to overheat is the ventilation airways under the system. Some units also have these openings at the side and rear.

The user must check these vents to make sure nothing is stopping proper airflow. Be sure dust is not clogging the airways, and if that is the case, then bring it to a professional if you’re not versed in cleaning the device yourself. We recommend a can of compressed air if you want to DIY.

In some situations, depending on the extent of the dust, a complete pull down of the Surface Studio may be the only option to deliver a proper cleaning of components.

3] Do not play demanding games

Yes, the Surface Studio is a powerful computer, but it was not built primarily for gaming. Therefore, you should consider running games at low graphical settings to not place a lot of stress on the graphics card and CPU. If running the game at the lowest setting still doesn’t end the issue, then play something else.

One should also close all apps running in the background so that the game can gain access to all available memory and CPU resources.

4] Update drivers and firmware

Chances are that the problem has a lot to do with outdated drivers and firmware. The first thing we will want to do is checked the build of the Windows 10 operating system. Get this done by pressing the Windows key + I to launch the Settings app, and from there, navigate to System > About.

The next step, then, is to download the latest drivers and firmware files if they are available. Simply visit microsoft.com to download the latest drivers and firmware for Surface. From here, you will want to choose the .MSI file that matches your current Windows OS build and hit Next.

Once the download is complete, run the file right away, then restart your computer to get things going.

We hope this post helps you.

Now read: Surface shuts down after black screen with Thermometer icon appears.