Computer processors are designed to run at high temperatures and it's completely normal for a CPU to heat up and to actually get very warm. In fact, temperatures of over 200 degrees Fahrenheit are frequently acceptable. A computer's CPU works by either enabling electric signals to pass through its microscopic transistors or by blocking them. As electricity passes through the CPU or gets blocked inside, it gets turned into heat energy. While a processor in a high-performance workstation may run hot due to heavy use, a processor in a regular computer that overheats is almost always a sign of a malfunctioning system. Heavy Loads A CPU's temperature is directly proportional to the amount of electricity that passes through it. In a computer doing typical spreadsheet, word processing and email tasks, the CPU is usually idle most of the time and will frequently run very cool. If you, however, you use the computer to run complicated financial models or to generate 3-D renderings an...