1. Fans are louder than they used to be
The same games and tasks now trigger fans to spin up harder — a sign your cooler is working overtime to shed the same amount of heat.
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REPAIR VS REPLACE · SINGAPORE
5 signs you need a repaste, not a new PC
A PC that feels slow or runs hot isn't automatically due for replacement. Dried thermal paste and dust buildup mimic the symptoms of ageing or failing hardware. Here are five signs it's a $128 fix, not a $1,000+ one.
THE FIVE SIGNS
Check these before you shop for a replacement
2. Performance drops the longer you play
Strong FPS for the first 15–20 minutes, then a noticeable dip, is a classic sign of thermal throttling, not a CPU or GPU that's "worn out".
3. It's been 2+ years since the inside was opened
Thermal paste dries out over time regardless of usage, and dust accumulates continuously in Singapore's humidity — both compound after roughly two years untouched.
4. Sudden shutdowns under heavy load only
If crashes happen specifically during demanding games or renders but the PC is stable otherwise, overheating protection kicking in is more likely than a failing part.
5. It runs fine right after a cold boot, then degrades
Good performance when everything is cool, followed by a decline as the session continues, points directly at heat build-up rather than an outdated component.
WHEN IT REALLY IS TIME TO UPGRADE
If none of these fit
If your PC runs cool and quiet but simply can't hit the frame rates or workloads you need — even right after a clean boot — that's a genuine capability gap, not a thermal issue. In that case, comparing a new custom build makes more sense than servicing an older one.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Repaste vs replace, answered.
How do I know if my PC needs a repaste instead of a full replacement?
If your PC is slow to reach normal-feeling performance until it warms up, runs noticeably hotter and louder than it used to, or throttles under sustained load despite otherwise healthy specs, these are signs a repaste and clean will likely fix it, and DreamPC's $128 Deep Clean addresses exactly this before you spend on a replacement.
Try the $128 fix before you replace anything
Cooler teardown, fresh repaste and load testing — often all an ageing PC needs.
Book on WhatsApp ↗If a proper clean and repaste doesn't resolve the issue, or your PC genuinely can't handle the games and work you need, compare a new build instead.
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