According to the Houston Chronicle's website, electronics such as laptops can be severely damaged by overheating. A hot processor can slow down a computer and make it operate less effectively and an overheated battery can reduce battery life or render it unusable.

Is it OK if your laptop overheats?

A laptop that severely overheats causes damage to the internal components. ... It's normal for a laptop to run warm, even too warm to comfortably perch on your lap while you're using it. If you smell smoke, a burning odor, the fans never run or the fan runs all the time, be careful to avoid ruining your laptop.

What happens if your laptop overheats too much?

So when you feel it getting hot, act quickly. If you don't, your computer may not only suffer permanent damage but also start a fire or burn you. Other signs of overheating include the following: Your laptop takes longer than usual to perform basic tasks.