Laptop runs hot when idle

MisterG · May 25, 2019

I'm not much of techie, thus not sure if this is the right category, but seems the closest...

I have a dual core 2nd gen i-3 64bit Windows 7. This computer has always been a champ but runs hotter than most. I lost my original hard drive, maybe due to heat?, and now have coretemp installed. It has what seems a peculiar pattern:

now, while typing, its temps are in the low 50's celcius ((2 open programs and music playing on Google Music) which is normal for this laptop. (note: my apartment is 82 degrees F) However when I leave the computer alone with only music playing it hangs out in the upper 60's with occasional forays into the low 70's. It then immediately cools when I start using again. If I close Google Music is runs a little cooler, but always heats up more when idle.

During hot times both CPU and RAM using are low, I have few start-up items and no known background activity.

What makes it run hotter on idle? Is there any simple (I'm not a techie) to alleviate this?

Thanks!