Windows 7: Thermal shutdown while playing games

When I'm playing games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, Euro truck simulator (2), my laptop's screen switches off but you can still hear the game and the only way I can get it working again is to switch it off (button) and wait until windows loads. When I'm browsing the internet or working on paint etc the cpu temp is hovering near 80 degrees. Have any of you got tips to prevent thermal shutdown? I'm really confused
Feel free to ask for additional details

So the games run fine, this would mean your drivers are working ok and, more than likely, your issue is with heat, more so when the temps are that high just browsing on the internet... have you check how hot it gets before the screens shuts off?

Not much you can do on a laptop unless you want to spend some money on a laptop cooler... even then, I don't believe it will be enough.

Are you playing with the laptop in, well, your lap? if so, trying playing it on a surface that does not get to hot underneath.

I do play on my lap but with a laptop cooler (3 fans). I can't actually check the temp before the screen shuts off because I play in full screen. I'm just curious, if you connect the laptop to a tv via VGA will it also switch off?

I am going to say YES because the one suffering from heat is your netbook and not the monitor... but trying it will not harm it in any way!

Okay, I'll try it. Anyway thanks again AstaLaVista

Glad I could assist because so far... I have not helped!

Oh well, but at least you got me somewhere

When was the last time you cleaned your Laptop and dusted it
along with routine maintanence and the cooling pad should help you bring it down some

Also like AstalaVista says don't game in your lap use a surface wood glass table to allow more airflow with it sitting in your lap your clothing could be covering a vent or what not that could allow more air flow

Also check if there are any driver updates for the Laptop I suggest going to the Manufacturer site and look if they have something new for you

drivers could make a gpu work harder or lighter depends on what it was detailed to fix

anyway Hopefully these will help you calm your Beast down

What still worries me is the fact that he says that the laptop run at about 80 degrees just by browsing the internet... what is the laptop running in the background to warrant the amount of heat is showing?

he probally has malware running and giving his resources a go