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What to do with an overheating laptop?

  • 26-07-2009 11:27am
    #1
    mp3guy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,977 ✭✭✭


    I've got a laptop that suffers from the overheating nVidia chip problem, basically if it gets too hot it blue screens or just hangs. I stress tested it to confirm this.

    As far as I know, the CPU, RAM, HD, LCD and DVD Drive are all good, is there anything I can do with it?


Comments

  • #2
    majiktripp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,471 ✭✭✭majiktripp


    Whats the make / model? I believe that newer Dell laptops that suffered from this had a warranty extension due to malfunctioning Nvidia cards.
    Otherwise it would be a case of opening up the unit, removing the GFX card and air dusting the heat sinks. Might help to reapply some thermal paste to the cards chip surface also.


  • #3
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Have you a warranty on it? (and as overheal says, check if the warranty was extended)

    If so, don't do anything, send it back.

    If you're out of warranty, then you should look at cleaning the dust out of the system (with a can of compressed air). You are talking about the intake and exhaust vents, the cooling fan itself (usually gets completely encrusted in dust) etc.

    There are more advanced things you can do such as replacing the thermal paste with a higher-performance one, but for now I would just clean the dust out and see how you are fixed.


  • #4
    mp3guy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,977 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    Warranty is already gone. I don't think a once over on the cooling would solve things either, since I'd never be sure the chip wouldn't fail, it wouldn't be reliable.


  • #5
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    Cleaning the dust out of the system and vents can lower max GPU temps by up to 10C or more in some cases. If your laptop does indeed have the 'Nvidia GPU problem', that 10C will significantly affect how long the machine lasts.

    Not doing it seems a bit defeatist.


  • #6
    mp3guy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,977 ✭✭✭mp3guy


    Well I've already got a new laptop. I was more thinking along the lines of salvaging the remaining good parts to put together something decent.


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  • #7
    BostonB
    Closed Accounts Posts: 18,056 ✭✭✭✭BostonB


    mp3guy wrote: »
    Well I've already got a new laptop. I was more thinking along the lines of salvaging the remaining good parts to put together something decent.

    Sell it on ebay and move on.


  • #8
    majiktripp
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,471 ✭✭✭majiktripp


    mp3guy wrote: »
    Well I've already got a new laptop. I was more thinking along the lines of salvaging the remaining good parts to put together something decent.

    Put together what exactly though? All the parts are pretty much usless on their own except for selling on eBay as mentioned, and you'd probably get more selling the unit as a whole for "spares/repairs".

    I'd try airdusting the vents at the very least, it may improve performance, it may not, and the chip might burn out tomorrow but at least you'll have tried everything possible.


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