Safe processor temp 200 degrees F?

[MikeLierman]

Let me give you a quick background on this client's laptop. It's an HP Pavilion DV4. Client called and reported that his laptop was shutting off randomly. Few weeks goes by and haven't heard anything back, today he calls and wants me to take a look at it cause it's so intermittent that it's driving him crazy. It shuts off and the capslock and numlock lights flash (hp diagnostic of some sort).

I suspect it's an overheating problem. That's where my question comes in. I've been watching the cpu tempature and mobo temps and when doing little tasks like surfing the web or opening files, it funs around 140-150 degrees. I'm stress testing it right now, and it's currently hovering at 203 degrees, with the mobo temp at 189. My gut is telling me that it's not normal to see temps like this. Obviously my desktop computer is a little different, but it runs at around 110. So I can't imagine that 203 would be good for a laptop.

The fans seem to be working just fine. No dust or anything that I can see and the air flow that I can feel with my hand coming out of the vents is great.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[LessStressSolutions]

200 degrees F is definitely high for a CPU. Safe is around 100-120. If you are sure that there is good airflow, the next step would be to make certain its the CPU and not GPU, HD, or Chipset. Granted thats a long shot, but better safe than sorry. Next I would make sure there is a sufficient amount of thermal paste between the CPU and heat sink. Try replacing the thermal paste with a high quality brand and see what happens. The customer could have already damaged the CPU by leavng the laptop on a pillow or blanket, or leaving it turned on in its bag. Very common causes of overheating.

 

[Paul Rodgers]

If I remember correctly the DV4s had the NVIDIA GPUs that were prone to overheating.

 

[14049752]

If I remember correctly the DV4s had the NVIDIA GPUs that were prone to overheating.

dv4s have ATI chips. I'm fairly sure of that. (Edit: Google says they come with both brands.)
Either way, I'd definitely take it apart to clean it and apply new thermal paste. You might find a bit more dust than you'd expect even with the inflow you can feel.

 

[MikeLierman]

If I remember correctly the DV4s had the NVIDIA GPUs that were prone to overheating.

...which is exactly what's going on.. but the cpu tempature is what I'm seeing. But anyways, thanks guys!! I'll tear it down and tell you what I find.