[SOLVED] What do you do to test an overheating laptop problem is solved?

[TECCS]

Hi guys.

So I have been in this game now for 2 years. The other evening I got my first overheating laptop problem as a professional (a shock I know). Previously only ever done parents laptops etc.

The laptop is known for this issue (Quick search on google). I have fixed the overheating issue (not following the youtube videos I hasten to add).

I have run a stress test program and temperature monitor for half an hour to test to see if the problem is fixed.

do/should I need to do anything else to test before returning it to the customer so I don't get it returned in 2 days time as not actually solved as I thought?

Thanks Tom

 

[sapphirescales]

I make sure the CPU is up to 100% and run the sucker overnight. You can't be too careful with these things and you don't know how hard the client is going to push it. If it can sustain 100% CPU load for 12+ hours overnight, it should be able to handle anything that the client can throw at it.

 

[TECCS]

I make sure the CPU is up to 100% and run the sucker overnight. You can't be too careful with these things and you don't know how hard the client is going to push it. If it can sustain 100% CPU load for 12+ hours overnight, it should be able to handle anything that the client can throw at it.

.
Thank you. I know what they say they do (we all know that what is said and done is not always is the same)

 

[Larry Sabo]

For overheating laptops, I run Furmark for 10 minutes and monitor the CPU/GPU temps. After remediation, I repeat the stress test/monitoring and note the before and after quiescent temps. Also, I browse the web and run a YouTube video for about 5-10 minutes while monitoring temps. Instead of Furmark, I will sometimes use Prime95.

My most-recent overheating case was due to a failed heat pipe. I replaced the H/S assembly and didn't thoroughly wring the system out--CPU temps were fine but I didn't monitor GPU temps. It quickly came back with overheating issues, which were solved with a copper shim between the GPU and H/S.

 

[TECCS]

I have just stress tested the the system both graphics and processor on 100% load. 3.5 hours later the computer has shut down with temperature. no issue that I can see with heat sink and fan assembly. he has replaced his HDD with a SSD and bought and added a caddy with a standard drive in it installed in the DVD drive bay. Not sure what to do now as I know this laptop is prone to the overheating

 

[nlinecomputers]

Replace the heat sink. Heat sink pipes are filled with a liquid, often distilled water, and sealed. They leak and stop working.

 

[TECCS]

Replace the heat sink. Heat sink pipes are filled with a liquid, often distilled water, and sealed. They leak and stop working.

OK thanks for that

 

[MCDIT]

Do you mean that the laptop is still overheating after a cleanout and a change of paste?

 

[Larry Sabo]

If it has a heat-removal problem, it shouldn't take 3.5 hrs at 100% load for it to show up. Do you have temps and times graphs, like Furmark and SpeedFan provide? When the CPU/GPU are very hot, what's the rad temp feel like? If it or the heat pipe inches away from the CPU/GPU are not extremely hot, then it needs a new HS/Rad assembly. You might also need to put a copper shim plus compound between the H/S and CPU/GPU if they are not making good physical contact with the H/S.

 

[TECCS]

Do you mean that the laptop is still overheating after a clean out and a change of paste?

Yes after a clean out and change of paste. after 3.5 hours on a load test program it shuts off from heat

 

[TECCS]

If it has a heat-removal problem, it shouldn't take 3.5 hrs at 100% load for it to show up. Do you have temps and times graphs, like Furmark and SpeedFan provide? When the CPU/GPU are very hot, what's the rad temp feel like? If it or the heat pipe inches away from the CPU/GPU are not extremely hot, then it needs a new HS/Rad assembly. You might also need to put a copper shim plus compound between the H/S and CPU/GPU if they are not making good physical contact with the H/S.

I don't, as didn't use those programs but could get you them when I run another test. The heat kicking out the side of the radiator where the extraction fan is is by the vent is extremely hot however haven't had the whole machine apart and running to be able to tell near the components themselves

 

[Larry Sabo]

The heat kicking out the side of the radiator where the extraction fan is is by the vent is extremely hot

Okay, thanks. That suggests that the heat pipe and contact of the H/S with CPU/GPU is fine, but it would be better to have CPU and GPU temp values (to ensure both are having heat extracted away from them). If the exit air is very hot, all I can suggest is that the fan is not running at proper speed, or something is overheating the CPU/GPU to the degree that is exceeds the laptop's ability to expel it (e.g., overclocking, power supply or on-board regulators out of spec, or motherboard thermistor out of spec). You did of course clean any lint out from between the rad and the fan, I assume. (Sorry, not meant to be insulting.)

(A colleague who repairs motherboards repaired an overheating desktop motherboard for me one time by replacing a transistor that regulates CPU temp regulation.)

 

[Megan1980]

Where do you get the copper shims and are they a replacement for the thermal pad I see on GPU in laptops?

 

[Larry Sabo]

eBay. Search for "copper shims" and you'll find lots of sellers. No, they don't replace thermal pads. You can buy replacement thermal pads on eBay, too.

 

[Megan1980]

eBay. Search for "copper shims" and you'll find lots of sellers. No, they don't replace thermal pads. You can buy replacement thermal pads on eBay, too.

Thanks for the info =) I'm also a bit confused if they dont replace the thermal pads what is there use?

 

[Altster]

There have been times when I've used a penny in place of a copper shim. Yes, I know the penny is a bit thicker, but it worked for my applications in the past.

 

[Larry Sabo]

if they dont replace the thermal pads what is there use?

@Megan1980, they fill the gap between the GPU die and the heat sink when the two don't otherwise make good contact. That was the case I mentioned above--I could see that the thermal compound was not squished over the full surface of the die. The shim (with heat sink compound on both sides of it) fills that space and allowed the heat to transfer from the die to the heat sink.

Unless you monitor GPU temps under heavy load, you might not notice the problem. In my case, the CPU temps were fine after remediation and the problem showed up when the user went to browse a video on YouTube. Now, I'm careful to monitor both CPU and GPU temps under heavy load.

PS: I don't think a modern American penny works anywhere near as well because of its irregular surfaces and it's core not being copper. (They are just copper-plating over a steel core these days.)

 

[Megan1980]

@Megan1980, they fill the gap between the GPU die and the heat sink when the two don't otherwise make good contact. That was the case I mentioned above--I could see that the thermal compound was not squished over the full surface of the die. The shim (with heat sink compound on both sides of it) fills that space and allowed the heat to transfer from the die to the heat sink.

Unless you monitor GPU temps under heavy load, you might not notice the problem. In my case, the CPU temps were fine after remediation and the problem showed up when the user went to browse a video on YouTube. Now, I'm careful to monitor both CPU and GPU temps under heavy load.

Interesting. I have never run into that problem but now when I do I will know what to do. Thanks.

 

[TECCS]

Yes I had check for lint between the 2 as it was one of those houses where i thought it would be a problem. (its not insulting it's double checking). I will check again when next around the laptop make sure I haven't missed any lint etc. I will also run another test and get the logs on here. I will also check the power lead and fan to make sure settings in the bios etc. haven't been altered

 

[TECCS]

doing the Tests now