Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating

fozzy40 · 05-30-2007, 09:14 AM

I have an IBM T43 and just noticed that it's been running a little slower and warmer than usual. I just ran SpeedFan and it's readings are:

HD0 = 43C
Temp1 = 43C

Any suggestions?

**TheMatt** · 05-30-2007, 01:11 PM

Hi,

Your temps look fine. What is slow? Is it the CPU usage that is high, or the hard disk that is always on?

fozzy40 · 05-30-2007, 01:51 PM

CPU usage as far as I can tell is pretty low. I'm not sure how to tell if the hard disk is always on. Maybe I'm just being paranoid but it just seems like it's running hotter at times and starting up the cpu is slower than usual.

**Terrister** · 05-31-2007, 04:15 PM

Get a can of compressed air and give all the cooling vents a good cleaning.

If it still feels warm, you may want to look into a cooling pad with fans as posted above.

Fockwatch · 05-31-2007, 09:57 PM

I've had several laptops and all of the newer ones (last 6 years) have run pretty hot. I don't have any specific solutions, but here are some things to keep in mind -

A lot of laptops have air intakes on the bottom of the case and some have them on the sides. Air is sucked into the case, passes over specific areas (such as the HD) to provide a degree of cooling, goes through the fan, then out of the case through the CPU heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is made up of a heatsink that mounts on the CPU, a heat pipe moves the heat from the sink to the radiator, and a radiator which is typically located at the exhaust vent in the case. My Tosh A15 feels like it shoots flames out of the exhaust vent.

1. The fins on the heat exchanger radiator are fairly narrow and can become clogged with dust. This not only blocks the heat path for the CPU, but also the exhaust for the air warmed by all the other air-cooled parts. Hot-cha-cha.... The radiator cannot be cleaned by only blowing it out (i.e. with canned air) from the outside. This just blows the dust throughout the interior of of the case where it will end up plugging up the radiator again. Some laptops have a door over the CPU. Remove the door and apply some <low suction> while blowing the dust back out with canned air.

2. "Heat pads/laptop coolers" are great - in theory. All of the ones that I've seen, and the 3 I own, are all designed the same way: fans draw ambient air through the 1/8 - 1/4" space under the laptop, then exhaust it to the side. This is supposed to help cool the bottom of the laptop. A great idea - except that it creates a low pressure zone under the bottom, right where the inlet vents on most laptops are trying to pull air in. The cooler fans are usually more powerful than the little fan in the PC and the result is that the laptop can actually run hotter. As the cooler fans are centrifugal, they are better adapted for exhausting air than pressurizing the bottom of the case, which is what is really needed. I have two Antec coolers which I use to keep my legs cool. Go figure.

3. Anyone actually use a laptop on their lap? I do, when I'm watching tv. The catch is, you don't want to be plugging those vents. In my case, I get a lot of hot air out of the exhaust, which tells me that I'm getting some degree cooling, but is it enough?

4. When I recently had a heating problem, I used Task Manager to correlate the CPU activity to the temperatures reported by Speedfan. Somehow, indexing had been turned on and Cidaemon was eating my lunch. The CPU was being saturated and the exhaust temperature was very high. The CPU was running at around 73C. Killing indexing cut back on the CPU loading and reduced the heat.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

the Fock

**hwm54112** · 06-01-2007, 06:50 AM

Hello fockwatch, Welcome to TSF

This a very good post. While I've posted the same info numerous times, I've never found the time to be as explanatory and included all in a single post. If you enjoy writing, you should check out our Articles section. There is a link to it on the main page. It is just a bare link on the left side near the top in the navigation pane.

Bill

**hwm54112** · 06-01-2007, 07:08 AM

Fozzy40, Welcome to TSF!

I've created a new thread for you including all the replies. It is always best to start a new thread, (it's actually required) for your issue or question. It is especially important when you post a question in a very old thread. Please enjoy your visits to TSF

Bill

05-30-2007, 09:14 AM	#1 (permalink)
fozzy40 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating I have an IBM T43 and just noticed that it's been running a little slower and warmer than usual. I just ran SpeedFan and it's readings are: HD0 = 43C Temp1 = 43C Any suggestions?

05-30-2007, 01:11 PM	#2 (permalink)
TheMatt TSF Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Boston Posts: 13,702 OS: Win 3.1, 98, NT 4.0, XP Debian 4.0, Kubuntu 6.06 My System Blog Entries: 3	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating? Hi, Your temps look fine. What is slow? Is it the CPU usage that is high, or the hard disk that is always on? __________________ - Matt M - KB1OSC - Folding@Home 85015 [url="http://www.techsupportforum.com/hardware-support/"] If TSF has helped you, please consider donating. If I have stopped responding to a thread, feel free to send me a PM with a link to the thread. It is advisable to subscribe to threads so you will receive updates when replies are posted. You can subscribe to threads from the "Thread Tools" Menu. »Memtest86 »Prime95 »UBCD »SpeedFan »NHC Personal »Everest »Sandra »PC Wizard »RivaTuner »ATi Tool Click here for Useful Articles and Guides

05-30-2007, 01:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
fozzy40 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating? CPU usage as far as I can tell is pretty low. I'm not sure how to tell if the hard disk is always on. Maybe I'm just being paranoid but it just seems like it's running hotter at times and starting up the cpu is slower than usual.

05-31-2007, 04:15 PM	#4 (permalink)
Terrister Moderator Hardware Forum Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Georgia, USA Posts: 7,081 OS: Xp	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating? Get a can of compressed air and give all the cooling vents a good cleaning. If it still feels warm, you may want to look into a cooling pad with fans as posted above. __________________

05-31-2007, 09:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
Fockwatch Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 4 OS: XP	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating? I've had several laptops and all of the newer ones (last 6 years) have run pretty hot. I don't have any specific solutions, but here are some things to keep in mind - A lot of laptops have air intakes on the bottom of the case and some have them on the sides. Air is sucked into the case, passes over specific areas (such as the HD) to provide a degree of cooling, goes through the fan, then out of the case through the CPU heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is made up of a heatsink that mounts on the CPU, a heat pipe moves the heat from the sink to the radiator, and a radiator which is typically located at the exhaust vent in the case. My Tosh A15 feels like it shoots flames out of the exhaust vent. 1. The fins on the heat exchanger radiator are fairly narrow and can become clogged with dust. This not only blocks the heat path for the CPU, but also the exhaust for the air warmed by all the other air-cooled parts. Hot-cha-cha.... The radiator cannot be cleaned by only blowing it out (i.e. with canned air) from the outside. This just blows the dust throughout the interior of of the case where it will end up plugging up the radiator again. Some laptops have a door over the CPU. Remove the door and apply some <low suction> while blowing the dust back out with canned air. 2. "Heat pads/laptop coolers" are great - in theory. All of the ones that I've seen, and the 3 I own, are all designed the same way: fans draw ambient air through the 1/8 - 1/4" space under the laptop, then exhaust it to the side. This is supposed to help cool the bottom of the laptop. A great idea - except that it creates a low pressure zone under the bottom, right where the inlet vents on most laptops are trying to pull air in. The cooler fans are usually more powerful than the little fan in the PC and the result is that the laptop can actually run hotter. As the cooler fans are centrifugal, they are better adapted for exhausting air than pressurizing the bottom of the case, which is what is really needed. I have two Antec coolers which I use to keep my legs cool. Go figure. 3. Anyone actually use a laptop on their lap? I do, when I'm watching tv. The catch is, you don't want to be plugging those vents. In my case, I get a lot of hot air out of the exhaust, which tells me that I'm getting some degree cooling, but is it enough? 4. When I recently had a heating problem, I used Task Manager to correlate the CPU activity to the temperatures reported by Speedfan. Somehow, indexing had been turned on and Cidaemon was eating my lunch. The CPU was being saturated and the exhaust temperature was very high. The CPU was running at around 73C. Killing indexing cut back on the CPU loading and reduced the heat. Hope this gives you some ideas. the Fock

06-01-2007, 06:50 AM	#6 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating? Hello fockwatch, Welcome to TSF This a very good post. While I've posted the same info numerous times, I've never found the time to be as explanatory and included all in a single post. If you enjoy writing, you should check out our Articles section. There is a link to it on the main page. It is just a bare link on the left side near the top in the navigation pane. Bill

06-01-2007, 07:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
hwm54112 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 2,233 OS: WINXP	Re: Is there anything I can do about a notebook overheating Fozzy40, Welcome to TSF! I've created a new thread for you including all the replies. It is always best to start a new thread, (it's actually required) for your issue or question. It is especially important when you post a question in a very old thread. Please enjoy your visits to TSF Bill