T43 gets extremely HOT - solutions?

[seattlepainter]

ref: http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=28771

I have the same problem with my IBM Thinkpad T43's. They are all running hot. I purchased a cooling pad, but that only helps just a little. I am running Linux Ubuntu on 2 of my laptops, but that shouldn't be the heart of the problem. I'm beginning to think that this model laptop just tends to run hot.

Admin edit: Split from 7 year old thread

[ajkula66]

I have the same problem with my IBM Thinkpad T43's. They are all running hot.

Have you re-pasted the CPU recently? The youngest T43 on the planet is about to turn seven years old...

I purchased a cooling pad, but that only helps just a little.

On a T4x, given the vent positions it's not going to do anything for you. Not to mention that laptop coolers are hoax for the most part to begin with.

I am running Linux Ubuntu on 2 of my laptops, but that shouldn't be the heart of the problem.

Well, there are fan control utilities for various *nix distros. Are you running any?

I'm beginning to think that this model laptop just tends to run hot.

It doesn't have to. Take it from someone who has gone through more of T43/p units than they would dare remember...

[Pingwin Wielki]

Please note there were some serious problems with laptops overheating in some linux kernel versions. Any kernel from 2.6.38 to 3.2 is affected, except the patched kernels which many Linux distros offer. You may have the linux kernel problem.

Please read Ubuntu forums carefully and check out if you have Ubuntu/kernel version affected by the kernel failure.

Example links:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/270540/u ... ing-laptop
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=46&t=91194
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1932936
http://www.webupd8.org/2011/06/linux-ke ... e-fix.html
http://techhamlet.com/2011/12/diving-de ... -in-linux/

[TRS-80]

Is SpeedFan (or similar program) available on Linux? If so, it may be a good idea to just throw it on your computer quickly, and monitor temperatures / tweak fan controls, pending further research into the more "real" / long term solutions outlined above...? Just a thought...

[Adda]

I'll just quote my self:

Best way to go about it is.

1. remove pink pad and black goo from cooler.

2. remove heatshield from GPU using dental floss, just cut it off as you would a slice cheese, clean off old thermal compound.

3. cut out a piece of aluminum or copper same size as the GPU core.

4. file or sand the metal piece so that it has the right thickness to even out the height difference between GPU and video memory.

5. bend the cooler so that the GPU pad fits the lower profile of the video chip, while keeping good contact with the CPU.

6. apply cooler paste to CPU, GPU and video memory.

7. put the metal piece on the GPU and put cooler paste on top of it.

8. mount the cooler and enjoy much lower temps then would have otherwise been possible.

A pic of the result: http://cdn.head-fi.org/2/26/26cb88f7_AUT_6501.jpeg

Pic of GPU without heatshield, GPU is in the middle sorrounded by memory chips: http://www.pc-erfahrung.de/fileadmin/Gr ... ity_01.jpg

Temps don't go above the low 70C for my T43p no matter the load, before the mod, the GPU would quickly reach above 90C full load.
The reason why R9600 and FGL GPU's get hot, is that the heatshield doesn't touch the GPU core, there is a gap filled with thermal compound.
On late generation V3200 chips the issue was fixed as they used lower profile video memory, but the cooler remained the same, so the fit was obviously compromised.

Late generation V3200 chips still reach the low mid 80's under load.

But also, undervolt the CPU it can be done in Linux to, and put the GPU (if any) in to "Max Battery" mode.
The following command puts the GPU in to power saving mode, if you are using the opensource Radeon driver:

Code: Select all

echo low > /sys/class/drm/card0/device/power_profile

There are several fan control apps for Linux, it's been a while, but you can find plenty over at Thinkwiki.