Oh what a Nice burning smell .... -updated.. kinda fixed-

[off1c3r]

Just changed CPU from a 1.6 B to a 1.8 Dothan and now coming out the side vent I take a sniff and it smells like burning plastics/clothes/metal whatever else. Under the laptop is hot and it just feels very hot. I thought something was wrong with the 1.8 so I put back in my 1.6 but same thing just not as much. You think its just the artic silver thermal purifier smell or maybe the artic silver didnt settle in yet .. Right now I am reinstall windows so I'll guess the CPU is up there in usage.. but I never smelled this kinda smell before and such heat =/

[aaa]

no, arctic silver doesn't make a smell.

random guesses:
something's (dirt?) on the cpu or heatsink and getting burned
there's a short circuit somewhere, possible because of some sort of debris getting on the motherboard

[off1c3r]

no, arctic silver doesn't make a smell.

random guesses:
something's (dirt?) on the cpu or heatsink and getting burned
there's a short circuit somewhere, possible because of some sort of debris getting on the motherboard

I figured that about the silver since I've been using it for years.... Random debris did fall into the motherboard but I took it all out to my knowledge. The area where the fan/cpu is was 100% clear.. the only places that can't be 100% clear is under the palm rest but I did check... I dunno =/


Oh I also wanted to add, I put in this 1.8 Dothan I had and the computer was acting crazy. Power up button didn't turn it off, i was getting random screens poping up in a dos prog (hitatchi drive fitness) and the touchpad was moving the mouse all over the place whenever i touch it once lol.. Yeah I took out that cpu, put in the 1.6 and no problems

[FTC]

Hi,


First, one could assume some problem with the cooling which is causing the processor to throttle down causing the 'weirdness'. (either bad CPU contact or dust in the heatsink area). Was your feeling that the machine was also slow with the new proc ?. The best thing to do here is check CPU temps with NHC or similar proggie. This will definetly tell you if you have a problem with the heat dissipation or the processor itself...

Second, processor did you check the processor for bent pins ?. Also a possibility is that you are not using the right 'dothan'. can you post the SSPEC ? Two possibilities here : wrong FSB or too 'new' stepping level for your BIOS.

[off1c3r]

Hi,


First, one could assume some problem with the cooling which is causing the processor to throttle down causing the 'weirdness'. (either bad CPU contact or dust in the heatsink area). Was your feeling that the machine was also slow with the new proc ?. The best thing to do here is check CPU temps with NHC or similar proggie. This will definetly tell you if you have a problem with the heat dissipation or the processor itself...

Second, processor did you check the processor for bent pins ?. Also a possibility is that you are not using the right 'dothan'. can you post the SSPEC ? Two possibilities here : wrong FSB or too 'new' stepping level for your BIOS.

Thanks for reply

I though the cooling was bad but I lifted the heatsink and made sure the artic silver was on hsf and processor and there was a good connection and pushed it down, held it down, and screwed it in while holding down pressure. Since i have the CPU out, i checked, looked through through on all sides, no bent pins. This one is a SL7EN 1.8ghz 2mb cache pentium M 745. I didn't check temps because the computer was going crazy in bios lol.. Ill check the temps with my 1.6 currently but I am up to the latest bios, i THink 3.73 from july 2007

[joester]

A possible explanation would be the grease from your fingers migrating to the chip and heatsink during installation.

Your skin has natural oils that stink when heated up. Let it run for a while and it should burn off.

Alternative (my first choice) is to wear gloves and thoroughly clean the chip with IPA before greasing it.

Joe

[off1c3r]

A possible explanation would be the grease from your fingers migrating to the chip and heatsink during installation.

Your skin has natural oils that stink when heated up. Let it run for a while and it should burn off.

Alternative (my first choice) is to wear gloves and thoroughly clean the chip with IPA before greasing it.

Joe

Thats possible, I did handle the heatsink with my hands, but i didn't touch the area where I Cleaned.. but if thats possible that makes sense.. I am used to dealing with desktop processors.. you hold the hsf by the fan and your fingers never even touch the metal you know? That explains a similar but not as strong burning smell when i put back in my 1.6, but not for the erratic mouse movements and program changing colors and stuff in dos with the 1.8 .. i have no way to retest except pulling my cpu again in laptop.. I really need to get another busted or old t41 for testing purposes lol

[sktn77a]

Well, first of all, this should work just fine (lots of people on this forum have done it). So something sounds awry with the installation. Too much heatsink compound is worse than too little. I usually put a tiny blob on the processor (not the heatsink) and then smear it as thin a possible with my finger (yes, my finger, greasy and all)! The fact that the computer went all wiggy when you put in the 745 suggests a bad processor or a bad installation or both. The fact that the 1.6 is running too hot suggests this too.

I'd run NHC to confirm your temperatures are too high and causing this burning smell. Once youve got that sorted out, I'd try the 745 again and if it's still behaving badly, you have to consider that you may have a bad CPU.

[off1c3r]

Well, first of all, this should work just fine (lots of people on this forum have done it). So something sounds awry with the installation. Too much heatsink compound is worse than too little. I usually put a tiny blob on the processor (not the heatsink) and then smear it as thin a possible with my finger (yes, my finger, greasy and all)! The fact that the computer went all wiggy when you put in the 745 suggests a bad processor or a bad installation or both. The fact that the 1.6 is running too hot suggests this too.

I'd run NHC to confirm your temperatures are too high and causing this burning smell. Once youve got that sorted out, I'd try the 745 again and if it's still behaving badly, you have to consider that you may have a bad CPU.

I used NHC and with the 1.6 Banias:

Idle: 40c
HD: 30c

Stress test for 15 min
CPU: 59c-61c avg:60
HD: 35c

Closed test, let the cpu idle down for 10 min
CPU: 44c
HD: 32c

Those arn't bad. During the stress test I smelled the scent but it slowly faded away and all I smelled when I put my nose near the vent is pure heat along with maybe some slight other metal type smells but its not bad anymore. I guess its the typical smell you get of burning metal and stuff?

I have a 1.6, 1.8, and 2.1 Dothans to try to replace my 1.6 Banias with. Picture below =) :
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p192/ecl1pz/cpus.jpg

Now I guess what to go with. From my searches people are generally happy with the 1.8. A good balance between speed/heat. I don't want the 2.1 again I'm pretty sure because I don't want a ton of heat. I'm either going to go with the 1.6 Dothan or 1.8 Dothan. I was reading reviews and it seems the dothan use less power and double cache but then they have drawbacks compared to the banias in the way the extra cache is utilized .. I don't know .. I still think overall its a positive upgrade.. now which to choose!

[FTC]

Hi,

You can pick the 2.1 and then 'cap' its multiplier if needed with nhc or any such utility, and / or makig it work in dynamic mode so the 2.1 are only used when really needed. In my experience if it is well installed you can go to hi speeds no problem.

[off1c3r]

Hi,

You can pick the 2.1 and then 'cap' its multiplier if needed with nhc or any such utility, and / or makig it work in dynamic mode so the 2.1 are only used when really needed. In my experience if it is well installed you can go to hi speeds no problem.

Normally I would agree 100% with you, but for some reason I am kind of set against the 2.1 now. I think mainly because I have my core2duo high powered system and I really wanted to keep my T41 in the low power/heat/usage spectrum, and personally I keep my cpu at half when on battery, and full when on AC.. and to me it feels.. wrong just to have a cpu underclocked when on AC power ? I dunno thats just me.. but your point is compelling

[sktn77a]

I agree about the 765 (2.1). Based on my experience with the 755 (2.0 - full cpu load 75oC), I wouldn't want anything faster than this. Only trouble is going from a Banias 1.6 to a Dothan 1.6/1.7/1.8 is probably not a significant improvement (unless you run software with high CPU utilization for extended peiods of time).