Thinkpads Forum

Hi there thinkpadders, first post

I have massively used my T400 for the last 5 years without any issues, (speakers, dvd and screen replaced due to extended warranty). And it surprises me it does not overheat even in summer (here is about 35 degrees outside). Anyway I am thinking to clean the vents and replace the thermal compund and the thermal pad... but...At the moment the hardware monitor is displaying 35º in the cores and 43/40º in the THM ... vent is almost in the minimum...

IS IT WORTH opening and cleaning vents and exchanging compounds&pad? Refrain of engineers says here "if it works don't touch it".

Another thing it makes me upset is that there is not actually a way of measuring the Northbridge temperature and maybe the laptop will die for it. I have read that after some years they are not effective. Should I anyway exchange it? I am so attached to this great computer...

Thank you in advance

I'm of the school that "if it's not broken then don't fix it." Having said that, the geek and tinkerer in me will fix it until it's broken.

Personally I like to reapply thermal compound and give everything a good clean and dusting after about 3-4 years. So if this was my machine I would do it. Unlike the T4x series, I have not heard of any problem with this generation of T series.

Thank you,

I guess I'll give a light clean without touching too much. Normally I would fix it to prevent but last year I replaced a thermal pad in a hptx2500 for a copper shim and 3 months after the "fix" it died, so I am a bit worried that it happens to my precious again.