T41p heat problem under heavy load

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OL · #31 Post by OL » Sun Oct 24, 2004 3:09 pm

With mobmeter you can force the stepdown of the processor to intermediate frequency.
For me , I can throttle the cpu to 1.4 ghz (banias 1.7 ghz T41p).

rpwt · #32 Post by **rpwt** » Wed Oct 27, 2004 6:15 pm

OL: I don't have that option with my version of mobmeter (stepdown). I also can't figure out how to ask the processor to just run @ 600 without switching to batteries. Anyone know how to force SpeedStep to change frequencies in XP/SP2?

I picked up an Antec USB-powered cooler ($39) to see if it would help. Its normal configuration is to draw air away from the bottom of the laptop. I tried this for awhile and didn't see any significant changes - perhas a degree (C) or two. My test app is just a processor loop with Encarta doing its graphics logo in the background (good for 30-40% processor and some level of graphics load.)

I then opened up the Antec unit and physically turned the fans so they would blow air up against the laptop's derriere (maybe dorsal). My thinking was that the T42P has air intakes at the bottom and vents to the left side - why have a cooler that is pulling air also from the bottom?

Well, the results are not convincing, one way or the other. I did see a 2-3 degree drop with the fan blowing towards the unit, but this isn't what I expected/hoped - a 5-10 degree decrease.

Tonight I'll run a long DB update program that has, in the past, caused the system to go into shock (hyperthermal?). We'll see. I've also asked the author of MobileMeter if it can be modified to record to file the last sampled temperatures.

It is obvious from the number of NG postings, that heat dissipation is a problem everywhere. I don't know if we can still call it a design flaw, or perhaps a poorly-educated buying public that thinks they can get a real desktop in a 1X10X12 slab. (Mea culpa)[/code]

sneakyazn · #33 Post by **sneakyazn** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:23 pm

I am now having these overheating problems on my T41p too

. For me it happens on Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow. The bottom begins to get really hot and then the system just shuts off completely. I don't have the option of pulling out the CD drive because the game requires the CD and I don't want to (nor do i feel i should have to) switch over to a cd emulator such as alcohol 120. Any resolutions in terms of this? I think it would probably be detrimental for teh system to continue to just shut down like that from overheating and that it will decrease the life of this unit? any confirmations?

Does having 2GB of ram affect the heat at all? Would it help if i took one stick out?

rpwt · #34 Post by **rpwt** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 3:41 pm

The basic problem remains - if I run some applications that require the highest speed of the processor (2.00 GHz), the temperature will rise above 80C - which seems to be a reasonable top-end limit before the CPU shuts down. However, I also get random shutdowns from my T42P when almost nothing is going on...

I'm positive that machine shutdowns because of over-heating are bad for the components, bad for the running processes, and definitely bad for my frame of mind when I need to restart everything with lost data.

I don't think it is memory (1GB vs. 2GB) related, since I had the problem before I added the extra 1GB. I also don't believe that the CD-ROM or other peripheral activity is the culprit - it is just the CPU running too hot in the limited chassis.

I have modified some of my apps to stick millisecond wait cycles into their heavy-cpu loops.

Sometimes I will actually unplug the power since that will force the processor to drop from the 2.00GHz to 0.60GHz - that drops the temperature down to around 60C. If necessary, I'll cycle the AC/battery pattern by hand to keep the temp under 80. What A Laugh!

I also added a Power Scheme "Adaptive CPU" which will drop the clock-speed down to 600MHz unless needed, even when plugged in. This keeps the fan (and house-hold air filter) from running when I'm dawdling.

Can't wait for the dual-cores in the next go-round (Chinese) of these ThinkPads. How about temps of 110C! Good for boiling a cup of tea, or a hand!

beeblebrox · #35 Post by **beeblebrox** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 4:43 pm

I am sure that your notebook has a thermal damage somewhere, maybe a cracked wire on the motherboard. The mobile CPUs are certified for 100°C.

When I use Mathlab and do a complete simulation run, it sometimes reached 90°C for a prolonged time, never crashed.

You can test it using SpeedswitchXP and set the thresholds for fan and clock.
One problem I saw was the thermal compound on the fans. They decompose sometimes after a while in heat. I usually replace them after 6 months or put silver paste (artic or whatever) on it. It helps A LOT!!

If your notebook shuts down at 80°C then either your CPU has a defect or your motherboard has a problem. Better send it to service.

sneakyazn · #36 Post by **sneakyazn** » Fri Mar 18, 2005 9:48 pm

i think that the problem for me might lie in the graphics processor getting too hot. my game isn't so much cpu intensive as it is graphics intensive. Anybody know where i can find a pic of the motherboard to see if there is any cooling system. i read that people dont run into this problem if they take out there optical drive so that there is better airflow.

mercuxio · #37 Post by **mercuxio** » Sun May 29, 2005 10:24 pm

Hi guys,

I'm running a T42 with a Pentium 2.1Ghz and 128 T2 card. I had the throttling problem previously. Temperature will go up till 90 degrees after like 3 minutes of fully loading the CPU and start to throttle. I dissected the machine and wipe off all the existing white thermal paste by IBM and re-apply with Artic Silver. When I removed the fan, I notice that the original thermal paste wasn't evenly filling up the gap between the processor and FAN. I made sure the new paste is applied evenly. When I powered it back up again it didn't even throttle even after 1 hours of full CPU loading. My ambient temperature is about 30 degrees (I live in a tropical country). MY CPU is running @ 79 degrees on full load and idles @ 600Mhz with a 43 degrees. Idling @ 2.1Ghz bring the temperature to be about 55 degrees. I hope this will help in solving your overheating/throttling problem. So my conclusion is that there's no design flaw in the T4X. Just bad QA on the heating exhaust elements.

FTC · #38 Post by **FTC** » Mon May 30, 2005 5:51 am

Hi,

I think there is NO design flaw in T4x's. The problem with some units is basically caused by an improper assembly of the heatsink / fan unit, i.e por contact of the GPU/CPU with the heatsink and uncorrect thermal interface material placing. I have seen many units properly mounted with dothan 2.0 and 2.1 Ghz processors (and banias 1.7's) and various GPUs that do not have a heat - throttling problem (i.e stay below 89 ºC, and normally at around 80º under load).
One second possibility is also that something is interfering the air path inside or outside the machine. The fact that you removed the CD unit and it fixed the problem seems to go in this direction.

In any case, for your machine I would seriously consider opening it up, and resetting the HS/FAN assembly with proper interface material (best results with silver based ones), cleaning the fan and making sure the different vent holes inside the machine are not obstructed. Done this, grab something like the RMclock utility and find the lowest stable voltage your CPU can run at full steam. With this two things you will easily decrease temps 10ºC or more...

In my case, I am running with a T40 1.5 overclocked to 1.7 (it's a Banias core, so generates more heat than dothans), 24x7 at full load since last december (protein folding in the background) and it never gets hotter than 77ºC. It used to reach 82º when NOT overclocked and with standard thermal material / no RMClock. My idle temp is 38ºC.

agarza · #39 Post by **agarza** » Thu Aug 17, 2006 1:48 pm

Hi

I've a T42p new from a IBM reseller (used to work at IBM Mexico), and sold me this machine for about 980USD with 1GB or RAM, 128MB Video, 40GB 5400rpm

My machine will be sent to IBM to have it change the fan, supposedly is using a wrong one, that's why I've been getting Freezes when playing 3D games.

Oddly, the laptop is branded as T42p but no documentation provided.
Seeing the pictures from the internet between the T41p and the T42p, the latter have the hinges in the same size, whilst mine not, the right hinge is more thin than the left one. So I thing, my laptop is a T41p branded T42p.

I guess both machines use the LONG fan/heatsink ?

agarza · #40 Post by **agarza** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 2:10 am

*UPDATED* the message above, please someone reply...

Dead1nside · #41 Post by **Dead1nside** » Sat Aug 19, 2006 7:45 am

Udayan wrote:Of course with this game, you can't take out the CD-ROM and still play it

You can take out the CD and still play it. I do it all the time, just take it out once you start your game.

Cartman · #42 Post by **Cartman** » Wed Aug 23, 2006 9:43 am

benottomex wrote:Hi
Seeing the pictures from the internet between the T41p and the T42p, the latter have the hinges in the same size, whilst mine not, the right hinge is more thin than the left one. So I thing, my laptop is a T41p branded T42p.

I guess both machines use the LONG fan/heatsink ?

On the 15" models, both hinges are the same width, on the 14" models, the right hinge is thinner.

All "p" models should have the "long" fan assembly

v_parthi · #43 Post by **v_parthi** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:52 am

All 'p' models with 7200 RPM generate a lot of heat due to HDD speed.

agarza · #44 Post by **agarza** » Thu Aug 24, 2006 3:36 pm

v_parthi wrote:All 'p' models with 7200 RPM generate a lot of heat due to HDD speed.

Yes I know, but the HDD is on the right side of the laptop, have nothing to do with the GPU/GPU temps.

I ordered http://articulo.mercadolibre.com.mx/jm/ ... 2_2774.jpg
ARCTIC CLEAN 60ML, arrives on Monday

I was wondering if I should remove the pink and brown paste that have over the heatsink in the GPU area??

Should I apply Arctic Silver 5 in both core & heatsink, and in the GPU and in the heatsink GPU area?

T41p heat problem under heavy load

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