Gaming and Overheating

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cxls · #1 Post by **cxls** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:14 am

Very often when I run graphics intensive games on my ThinkPad, the computer will freeze up and then not be able to reboot past the Windows load screen for a few minutes until it cools off. I've tried running it in ThinkPad Default and Performance Optimized modes, but both modes seem to overheat and crash. Any workarounds?

Kel Ghu · #2 Post by **Kel Ghu** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:58 am

call IBM

i.thinkpad · #3 Post by **i.thinkpad** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:14 am

call Lenovo

SSK · #4 Post by **SSK** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 7:23 am

I had the same issue: Call Lenovo, they will replace the mainboard.

BTW: This overheat issue didn´t happen rarely...it is a general problem - i think every new T60p customer should test his TP in the possible return time...so you will not wake up from this bad dream like cxls and me....

cxls · #5 Post by **cxls** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:36 pm

Wow, it's actually a defective mainboard problem? Ouch. There's nothing else it could likely be?

I wonder if I could get a few more details before I call. First, is it an issue related to a bug in the mainboard or heat? Or both: heat causing a bug in the mainboard? If it's heat related, will a new mainboard really fix it?

It's strange that it gets so hot during games, but its quite cool when on the desktop.

SSK · #6 Post by **SSK** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 2:44 pm

The problem depends on the ATI GPU.
After 110 °C the memory of the GPU will not work correctly (only at faulty GPUs).
A mainboard replacement with a good working gpu solved my problem.

Rwang · #7 Post by **Rwang** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:31 pm

For those of us who don't a lot of graphics-intensive games, is there a program that can simulate the overheating situation? ATI's overcloking tool??

steveg47 · #8 Post by **steveg47** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 4:10 pm

Rwang wrote:For those of us who don't a lot of graphics-intensive games, is there a program that can simulate the overheating situation? ATI's overcloking tool??

Prime95 works nicely to stress the hell out of the cpu(s).

I guess you could download one of the Windows Media Player High Definition Video Demos (trailers) from the Microsoft website to stress the gpu, though there might be better utilities available for that purpose.

cxls · #9 Post by **cxls** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:01 pm

SSK wrote:The problem depends on the ATI GPU.
After 110 °C the memory of the GPU will not work correctly (only at faulty GPUs).
A mainboard replacement with a good working gpu solved my problem.

Oh that's interesting. I just played the game with TP Fan Control off the side and it froze at exactly 110°C, although it was hovering around that and 111°C for a while.

Since I have the FireGL V5200, can I just get that replaced? From my knowledge the FireGL is a standalone video card that is not mounted on the mainboard, but I may be wrong. I just want to know what I'm talking about when I'm trying to tell these guys what I need.

SSK · #10 Post by **SSK** » Wed Jan 03, 2007 5:26 pm

The Fire GL GPU ist mounted on the mainboard an can only be replaced by replacing the whole mainboard. The support should know which part must be replaced

It´s terrible...a lot of people had this issue with the Fire GL...

kulivontot · #11 Post by **kulivontot** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:11 am

I burned out my GPU too. Call lenovo.

cxls · #12 Post by **cxls** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 2:20 am

If I have onsite, will they do the repair here, or is onsite not used for such extensive repairs as mainboard replacements?

SSK · #13 Post by **SSK** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 4:58 am

Onsite repair will be used for this kind of problem. Not be nervous!

cxls · #14 Post by **cxls** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 3:22 pm

He said over the phone that if PC Doctor wasn't throwing any errors that he wouldn't be able to send anyone over. He said could send a box and they'd look at it, but I can't be without it. So I'm trying an online support request for the same thing now.

khaverblad · #15 Post by **khaverblad** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 6:12 am

Well, the heating issue has quite a few threads within this T60 section; and I'm one of them that thinks that the T60 gets way too hot. Main problem as I see it is also the way the heating pipes works out together with the thermal compound. Check this thread here for further info.

PC Doctor is a joke when it comes to figure out something regarding this problem. And after I had Lenovo out on-site to replace the heatpipe the temperature has actually increased and my normal GPU temperature is now around 71C instead of 65C.

cxls · #16 Post by **cxls** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:42 am

khaverblad wrote:Well, the heating issue has quite a few threads within this T60 section; and I'm one of them that thinks that the T60 gets way too hot. Main problem as I see it is also the way the heating pipes works out together with the thermal compound. Check this thread here for further info.

PC Doctor is a joke when it comes to figure out something regarding this problem. And after I had Lenovo out on-site to replace the heatpipe the temperature has actually increased and my normal GPU temperature is now around 71C instead of 65C.

Are those the "normal" temperatures during use (graphics intense applications) or when it's mostly idle (desktop)?

rosemarycane · #17 Post by **rosemarycane** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 11:50 am

I would definetly request that they send someone out to your house. If you paid for an "on-site" warranty, there is no reason you should be required to send your TP to the depot. If the customer service reps in Atlanta don't comply with your wishes, I would ask them to escalate your case to executive relations.

If you pay $xxxx for a laptop, you better have top-notch service. Just my two cents.

SSK · #18 Post by **SSK** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 12:54 pm

Test your system with the pc-doctor graphic stress test. On my machine a failure occured, so maybe also on yours.
Keep all settings high and disable the powermanagement of the gpu. Let run it 3-5 times...good luck!

cxls · #19 Post by **cxls** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 1:14 pm

SSK wrote:Test your system with the pc-doctor graphic stress test. On my machine a failure occured, so maybe also on yours.
Keep all settings high and disable the powermanagement of the gpu. Let run it 3-5 times...good luck!

Okay, it failed 4 out of 5 wire frame tests. The system didn't freeze, but it says it Failed.

SSK · #20 Post by **SSK** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:47 pm

Why did it fail? Any error message?

I got a BSOD...

cxls · #21 Post by **cxls** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 3:55 pm

No error message that I saw, though I wasn't here while the test ran. PC Doctor simply said that it passed the wireframe once and failed it four times.

SSK · #22 Post by **SSK** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 4:31 pm

Then you´ve got two good arguments for the on-site repair:

1) Instable System in hard graphic applications
2) PC-Doctor fails at graphic test

Call Lenovo, i think this wouldn´t be a problem anymore for them to realize the issue and offer you a solution...

Good Luck!

cxls · #23 Post by **cxls** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:07 pm

He came today and replaced the mainboard. Overall this has been an epic disappointment. First of all, it took 5 hours. He ended up losing screws, and I guess stripping one as well. Don't get me wrong: he was very nice, but it just didn't go well. The bezel was put back together very poorly. The left side keyboard bezel does not smoothly connect with the palm rest. Ditto the right side. There is also a lump where the palm rest pops up to the left of the arrow keys. I've also discovered the palm rest is not connected at the front of the laptop at all.

I'd rather just have the old hardware than have all this bezel damage.

EDIT: There is also a soft high-pitched sound that comes from the back left when scrolling up and down in any window.

My ThinkPad's been trashed.

Casper118 · #24 Post by **Casper118** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 9:36 pm

Sorry to hear about your problem.

I also had a heating problem on my laptop playing Marvel Ultimate Allaince to max settings and other games.

I went to microcenter the other day purchased something called a Fan pad. Its a pad that rests below the laptop and has two fans built in.

Runs of USB 2.0. Ever since i started using it. My games perform flawlessly. The palmrest is not burning hot to the touch and the laptop is working a lot better.

So if ya want to take my advice. Get a fan pad. Its a simple fix for only 30 dollars.

deeastman · #25 Post by **deeastman** » Mon Jan 08, 2007 10:32 pm

cxls wrote:My ThinkPad's been trashed.

That is a totally unacceptable warranty and repair experience. I am really anal about such things and I would never rest until things are put in order. If possible I would take the TP to the repair shop for a show and tell session about the repair. If unable to resolve at the shop I would contact Lenovo and get their opinion on how to follow up. Don't let up until things are set right.

I still don't own a TP as yet. I was going to buy a month ago but couldn't decide on standard or widescreen, basically because I would like a IPS screen in widescreen if I had a choice.

I pretty much had made up my mind on a widescreen model 8744-C9U last week (employee price, retired IBM) but these constant TP problems I read about and the horrific warranty experiences have again put me on hold. I am almost to the point of just getting a Dell 1505 temporairly and waiting out the storm.

Sorry for rambling but I will be watching this post to find out how well Lenovo takes care of you.

cxls · #26 Post by **cxls** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 1:42 am

Okay, so I downloaded the hardware maintenance manual, disassembled the notebook and put it back together again much better than the tech did. The frame is now decent, though there is still a slight lump (smaller than before) near the arrow keys. That may have been there before, but I'm not sure. I now have 2 extra screws.

I wish I had taken pictures. They'd make the average ThinkPad fanatic cry.

This clicking sound is still there though. Whenever I scroll up or down, or move a window around, or have my browser pointed to an animated gif, there's this clicking sound that sounds a lot like a wire rubbing against a fan, but I have no idea why that sound would only happen during instances like that. Any ideas?

By the way, I was always under the impression you weren't supposed to use magnetized screw drivers around computers. My tech did.

agarza · #27 Post by **agarza** » Tue Jan 09, 2007 10:22 am

I wonder if Arctic Silver 5 could be used on the ATI GPU to allow more heat to be transferred quickly and thus no more overheating.

Menneisyys · #28 Post by **Menneisyys** » Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:59 am

Strange this FireGL GPU isn't correctly cooled. I've never had overheating problems with my (earlier) FireGL in my a31p (I've been playing a lot of CoD2).

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