Question about GPU cooling in A31p

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cmarti · #1 Post by **cmarti** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 1:41 am

I have the A31p that's on my sig. The lappy works great, but when i'm playing video games it freezes seems to be caused by the gpu overheating.

Does anyone have ever find a way to improve the cooling of the video chip in the A31p?

I'm playing battlefont I , Battlefront II and battlefield II.

Any suggestions?

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Mon Dec 24, 2007 5:31 am

As much as I love them, A31p laptops are not gaming machines...

Two things you may want to consider...eliminating any software possibly running in the back, and adding an external cooler to chill the whole board...

I wish I could've been more helpful, but that's all I can think of.

cmarti · #3 Post by **cmarti** » Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:15 pm

ajkula66 wrote: Two things you may want to consider...eliminating any software possibly running in the back, and adding an external cooler to chill the whole board...

By external cooler you mean one of those base where you put the laptop on?

mediasponge · #4 Post by **mediasponge** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 7:03 pm

The GPU cooling in the A31p is through sponges.

The GPU has soft heat-conductive foam pads that transfer heat to the metal parts in the base, which conduct the heat away. Over time, these thermal pads shrink, and lose the thermal compound (Silicone?) they were impregnated with at the factory. While it is possible to inspect the foam pads by peering in the slots at the rear of the base, you have to know EXACTLY what you are looking for. Otherwise, you have to dismantle the entire system to see if this could be part of the problem.

My A31p had this problem, and I think it eventually fried the GPU. I replaced the MB, which came with new foam, and all is well. The foam is available as a kit, I believe. You may have to buy the entire service kit, with screws, thermal foam, and all misc hardware parts.

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:27 pm

mediasponge wrote:

The foam is available as a kit, I believe. You may have to buy the entire service kit, with screws, thermal foam, and all misc hardware parts.

Would you happen to have a FRU or P/N for any of this?

mediasponge · #6 Post by **mediasponge** » Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:06 am

The FRU I saw is 46L6362, which consists of:

System board miscellaneous parts for A31, A31p:

* CDC studs
* Insulator for LCD cable
* Separator for fan
* Blank label, docking guide pin
* Insulator for fan opening
* EMI shield for modem/Ethernet cable
* Insulation tape
* Thermal rubber for video
* Thermal rubber for chipset
* Ferrite tyle for video
* Gasket for audio

See:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-41742

You can navigate there from the Lenovo web site using your exact model number.

cmarti · #7 Post by **cmarti** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:09 pm

mediasponge,

Great info! I will check it out.

Thanks

ajkula66 · #8 Post by **ajkula66** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:47 pm

The whole set is still available from IBM for $45...amazing...I'll be ordering some on Monday.

Thanks a zillion, mediasponge.

mediasponge · #9 Post by **mediasponge** » Sat Jan 12, 2008 6:04 pm

Glad to help. On my old one, the damage was already done. I attempted to enhance the cooling by surgically grafting some of the foam from another place on the MB, and shimming the Aluminum base to make better contact, but it was already toast. The foam was actually oozing Silicone, or whatever it is when I first opened it up. Something to keep an eye on in these models. I also tried to find some aftermarket replacement for this foam, to no avail. There are 2 different thicknesses, too.

SaberX · #10 Post by **SaberX** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:06 pm

ajkula66 wrote:The whole set is still available from IBM for $45...amazing...I'll be ordering some on Monday.

Thanks a zillion, mediasponge.

Did you get the "kit" yet? What do they look like? Do you think they are worth getting?
I tryed to get some from the Canadain site and that FRU # wasent on it.
E-bay dident have it eather.

Question about GPU cooling in A31p

Question about GPU cooling in A31p

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