R40 Overheats and kills video

Message

rolfsing · #1 Post by **rolfsing** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:37 pm

Hi - I'm pretty much a novice, though I've been around computers for years, so can follow direction well. My R40 started getting very hot about a year ago. At that time the video would die after a couple of hours. Now it takes only 10 or 15 minutes. The fan no longer comes on except at startup. It stopped recently - and it used to be on all the time it seemed. I've tried downloading the fan control software mentioned in this forum and before I can get it set up, the thing goes haywire. The video goes all striped - and changes as time goes on. If I can get it on an ice-pack early enough, I can actually get 15 or 20 minutes out of it. Any ideas? While I wait, I will attempt the install of the fan control. I'm sure that will help some. Thank you so much for your help,
Rolfsing

ajkula66 · #2 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:42 pm

Welcome to the forum!

Can you please post the 7-character model number of your R40, it should be something like 28??-???

I'd start with cleaning/replacing the fan. What you've been seeing on your LCD may be a sign of a graphic card failing due to the overheating.

Instructions on replacing the fan can be found in the HMM that you can download from here:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-45899

Good luck.

sarbin · #3 Post by **sarbin** » Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:44 pm

welcome to the forum.

if you're comfortable with some fairly straightforward disassembly, have a look at the r40 hardware maintenance manual: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-45899 and pull the keyboard and keyboard bezel. you may find a fair amount of dust in and around the fan/cpu area. a good clean-out can do wonders to bring the heat down. just remember to ground yourself before touching any of the internal components and to be gental around the pcb traces. if that doesn't do it, it might be time for new thermal compound between the cpu and heatsink/fan, but try the easy step first.

hth.

[...doh! George beat me to it!...]

rolfsing · #4 Post by **rolfsing** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:06 am

Thanks for the quick reply! It's a 2681. I've taken off the keyboard and the fan and the rest of the thing look remarkably clean - not a speck of dust - amazing, given how badly I treat the thing. The fan comes on at boot but not for long. Should I still clean it? S'pose it wouldn't hurt.
Thanks,
Rolfsing

ajkula66 · #5 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 12:12 am

At this point I'd replace it. Make sure you use Arctic Silver when time comes for re-installing the fan...

You shouldn't be running this machine in its current condition IMO. Order the fan, replace it and hope for the best.

And, of course, let us know.

vlyne · #6 Post by **vlyne** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 6:04 am

I hope it isn't, but it sounds suspiciously like the GPU problem (see T4x sticky). I have one of these R40 with a similar problem. The sticky notes help for a while but it gets worse with time. Take a deep breath and get that heat gun out...
Cheers

sarbin · #7 Post by **sarbin** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 7:57 am

@rolfsing...
out of curiousity, do you know what bios and ec versions you're running?

see: http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site. ... MIGR-46024 for the latest.

i *would not* recommend trying to update either at this point, as your machine is shutting itself down because of the excessive heat. if it were to shut down in the middle of an update, it could brick the machine.

pt1209 · #8 Post by **pt1209** » Thu Aug 14, 2008 2:41 pm

I have the same laptop (R40 2681), and like you I thought the fan was shot because it didn't kick on but after installing TPFanControl it purrs at my will. I'm surprised you can't get TPFanControl installed in just a couple minutes, it definitely keeps the cpu much cooler(I set my TPFC to manual/fan 5) which keeps it around 35-39C. You can't get TPFanControl installed before the vid acts up?? I'd be worried your cpu or graphics processor is on it's way out.