Re-Thermal Paste the CPU

[kunfuchopsticks]

Is it normal to have a X41 overheat if I keep lid closed?

This might be due to old thermal paste getting bad, should I re-apply some arctic silver?

Anyone done this? Thanks!

[sjthinkpader]

You can download the Notebook Hardware Control to monitor the temperature.

Have you set the lid switch function to Standby?

[kunfuchopsticks]

Thanks for reply.

Sometimes I want the machine to be running while the lid is closed- for example when it is in the dock and I have an external monitor.

[sjthinkpader]

By my experience, thermal paste last a long time. A X41 at 3 years old is still relatively young so it is unlikely to have failed. But the fan and general airflow can be obstructed, necessitating cleaning internally.

Did you set the Power Manager to Adaptive instead of Performance?

[Investinwaffles]

Check your CPU temps using notebook hardware control (free).

If it is going over 85*C I would reccomend taking the unit apart, and applying some AS5 to it, and clean out the fan.
The heat sink assembly might not be seated properly also, and in my experiences arctic silver is a much better thermal compound than the factory uses.