High GPU temperature?

[marik123]

I recently bought a used T60P on ebay for $193. When I received it in the mail, the fan was making a grinding noise so I took it apart and try to fix it myself. To my surprise the interior is filled with heavy dust so I spent my time and clean everything up. I took out the heatsink and dissemble the fan, add 1-2 drop of synthetic motor oil in and put it back with fresh layer of arctic silver 5. Everything was great and the fan is silent again. The CPU temperature is relatively low at idle, roughly about 37C. The GPU on the other hand is about 62C, is that normal? I only have a chance to stress the CPU in prime95 blend and it got all the way to 79C max, haven't try to stress the GPU as I'm afraid to burn it out.


Specification for the T60P

Core Duo T2500 2.16ghz CPU
3GB DDR2-533 RAM (2gb + 1gb and it works in dual channel mode to my surprise)
80GB 5400 RPM SATA HD
DVD/CDRW Combo
14.1in SXGA+ Display
256MB FireGL V5200

[Totoro-kun]

Hello,
I am a computer technician and dust in heat sinks is a very common problem. Not many people knows that they should clean their computers once in a while. And since I live in Lithuania, I do not see many Thinkpads. People here seem to prefer cheap stuff over quality. But I can tell that ~60C idle temp on better GPU's is quite common to me. I did not had any T60/T60p but i did measured a lot of various laptops and those that have higher class GPU, ussualy also have higher idle temp.

But IF it turns out that 62C for T60p GPU is actually too hot, then there can be only one cause - the heat sink it self. It is common for the heat pipes to lose ability to transfer heat and there for they no longer can cool down CPU/GPU. However I would wait for T60p owners to comment on this, before jumping into this conclusion.

Best Regards,
Egidijus

[mpcook]

I think that is pretty good for GPU temps, but I'll let others give their opinion. I do not have my T60p any longer but it ran quite a bit hotter than that.

[marik123]

I ran OCCT GPU stress test for 3 minutes and it shoot all the way upto 90C, I stopped there for safety. Should I get a new thermal pad for the GPU and chipset? The heatsink and fan is perfectly clean as I took it apart and blow out all the dust.

[Totoro-kun]

Good morning,
Can you run OCCT GPU stress test again, and this time check if the air flow from fan blows hot air? If there is problem with heat pipes, then the fan should blow fairly cold air when the GPU is actually hot. As for 90C this is not uncommon temperature for powerful GPU to operate in. You should also see if the temp is stable after 90C. It is normal for CPU/GPU to "jump" into high temps when the full load is present, and if everything operates correctly, then temp should not go much higher than 90-92C and once you stop the load it should cool down fairly quickly to 60C. If it behaves like that, then I believe you do not have a problem. Plus in real life situations, you do not keep your CPU/GPU under continuous full stress, and these chips can handle occasional high temp.

But this is the reason I like Integrated graphics from Intel. They are MUCH cooler, there for laptop is more pleasant to use. And it has adequate power for all the things you would want to do on a laptop. And gaming on laptop is a silly idea anyway, we have huge desktops for that and they do have much better power to price ratio

Best regards,
Egidijus

[marik123]

I ran OCCT again and it went all the way to 93C at 3 minute mark, I stopped there. I put my hands next to the air vents and the air feels warm, not as hot as if I run prime95 blend with it. The GPU cool down to 70C or less within 2 minutes. What I don't understand is how come there is a huge temperature difference between the CPU and GPU if they both share one heatsink?

[Totoro-kun]

The differences between CPU and GPU temperatures mainly comes from the heat sink design. If we would look into T60/T60p heat sink We would see two heat pipes, one bigger, one smaller. Bigger (more effective) is used to cool down CPU, and the smaller goes to GPU. That is why more powerful GPU works in higher temperatures than does CPU.

If GPU is under load and you can feel only warm air flowing out of heat sink, then it is possible that your Heat sink is defective (the GPU heat pipe can no longer transfer heat effectively). That happens if computer is used for a long time with a lot of dust in the heat sink. The heat pipes then overheat a lot and there for loose their conductive properties. One way to tell for SURE, is to measure temperature on heat pipe part that is directly on the GPU and on the part that is close to fan. But this involves running laptop half opened, so there is risk of harm to you or your machine. Also I do not recommend touching the heat sink while GPU is under load, you can get burns

It would be good if other T60p users would comment about temperatures of their machines, so it would be possible to compare and come to conclusions. Mean while, I would advise to start looking for heat sink replacement options, sounds like you might need it.

[Harryc]

If you want to get to the bottom of the situation, replace the current heatsink with FRU# 41W6407. It has a better design than the original, assuming you have the original 41V9932.

[mbarker]

It would be good if other T60p users would comment about temperatures of their machines, so it would be possible to compare and come to conclusions. Mean while, I would advise to start looking for heat sink replacement options, sounds like you might need it.

I have both T60 and T60p. The T60p is actually much better behaved, CPU runs about 47 degrees and GPU around 62, at idle or web browsing. It only sometimes runs the fan, and it is quiet....level 1 @ 2899 rpm.

The T60 (with ATI X1400) is super annoying because even though the CPU is only around 49, the GPU tends to be around 78 or 79 which of course makes the fan run on all the time (level 3, 3424rpm). I REALLY wish there was a way via software to make the darn thing (GPU) just settle down when it is not being pushed. I mean, I am not really asking anything of it....why can't it just be cool?? I've cleaned the dust out of the T60, but have not messed with the heatsink....I'm not sure if that is something I can handle or not.

[Colonel O'Neill]

The T60 (with ATI X1400) is super annoying because even though the CPU is only around 49, the GPU tends to be around 78 or 79 which of course makes the fan run on all the time (level 3, 3424rpm). I REALLY wish there was a way via software to make the darn thing (GPU) just settle down when it is not being pushed. I mean, I am not really asking anything of it....why can't it just be cool?? I've cleaned the dust out of the T60, but have not messed with the heatsink....I'm not sure if that is something I can handle or not.

Set Catalyst's PowerPlay to Maximum Battery Life on both AC and battery.

[dr_st]

If you want to get to the bottom of the situation, replace the current heatsink with FRU# 41W6407. It has a better design than the original, assuming you have the original 41V9932.

The way I understood, this is somewhat disputed. It was suggested (there is a thread, I'll look for it later) that the 41V9932 is actually better in cooling the GPU, because the CPU heat pipe does not come all the way around, leaving better cooling exposure for the GPU heat pipe.

I recently replaced a 41V9932 with a 41W6407, and it seems to me that CPU temps went down a bit, while GPU temps went up a bit (this is with an X1400). In any case the difference is a few degrees tops, so may be within a margin of error. They are probably both fine heatsinks.

The T60 (with ATI X1400) is super annoying because even though the CPU is only around 49, the GPU tends to be around 78 or 79 which of course makes the fan run on all the time (level 3, 3424rpm).

I really don't see the GPU on this machine running so high while idling, unless something is wrong with the heatsink or the GPU thermal pad the way it makes contact with the GPU. I would look into this matter - these temperatures are far from healthy.

[mbarker]

Set Catalyst's PowerPlay to Maximum Battery Life on both AC and battery.

I don't have the CCC since I am running Win7 and I am not sure if they are compatible. Anybody know if they are?