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View Full Version : Laptop over heating. Need methods of cooling.


noidea
10-23-2009, 12:53 AM
Well, the other day I came home and raged at my dad because he turned off my comp (laptop) and I couldnt ssh into it from school. After my rage, he told me that he smelled smoke coming from my room (the electrical kind of smoke. You know how some smoke smells different from other kinds).

Well I didnt believe him, and just decided to keep leaving it on.
I just came home from a meeting at my school, and I came back to Ubuntu giving me all sorts of different heat warnings. Mind this is a laptop - The Graphics card was at 150F, one of my processors was at 178, and the other was at 180.

I already have a cooling pad, the kind with fans. I accidentally broke off a few of the blades, so I hope that doesnt affect the function to much. (rage :<)

I need a new/another method of cooling. I do not need my computer melting, losing my data, and starting a fire.
Can you guys please recommend some new methods. Thanks :)
Infantry001
10-23-2009, 01:08 AM
uhhh... stop leaving your laptop on? XD
Brain
10-23-2009, 01:17 AM
stop breaking blades of your cooling fans? With missing blades (even one blade) it throws the fan out of balance, making it spin slower, and reduces the area to which it moves air. So you hurt it twice. Get a new cooling pad. You could also set up a stand type fan (room fan) and blow it on the comp. Take it apart and remove dust/air dust it out. make sure there is nothing on your desk obstructing air flow. Underclock your cpu/video card.

edit: also, if your dad smelled smoke from outside of the room it would seem like it could be malfunctioning...? Smoke coming from electronics is usually not good
bullzeye95
10-23-2009, 01:19 AM
Try taking it apart and cleaning the dust/hair/whatever out. Schematics and instructions to take it apart can usually be found online.

Edit: Brain won :<
Boreas
10-23-2009, 02:17 AM
Laptops overheating is a fact of life. Laptops smoking is not, get that repaired. Then buy a new cooling pad, the best one you can find if you're gonna be leaving it on all day.
XRaye
10-23-2009, 03:35 AM
My laptop ran for 8 hours with processors at 180 no problem, only use it short-term when it gets up to 190 though. So don't really know the problem there, maybe it is because the fan isn't reaching certain areas.
cycrosism
10-23-2009, 05:00 AM
If you have ever used your laptop on carpet, make sure you don't in the future because carpet fibers can get caught in the fan. If you have, make sure you remove them
Cartmann
10-23-2009, 05:31 AM
i have alot of laptops, 90% of the time it's becouse it needs to get cleaned, take it apart, use some air spray, and voila.
YoHoJo
10-23-2009, 05:56 AM
ROFL looked what popped up as an advert!
http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/imgad?id=CKztxbWt4abFkQEQ2AUYTzIIWZ82RwJLGVE
Brain
10-23-2009, 06:05 AM
LOL, I think the forum know what you need *hint hint*
YoHoJo
10-23-2009, 06:21 AM
Hmm, look at that girl's breasts..... :D hahah!
Rick
10-23-2009, 02:16 PM
If you are using Ubuntu, try out MiserWare (http://miserware.com/), It saves energy by slowing down CPU cycles, etc. Read more on their site. I'm using it and I've had a 40% energy savings since I've started using it. That should help keep the computer cooler than it is right now.
Nava2
10-23-2009, 04:06 PM
http://www.gizmodude.com/2007/10/24/entry_images/1007/24/LED%20Ice%20Bucket.JPG
anonymity
10-23-2009, 05:06 PM
Just throw your laptop in some good'ol cooled oil. I hear it work nicely. http://hackedgadgets.com/wp-content/2/Mineral_Oil_Submerged_Computer_1.jpg
Illidus
10-23-2009, 07:13 PM
I agree keep it off of carpets, and clean it with some compressed air and if they fail get your cooling replaced.
Lance
10-23-2009, 08:44 PM
Or don't run it all day. Your computer should have a sleep option, use that if your going out for a while. It takes 5 seconds to turn sleep option on and 5 seconds to power back up from it.
Bionicle
10-23-2009, 09:34 PM
Throw it in a bucket of cold water.
Rick
10-23-2009, 10:22 PM
Or don't run it all day. Your computer should have a sleep option, use that if your going out for a while. It takes 5 seconds to turn sleep option on and 5 seconds to power back up from it.

I think that defeats what he is trying to do. I'm assuming by leaving it on, and SSH'ing into it, you are running a server ?
Alaska
10-23-2009, 11:09 PM
Eh, I've got sort of the same issue. Mine however, will just shut off randomly if it gets too hot. It doesn't tell me any warnings. This is with Linux Mint. If your laptop isn't raised up off the desk or something, do that. It will help cool it a lot.
noidea
10-23-2009, 11:48 PM
I dont have the money right now to get a new cooling pad. But thanks for the info Brain about throwing it out of balance.

Is it ok to have the graphics card at about 135 F?
I'll also look at that software, thanks rich :)
rogeruk
10-23-2009, 11:51 PM
I dont have the money right now to get a new cooling pad. But thanks for the info Brain about throwing it out of balance.

Is it ok to have the graphics card at about 135 F

Normally anything 75-80c you will see artifacting with some cards. (167 - 176F)

So 135 is pretty cool
bullzeye95
10-24-2009, 12:03 AM
Normally anything 75-80c you will see artifacting with some cards. (167 - 176F)

So 135 is pretty cool

Yes, mine gets in the high 80s and still runs fine. But a processor is different.. at 180F (~82C), it should probably have melted, or at least been damaged in some way. So I think you may be getting bad readings.

But, as mentioned, the first thing you should do, before buying a new cooling pad, bringing it in to get it fixed, etc., is just take it apart and clean it out. I've fixed many overheating laptops by simply cleaning the dust and dirt out.
noidea
10-24-2009, 12:16 AM
Yes, mine gets in the high 80s and still runs fine. But a processor is different.. at 180F (~82C), it should probably have melted, or at least been damaged in some way. So I think you may be getting bad readings.

But, as mentioned, the first thing you should do, before buying a new cooling pad, bringing it in to get it fixed, etc., is just take it apart and clean it out. I've fixed many overheating laptops by simply cleaning the dust and dirt out.

Ok. I'll be happy if it's giving me wrong readings :) Thanks for the help guys.
bullzeye95
10-24-2009, 01:41 AM
Ok. I'll be happy if it's giving me wrong readings :) Thanks for the help guys.

I'm not sure if you took that as "it's probably just giving wrong readings, so there's nothing to worry about" or not, but if you did, that's not what I meant. There's definitely a problem if the computer sporadically shuts off ^_^
NiiX
10-24-2009, 03:01 PM
Throw it in a bucket of cold water.

Dats what I did wit my ol' laptopie, is dead nao.
Dervish
10-24-2009, 03:11 PM
Dats what I did wit my ol' laptopie, is dead nao.

That might have been on joke, yet I hate these posts, no offence... Read http://www.villavu.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=52025 please...
Floor66
10-24-2009, 03:27 PM
Dervish ffs you grammar nazi gtfo thread foo'!~

/thread:
80C+ for CPU is.. lethal? for GPU it's possible with good enough cooling, but maybe the reading you get are wrong... Get a job or w/e for a new cooling pad xD
Dervish
10-24-2009, 03:36 PM
Dervish ffs you grammar nazi gtfo thread foo'!~

/thread:
80C+ for CPU is.. lethal? for GPU it's possible with good enough cooling, but maybe the reading you get are wrong... Get a job or w/e for a new cooling pad xD

If everybody talked leet speak and had no grammar rule respect, how would this forum be ? Like all the other childish forums on the net.

This is easier to read because I actually worried about : punctuation, grammar, and capital letters.

this is not read apealin' cuz i dont giv a shit bout the gramar noob stuf u kno
Floor66
10-24-2009, 04:17 PM
why did you pick exactly this thread though. there's worse out there and Niix was probably just joking.
Cartmann
10-24-2009, 05:28 PM
Some plastic parts in your computer prolly melt at 80c* ??
BTW, have any1 tried removeing the cooling unit and just put it in the refrigerator instead?
Bionicle
10-24-2009, 05:29 PM
Some plastic parts in your computer prolly melt at 80c* ??
BTW, have any1 tried removeing the cooling unit and just put it in the refrigerator instead?

...thats actualy a good idea

EDIT: k not rly
Brain
10-24-2009, 05:45 PM
I highly doubt that near any plastic used in a computer would melt at 80C. That's less than boiling water, I've seen plastic get soft and warp in boiling water, but never melt. Of course I'm sure there are plastics with that low of melting point, I just highly doubt they would fine their way into a computer.
Cartmann
10-24-2009, 05:46 PM
...thats actualy a good idea

EDIT: k not rly

I presume it would work like a cooling tower for a server army.
Migth just be abit too humid, thouge.
Bionicle
10-24-2009, 05:51 PM
@ cartmann, yea lol

@ DDD, bad day?
NiiX
10-24-2009, 07:54 PM
To be serious (DDD) :p

I use a small thing I made in woodshop, its a plastic container the size of the entire PC, made from a mold of the actual PC, I put in cold water or sometimes ice cubes, needs to be emptied ever 3 hours on Performance mode when I'm playing L4D but keeps the PC cool :)

Just my REAL 2 cents :P