g73jh fans not running

Hello everyone, I have been having some problems with my g73jh laptop recently. It started off with it overheating multiple times when I was playing a game. Not a very graphically intensive game but it overheated again almost immediately.
That's when I noticed that the fans weren't blowing any air or running at all when I was using the computer. The GPU was idling at 109 degrees, so I figured I'd just not turn the computer on anymore until I can get it fixed.

Is there something that I can do without sending the laptop into a repair shop? I can take apart a desktop just fine, but I've seen the disassembly video and that is terrifying to me. I just want to know if there is anything i can test out before i go to any extremes. If there is any more information you need to help me, please just let me know and I'll try my best to get it.

Thanks so much,
jk102393

 

Although you say the fans aren't running are you sure the CPU one isn't going? When I had the stock CPU mine was often off or going so slow you wouldn't know it was on.

To test if the CPU fan is going you could always boot in battery mode so the GPU runs at low clocks, then run a CPU stress test quickly and see if the fan clicks on. If the CPU and GPU are both dead then it is something other than a simple dead fan.

If it was me I'd buy a replacement GPU fan, and install that as it's a cheap fix. At the same time you could repaste your GPU and CPU. And clean the dust out of the heatsinks and off the fan blades.

If you study the guide to disassembly, and use them in conjunction with the BTOtech video it isn't too bad to take apart. The keyboard is a pain, but you'll get it off ok if you go slow. Also the speaker plug needs extra caution. I thought it was going to be awful but wasn't too bad, I like to take my time and be methodical so takes awhile but managed twice with everything perfect.

 

Well it seems like I over exaggerated a bit and you were right. It seems like it was a combination of bad airflow under the laptop, my fans running at a lower speed than I expected, and my own impatience. After waiting for it to completely cool down for a few hours, the temperature re-stabilized at an idle of ~60 degrees. Also, I took a quick run to the store and bought a cooling mat for it which brought it down even further to around 53. I guess I was just in a real panic, but this forum has helped me so much with the problems I've had before so I jumped on here out of desperation. At least I won't have to tear this thing apart to repaste it just yet.
One last thing though, it isn't possible to increase the fan speed for the g73jh is it? I really don't mind the sound if it is.

Thanks so much for your help though. I'm glad there is such a big community to support people in need with their g73s. I know I probably wouldn't have one anymore if there wasn't.

 

I don't know if you can force the fans high... though as I recall updating the vbios to the more recent one reduced the temperature at which they ramped up. I presume you have updated the the latest vBios and BIOS? To get up to over 90, let alone over 100 as you were, something is not right with the cooling. Idling at 109c must have been a stopped fan at the time, as you can have the GPU at 80C when gaming, and within a minute or so of stopping it will drop down to usual idle of 50C or so if the fan is working. So even if the temp got high when gaming, when you stopped and looked at idle temp it should have been down 20C or so pretty much right away if the fan was working! If you haven't updated them then hit the "read this first" section, and make sure you use a fat32 USB drive method.

One thing that would be interesting would be to use the logging on HWinfo64, which records the rpm of GPU and CPU fan, as well as all the temps. If you enable the logging then try a game as well as usual use, and the temps go up, you can see if the fan stopped rotating when the temp was high.

Although you aren't keen to open it up yet I hope at least you have given it a dusting with a compressed air can in the vents. That's a safe way to shave off some temp in the short term.

I reckon you will need to take it apart some time soonish, as the stock paste starts degrading and temps creep up even with other cleaning. Once I manned up and did the repaste I wished I'd done it earlier, as the temps went right down to below when it was brand new. I would say if you're not confident you could get a computer store to do, but I honestly think if you do it carefully yourself you will probably get a better result with less risk of damage than a store being paid by the minute! Just look at some horror stories of when people send back to ASUS for a repaste, and get a crap result and other bits stuffed up. No one will treat it with more care than you yourself.

 

Definitely give it a good dusting. The fact that you don't feel air coming through the vents could simply be extremely clogged heatsinks.

 

Absolutely. Can of compressed air will probably fix all.