Pi1505 - CPU Overheating?

Hi

I've just purchased one of these Amilo Pi1505 with the Core 2 Duo T7200 processor.

Besides a problem with hibernation on windows, I don't have any complain so far...but there's something I'm worried about:

After installing Notebook Hardware Control, I realised the CPU gets way too hot...

Making the story short, if I do a burn test to the CPU using 2 instances of Prime95, the CPU temperature only stabilizes at 83ºC (20ºC ambient) with the fan at maximum speed. Nevertheless, I've never experienced any shutdown or freezes during the burn test...

During normal operation, temperature oscillates between 55ºC and 65ºC (fan kicks in at 65ºC, forcing the temperature to lower until 55ºC).

I wonder what will happen during Summer, when temperatures tend to reach 35ºC...aren't these temperatures a "bit" higher than they should be?

Is there anyone out there with this specific model (or even with a different CPU) that can tell his experience with CPU temperatures?

 

Welcome to NBR!

I am shocked by seeing those temperatures. We, Notebook Solutions, have sold several Pi1505 notebooks (with T2050 1.6 GHz Core Duo though) and they ran actually pretty cool. Not very cool but no overheating for sure.

What you have here is not good. Hovering between 55* and 65* is just way too high. My fan kicks at 51* (like all notebooks of FSC I tested, do not remember the Pi 1505 though) and that is the way it is supposed to be.

The T7200 is a high end processor (and can run hot) but these temperatures are too high. During summer (last summer it was 35* here in Holland) you will not be able to work with your computer (shut downs, very uncomfortable to work with due to the extreme heat that the notebook generates).

I really recommend you to call to F&S Computers and tell them your problem. Just say that 55-65* is too hot for running idle (insist at this point, some FSC people are not real hardware experts).

But first of all this: are you running the notebook on a hard surface (table and not a bed or something). Are you blocking the fan? Have you tried any BIOS updates (may solve problem)?

Good luck!

Charlie

Edit: I forgot the most obvious question: does the notebook feel hot (downside)? If it does not feel extremely hot then it could be a bug in NHC. Try Everest or Mobmeter.

 

First of all, thanks for the quick reply

Concerning your questions:

- Laptop is running on hard and flat surfaces, always. I'm extremely careful on this matter

- BIOS is updated (I updated it even before I was aware of this temperatures)

- The notebook doesn't feel really hot. I would say warm (even at downside, it doesn't get extremely hot). From my experience with laptops, I would say the external case temperature looks perfectly normal.

I'm downloading everest and mobmeter right now. I'll let you know the results from these utilities.

Thanks for helping

 

Well...unfortunately, NHC has no bug at all...every three utilities do the same readings...

Considering this is abnormal, what can be wrong here? Is there anything I can do by my own to avoid returning the laptop to FS? (I've read some horror stories, including scratches and damages to the body made by the service personnel...I'd rather exclude everything I can do without voiding the warranty than returning it to thew warranty and get the laptop damaged in other areas...)

Any suggestions?

 

Well, no need for further suggestions...

I finally found the laptop is indeed suffering an overheating problem. After finding some articles on Thermal Throttling, I used Intel Thermal Analysis Tool and RMClock to track down if the CPU was performing any kind of throttling and it was in fact...

After reaching 80ºC core temp, the CPU starts throttling down the speed (it lowered until 1600MHz and sometimes 1300MHz). That's why I was seeing the temperature stabilizing at 83/84º on NHC.

I'll be returning the laptop tomorrow to the local dealer

Unfortunately, this must be some kind of problem related to the factory heatsink or thermal compound. I cannot even think on accumulated dust, since the laptop has barely 3 weeks...

Always heard that you get what you pay...couldn't agree more on this...


Thanks for the help

 

No problem Bulldozer we are here to help.

I feel very sorry that you had to bring back your new notebook. Like you said it must be something to ddo with heatsink or thermal compound. Maybe they forgot to put on cooling paste.

You did a good thing by bringing back the notebook. Are you going to buy a replacement now?

Charlie

 

It probably is just a thermal interface problem. The paste they use on most notebooks can come loose, but the probability for this happening is quite low, particurly if you have only owned the notebook for a few weeks. But it is known to happen, and it is isn't limited to just Fujitsu Siemens, it happens to almost all manufacturers, depending on how good their construction and quality control. Alternativel, it could just be that the thermal interface wasn't applied properly.

 

Unfortunately, I can't afford to buy a replacement. I'll have to wait for news from FS...

When I was at local dealer to open the warranty case, I was able to test one similar notebook they had there: Amilo Pi1505. Exactly the same model, with the same specs except for the CPU: mine was a T7200 and that was a T5500.

I've started 2 instances of Prime95 and ran MobMeter, and the temperature has raised to 75ºC...Curiously, the fan kicked-in at exactly the same temperature: 65ºC (and after I stopped the tests, it kicked-off at 55ºC...precisely the same behavior).

Honestly, I'm starting to suspect this is some kind of design issue with these Pi1505...this notebook I tested (T5500) can also easily hit higher temperatures during Summer. Probably they are using inadequate heatsinks for C2D processors...I don't want to think this is a misassembly issue related to thermal compound. It would be way too much irresponsability...

I sincerely hope the technical support do not dare to tell me that this is a regular behavior for this notebook...

Let's wait to see

 

Well...unfortunately, the technical support let me down... :-(

The notebook was returned and they claim they have not experienced any abnormal temperatures...I sent printed screenshots of Intel TAT temperatures reaching 83/84ºC, with the CPU throttling down the frequency...they said the CPU never got hotter than 70/72ºC...most probably, their stress test tools don't even put both cores at maximum utilization.

At the very moment I tested the notebook at the local store, I managed to get 86/87ºC in less than 5 minutes of testing with Intel TAT...

Conclusion: I contacted the technical support myself, and their are going to test the CPU again...and if they get to the conclusion that this is normal behaviour for this model, they will get in touch with Fujitsu Siemens in Germany...

I don't expect an happy end... :-( I'm very disappointed with the lack of knowledge shown by the technical support...