Thermal Paste

Hi all,

I am the same confused and baffled guy who left the post MT6460 - power capacitor

Anyway, here is another question I really need help with...


I noticed that there is no thermal paste on the aluminum of the heatsink attached to the processor. I haven't taken the heatsink and fan off since my sister bought it years ago, and it worked fine up until this problem - a rebooting loop with no post (maybe after the years it goes away or it was such a thin layer I can't see it). If I put thermal paste on the heatsink, could that possibly fix the problem? My guess is unlikely, but maybe someone out there really knows??

Maybe it is overheating, because if I reset the bios it will work for an hour, then freeze. then it will boot up and run for maybe 15 minutes, then crash. It will do this maybe 3 times before it goes into the rebooting loop with no post. At that point, the only way to get it to work again is to reseat the processor and reset the bios.

If a computer constantly crashes from overheating, Is it possible the computer sends a command to the bios to just shut down and not post anymore until the bios is reset?

I would check the temp, but I already started reinstalling the OS, so I can't put any programs into it in that hour or so window it gives me. I need this time to reinstall Vista. Also can't find temps in the bios.

I'm going to get to the store and buy some thermal paste in the next few days. But i also don't know about the GPU. It has one of those bubble gum pad heat sinks. Should I put thermal paste on the rubber heat sink as well, or should I somehow remove the rubber heatsink, or just leave the gpu heatsink alone. There seems to be no damage or bad wear and tear on the rubber pad. I'm just wondering what is the optimal thing to do.

I'm guessing the GPU isn't the cause of the problem, but I figure if I'm in there anyway with paste in my hand, I might as well service that area as well. Thanks!!

 

Yes heat can shut it down.

I don't know what you have for a laptop but actually the GPU is probably a big source of heat but the pads can be hard to find so I would leave it alone. If for some reason you damage the pad beyond use, a glob of thick TIM like Arctic Ceramique can work. Copper shims work, etc.

 

Thanks Syngensmyth. The pads have no visible signs of damage, so I won't mess with it.

I'll get my thermal paste on Friday, then I'll reinstall the OS if it gives me enought time, then install speedfan right away and check the temps. Usually I've been installing the vista updates because I thought it was fixed. Even if the paste doesn't fix it, I should have enough time to install just the disk of vista and then speedfan. I just hope the paste just fixes everything.

 

HWMonitor is another good little temp monitoring program that does not require any installation.

 

Strange...

I bought thermal paste and applied, and used different memory. It crashed with the strange screens, same as before.

So I put the original memory back in, then decided to try installing Vista one more time so I could take a picture of the bizarre screen and post it here.

Well, it installed successfully. Right after I installed Vista, I downloaded Speedfan, I got these temps -

HD0: 45C
Temp1: 49C
Core 73C

So I shut it down right away to let it cool down. I guess tomorrow I will install the updates.

Any suggestions of precautions I should take now, or just go for broke and see when it crashes again? I would say I applied the perfect amount of paste, just a half a grain of rice, maybe less.

I was thinking it might runn hot from installing the operating system which takes an hour or so, but 73 C is pretty hot.

 

Found this guide on the site. Never heard of "undervolting" before.

I'm going to give it a try tonight.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...arket-upgrades/235824-undervolting-guide.html

 

Download RealTemp and post the temperatures of both GFX card and CPU.

Your HD temperature is fine but your CPU temperature is way too hot. Have you removed the pad covering the chipset by any chance when you were applying thermal paste?

A laptop does not require undervolting unless you're an enthusiast who wants slightly better power consumption rates.

 

I like undervolting laptops but to each his own.
HWMonitor

 

I heard undervolting lowers the temp 10-15 degrees without any loss of performance. They just factory set all the chips to a very high voltage standard, so you can lower it a ton.

 

Well, that didn't work. I got it to install Vista, but it still freezes after 40 minutes or so, with a goofy looking screen. It also won't post 99 out of 100 times.

I am going to order a new motherboard, I am assuming that's the problem. Do you think it is the motherboard or the CPU?

 

Probably the video card overheating, not the CPU. Try jamming some thermal paste onto the pad .