T61p heat problems.

This topic probably came up quite a bit but....I've had this T61p for quite a while now and it's suddenly started to get hot when it isn't even under load. I was wondering what the best course of action might be. I've already cleaned the dust out from the case and the air exhaust/fan but that only helped a little. The fan isn't making noises either and seems to be in good condition.

Would applying some new thermal paste (comp is over three years old now) help or would some sort of cooling pad work. I've looked at some but with the air vents on the bottom of this laptop, they don't seem like they would do a whole lot of good.

If anyone could help me out with with questions I'd appreciate it.

 

What kind of temps. are the components reaching? New thermal paste should make a noticeable difference. It also wouldn't hurt to see if something got loose throughout the years. (Like the heatsink.)

Make sure a program in the background isn't making your CPU/GPU work harder than it should, if you haven't already.

 

This laptop is currently idling at 61 degrees (CPU) with the GPU at 54 degrees. While under load, my CPU gets close to 100 degrees but is usually around 95 degrees and the GPU gets close to 90 as well (again both while under load). I don't really have many programs running in the background that would cause much load on the CPU/GPU; I like having only the bare necessities open.

The reason I asked this is because I use this laptop on my lap quite often and I've noticed the temperature difference. When gaming, it's often too hot to even place on my lap and it feels warmer during day to day use as well. I checked the heatsink and it's nice and secure.

 

you need to install tpfc and look up rmclock and undervolt your cpu.

 

Do you know your specs/ambient room temperature? If you have a Penryn CPU then 61C idle is WAY too high (dependent on your ambient).

Ya I would take a look at the thermal paste, as most manufacturers glob on the cheapest stuff and as long as it works til the warranty expires, it does that job. While you are inside repasting, might as well clean up all the dust you can't get to.

 

The room is about room temperature so the ambient temperature isn't that high. I'm running a virus scan right now and the CPU is at 59 degrees so I think my idle may be more like 55 degrees and for some reason it was a little higher last night.

I think I may end up undervolting and see if that helps because I live in a small area and I'll have to wait a bit to get some thermal paste.

 

I've been using tpfancontrol to watch my temperatures. I just tried the program CPUID and it says my idle temperatures for my cores are just 35 degrees. Tpfancontrol says 55 degrees. Is CPUID more reliable than Tpfancontrol?

The THmO and Thm1 temperatures for CPUID are the same as what it says for Tpfancontrol cpu temperature. Like I said above, the core temperatures are significantly different from what TPfancontrol says my cpu temperature is.

 

Definitely get some Artic Silver #5, this machine will cook the GPU and be useless if you allow this to go unchecked.

Also check your production date on the bottom label, if it was built before 08/08 (year/month), then I wouldn't even use it until you get this under control because you probably have a GPU that could fail from heat, leaving your systemboard useless.

This is a nVidia problem, not lenovo's fault, but even with a bad nvidia chip, if you keep it cool, you'll probably be ok.

 

TPFC and CPUID use different thermal sensors. I believe the CPUID one is more accurate because it uses the DTS diode physically on the two cores to monitor temp.. it's faster responding, more accurate, and doesn't reply on any external-to-the-cpu circuitry or sensors. I use coretemp and it works similarly. I'm nost sure about notebooks, but I think on desktops TPFC and others like hwmonitor us the sensor that sits on underneath the heatspreader between the two cores. Don't quote me on that though...

 

MAA83, I'm glad to hear that because there a 20 degree difference in the idling temperature.

I'm currently undervolting and I got the temperature down 8 degrees (when I have the time I'm going to see if I can go further).

I have the Nvidia Quadro FX 570M, what's the temperature range for that GPU? Under load my GPU is currently 81 degrees.

 

I didn't have that GPU, but from what I can glean from the forums, acceptable idle temps are mid 50's to mid 60's depending on ambient temp. Most under load seem to report mid 70's to upper 80's, and are warned if their GPU regularly hit's 90+ under load.

And your CPUID temp readings sound about right. I have a p9400 and I idle around low 30's to low 40's depending on room temperature, and I can't get it past 80 unless I do something intensive when it's already hot, in the car or sun or something.

 

I have a fully packed T61p and it's never had a thermal problem.

Renee

 

Was there a therma pad btw the gpu/hsf and chipset/hsf? I'm thinking it did. I would apply and thicker than normal amount of AS5 on the chipset and gpu die. This worked for my T500.

 

The thermal paste additions found on this board are largely mythology.

Thermal paste does not evaporate or wear. Therefore it's always there on the system.

Renee

 

But cheapo thermal paste can dry up, resulting in a laptop overheating. Also dust, debris can collect.

 

You have me there. I've always built my own desktops and have always used Artic Silver which is on of the best thermal pastes. I've never used a cheap one.

Im certain dust and debris can collect but I've never seen it on any of my systems.

Renee

 

I just fixed a buddy's Thinkpad with the same symptoms.

The fan lube had dried out and the fan was gummed up and spinning too slow to cool the unit. Even the replacement fan he bought was in similar shape since it prolly sat on a shelf for a long time.

I never have found the best oil to use but I have used the following with OK results:

• turbine oil - medium weight (Zoom Spout® motor and bearing oil from appliance part/heating and cooling stores). I use this when I can tear down the fan and clean it first. Mostly use it on 20mm+ fans
  
• Marvel Mystery oil - a bit lighter and has solvents. Good for thinning out old oil and grease.
  
• Sewing machine oil - Lighter than turbine oil and used the same way on smaller fans.
  
• Lighter fluid - used to penetrate and clean dried oil and grease gunk and open the pores in oil soaked bronze bearings. To be followed with oil after fan is spinning freely.
  
  Avoid WD-40 and other spray lubes as they are too thin and evaporate very quickly.

Check fan speed carefully. It may just be gummy enough to go real slow on low settings but seem OK on high (but it will still be slower than it should be).

When I check the exhaust from the laptop I should be able to feel a warm breeze on my face from a couple feet away or I start digging into it.

 

you might find some useful information about cpu temps and tpfancontrol sensors in this thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/lenovo-ibm/552252-new-cpu-my-t61.html