D900F/NP9280 shutdown issues - CPU related?

Hello! I recently acquired this Sager NP9280 laptop computer with an i7-920 and GTX 280M, and I'm loving it... when it's working.

When the machine is on, the laptop appears to function perfectly fine. But when temperatures in the CPU go above 60C, the computer will randomly shut down, and will not immediately power on if you attempt to. I have to wait about 5-10 minutes.

This requires me to keep the machine at very minimal CPU usage most of the time, any sort of intense gaming or other rigorous activity puts the computer at risk of this random shutdown. This random shutdown is NOT GPU-related, running FurMark for 20 minutes straight led to no shutdowns. I've placed a small lateral-air direction fan below the hole where there normally wouldn't be a fan, to move air through the lonely heatsink right above the CPU. It seems to help the problem a little, the shutdowns have been less frequent. Removing the temperature probe for the CPU doesn't do anything either, in fact, having it plugged in or not doesn't affect anything at all. I've updated to the latest BIOS (1.0.09) and usually when I start the machine, I run the fans on maximum(Fn+1). Not doing so causes the problem to occur sooner. There is absolutely no artifacting, or other glitches associated with overheating, and the laptop seems to function perfectly fine other than this problem.

I have swapped the RAM around, tried different chargers, and properly applied thermal paste and cleaned out the vents.

I'm wondering what the problem is, and how I can fix it. I suspect it may be an issue with how the BIOS or motherboard reads the CPU temperature, or the CPU itself. I can't think of any other possible issue.

 

Just had a mighty similar issue. The pc would shutdown randomly, sometimes even before entering windows. Turns out one of my RAM modules was bad. Yours does sound like bad CPU or GPU seating on the mobo or perhaps mobo itself?

Have you tried stressing your CPU in order to confirm if it is the root of your problem? Also run memtest for the heck of it. Helped me find my RAM issue.

 

As I mentioned, I have swapped the RAM around. The machine now has completely different RAM that was working fine in another laptop, so RAM *shouldn't* be the issue. I may run memtest just to be sure though.

Whenever I stress the CPU to any degree, the machine does the random shutdown. This includes Folding@Home, PerformanceTest, Burn-In, and even WEI tests can't finish, because one section uses all 4 cores simultaneously, which races the temps past 60C and of course the laptop shuts off.

Putting some video games on higher settings also causes the shutdown. For now-I've discovered most games will run fine as long as they don't consume a ton of CPU, so I have Anti-aliasing/Multisampling turned off.

 

open up the laptop, reseat and repaste the cpu, see if the problem persists?
the shutdowns are complete and sudden right? no errors,artifacts,bsods od anything? just bang poof black, machine off?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

I'd pretty much go with jaybee's suggestion. Please keep us posted.

 

Repasted the CPU, and reseated the CPU several times. It seems to have helped a little, but again, the problem is still there. Indeed-the shutdowns are instant, no glitches or artifacting beforehand at all. No indication that something's wrong.

All the pins in the LGA1366 socket appear to be perfectly fine. None are bent or messed up. I properly applied the AS5, I double checked by removing the heatsink after application, nearly all of the i7 is covered in AS5 and contacting the heatsink.

I think at this point however- it might be heat related... but I just can't tell what, it's all pointing at the CPU, and I've already made sure the CPU is still kept properly cool. And if SpeedFan's readings are accurate, then is a temperature sensor broken? Or a value somewhere not reading correctly? I assume 60C is much too cool a temperature for the laptop to do panic shutdowns.

However-another thing worries me, I tried sleep mode, and the laptop just shut down like it does when it "gets too hot". And if I was stressing it, it begins it's routine of not immediately starting(pressing the power button causes the power indicator to flash, then just turn off again) exactly the same thing happens when I exit the BIOS. Does this sound more like a mainboard issue...? Or can it possibly just be a CPU issue?

Again, I have flashed the BIOS to 1.0.09, so the BIOS *shouldn't* be the issue.

Also-thanks guys for your help, I really appreciate it.

 

Hm, the issue with turning on the PC, the lights flashing and then it shutting down is really similar to my issue I described previously. It was also one of the "signs" of my RAM issue. I don't mean to sound too pushy, but you should really give memtest a go. Because even if you have switched your ram, it might me your motherboard's sockets that might be the issue. I know, a lot of mights. But you really are running out of options for diagnosis. By now, I'd be seriously thinking about RMA... Best of luck!

 

I think what I'll do at this point is try memtest and instead of swapping the RAM, just try running with different slots empty.

I'll report back with the results.

 

I think what I'll do at this point is try memtest and instead of swapping the RAM, just try running with different slots empty.

I'll report back with the results.

(I accidentally dupe posted. Ignore this post and can a moderator please delete this? I haven't figured out how.)

 

ok update: I haven't ran Memtest yet, but I've powered on and ran the machine to Windows with all of the RAM bays empty(ran once with one stick under the heatsink, and another next only below the keyboard) and the issue persisted.

Taking the CPU out and all RAM out, out of curiosity, powering the machine on, it instantly powers on and runs any fans plugged in at high. Same behavior occurs with any stick of RAM plugged in anywhere, but no CPU seated. Running the CPU with no RAM also results in this behavior. However, once I pop in one good stick of RAM, it resumes it's act of not powering on immediately, and when ran to Windows, randomly shutting down.

In this process of testing the RAM bays, at one point the machine ran at 60-70C temps fine(with Folding@Home) and was able to complete the WEI. It eventually shut down though. But I don't know if doing something helped.

 

I've tried Memtest. The RAM passed with no issues right now I don't think this issue is immediately solvable... as I've done everything I can think of with the parts I've got. I'm thinking at the moment the only way to completely get rid of the issue is to get a new mainboard... is there anywhere I can look for parts? There's "AUG '09" stickers all over the insides, indicating the laptop is well out of it's serviceable lifespan. Unless I'm wrong... I was hoping to make this my first legitimate Sager to own.

But I suppose at this point... I'd have to ask: What do you guys think is the source of the problem? Will replacing the mainboard definitely do it? Is there something else I'm missing? And also-what's the best place to find parts for an NP9280/D900F? I noticed ebay and a quick google yields nil.

The laptop is perfectly usable, I just need to keep it away from high CPU loads. I suppose I'm fine until the problem can be solved.

 

Would it be possible for you to ask a friend or collegue with a compatible CPU to lend to you, so as to determine if the issue is your CPU or not? Prior to getting a new motherboard, I'd exhaust all of the cheaper alternatives. As you well said, buying a new board without knowing exactly what the issue is will do you no good. You could also take it in for an out-of-warranty check. It will probably cost you (here it's about 50€ but you'd end up knowing what the issue is. Honestly, I'm running out of ideas...

Best of luck!

 

If it takes the Xeons that X58 supports - I suppose I can fetch a W3503(I noticed they go for $30-$40 on ebay) and see how that does. None of my friends have LGA 1366 desktop computers, and I don't have any processors that will fit.

I was kinda hoping to upgrade at some point anyway, to a W3570(if it takes Xeons). But I'll keep an eye out for options considering swapping the CPU.

 

So no rhyme or reason to the shutdowns? I recall a system that would shut down on me whenever running anything that required MMX. Your CPU does indeed sound faulty. I hope you can get your hands on a new one to test!

 

Nope. It's the weirdest thing I've ever seen. However your theory on MMX sounds kinda on the dot, the machine shuts down whenever 3-4 of the cores go into full load(so chances are, some instructions will be a bit fancy), or it'll shut down when something internet or browser related is opened(after periods of idling, if I open a webpage with a lot of content on it. This doesn't happen every time, and it's only happened a few times.)

I am indeed getting a new CPU, I've bought a W3503 Xeon online for really cheap... I'm hoping the laptop will boot with it just fine, and it'll solve the issue. If it does, I'll have to run on the Xeon until I get the CPU I wanted to upgrade to.

 

Keep us posted. I'd like to know whether that's the fix or not. The Xeon is a solid CPU, so I hope it works for you!

 

Good news- the CPU came in, and the computer booted right up. Both the trouble powering on issue, and the random shutdown issue haven't occurred at all in the past 30 or so minutes that I've been using the laptop. And I've been pushing it, I've got Skype, Zune, and Minecraft all open and SpeedFan shows the CPU touching high temps.

So it seems the CPU was the issue. Meaning right now I've got a bust i7-920. Very intriguing... but hey. At least it's fixed.

I plan to upgrade to a W3570 as mentioned, or a hex-core i7 if one goes for cheap enough.

 

Glad you got to determine the cause of the issue once and for all . At least for now, you got a working pc!

 

Indeed, I guess I can confirm 100% that the issue has been solved. None of the issues have occurred at all, the laptop functions exactly as it should, and works like a charm.

I'd like to thank all you guys who poked their heads in with the advice they had to give. It helped a lot, and you have no idea how happy I am to have a laptop this good to use for school.

I have ordered a W3570, and just a heads up to other D900F/NP9280 owners out there running on lesser power, the Xeon W3570 appears to be the most powerful for your money.

 

Good to hear! Thanks for the follow up, Medessec!