My Samsung Q35 cuts out.... fan related?

I have a Samsung Q35 (have read your review John and found it very interesting!)

I got my Q35 in Jan 08, and I’m just starting to have problems. I am not techy but I am not afraid to tinker around inside a desktop computer (but not a laptop). Anyway, shall keep it brief… computer started to make more noise than usual, fan area, a few weeks back and just switching off with no warning. I opened it up cleaned it with vacuum, but couldn’t take it all apart. This seemed to do the job for about a month. This week though it’s always switching itself off (obviously overheating) and the back gets hot within MINUTES (fan area) of turning the computer on. Then cuts out. If I put the power cable in, it’s worse. I cannot hear the fan going round anymore so I think it’s stopped working altogether!

It also slowed down performance-wise a hell of a lot. Often "hanging".

My questions are

1. Is it easy enough to get the machine apart (I’ve half done it but stopped when it got trickier)
2. Is it easy to replace the fan? Do I need any soldering irons (hope not!) or just a tiny screw driver?!

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated.

If it’s too much of a faff, I’d like to send it off for someone else to – and that said, anyone recommend any good/non rip-off laptop repairers in the UK?

Many thanks in advance for your help guys.

Sandie

 

I support your diagnosis of overheating. Have you regularly used the Q35 on soft surfaces (eg bedclothes) which increases the likelihood of sucking in fluff. Is the fan blowing out hot air, cold air or no air at all? How much air? If the cooling system is clogged then you will get a noisy fan blowing out a small amount of hot air.

Instructions on how to dismantle Samsung notebooks are hard to find. It is a matter of removing all the screws on the bottom, taking out the keyboard and then trying to prise it apart at the seam.

Assuming that the fan is blowing a limited amount of hot air, there are two things you can try before attempting to dismantle the computer.

(i) Form a small hook in the end of a piece of thin wire and go fishing for fluff stuck in the grille inside the exhaust vent. The fluff usually collects between the fan and the grille.

(ii) Get a can of compressed air ( here or here) which has a little pipe to help blast air into the places that you can't reach. The easiest place to start is at the fan exhaust, but this blasts any muck back inside the computer, so remove the memory slot cover so there's somewhere for the dust to come out.

If the fan is blowing cold air then the problem is between the heat sink and the CPU. This will require major disassembly.

If you know that the cooling system is not clogged but the fan is slow and/or noisy then you need to consider a fan replacement. You will not need a soldering iron. The challenge is to find a suitable fan and get the computer apart.

One prophylactic measure is to try to reduce the CPU heat by following the undervolting guide.

John

 

Thank you so much John. I am going to have a bash at the compressed air thingy (ordered today). Have also requested a quote to have it pulled apart and cleaned and the CPU checked (make sure it's not fried)! It's still starting up, and if I put a cold hairdryer on it, it works... but can't be sat with a hairdryer in my hand and laptop in the other!

I have used a tray to put my laptop on, but when I first got it, it was often balanced on my thigh whilst watching TV. I guess it's just a powerful fan and pulled in lots of dust (or I didn't clean often enough!)

Will keep you informed, and again, thank you for the advice.

Sandie