SONY VAIO SZ320P Laptop

I've had this laptop for a little less than 4 years. No real problems to report. It runs on Dual core processor and Windows XP SP3. For awhile it used to make a lot of noise and it got hot. The noise issue would come and go, figured it was just the processor. Now all of the sudden the noise stopped. Got speedfan to see what temp was and my core 1 is about 87C. (i can post more temps later, but currently am at work). Now i don't know if i should worry and purchase a fan? or just get an external cooling fan since i plan on getting new computer in about a year.

Now if the problem is the fan, does it matter what fan i purchase or can it be generic. I guess what i need to know if this is common for sz320p's or if i should worry. Laptop still runs fine, never shuts off for any random reason (except for snood), Loads programs fine, and i never get a blue screen.

 

My SZ3VP is over 2 years old, and last Christmas the fan mysteriously stopped working (thus temps went up to 80+). I removed the heatsink cover on the underneath of the laptop, removed the heatsink itself and went to town with a can of air. It blew out the equivalent of a small dog in hair etc, and it turns out it was a particularly large clump of dust that had seized the fan. So afterwards, everything was fine and temps were even lower than before thanks to a lack of dust.

However recently I had to remove the heatsink again to get at a piece of paper that got in there and started making noise. The thermal paste on the processor is now fairly dusty and ineffective, and removing the heatsink again has dislodged most of it, so temperatures have increased by about 10 degrees and the fan is on constantly as a result. I have a tube of Arctic Silver on the way so that should do the trick nicely.

I've never heard of mechanical problems with the fan on the SZ so I'd be surprised if yours has packed up completely, it might be dust etc. I don't think a generic fan replacement would work, it seems to be custom. It's also bloody tricky getting at the fan in order to replace it. Best of luck.

 

How do you remove heatsink on laptop and where is the heat sink located?
If you know of a site online that details how to do this on a sony vaio that would be greatly appreciated. (all the web sites online seem to be for dells, hp, or toshiba)

 

Sounds like a dirt/dust issue try a good cleaning with canned air...if the problem continues then it's time to replace...sony doesn't sell the fan but the assembly...I recommend getting a OEM Sony part and not a 3rd party.

 

Its a real pain in the ... to replace the fan. Needs a total disassembly. There is a two models and you HAVE to get the right one for you model otherwise it won`t fit without cutting!

TOSHIBA MCF-519PAM05 (For SZ1-3 Models)
TOSHIBA MCF-523PAM05 (For SZ4-7 Models)

 

Hey I have a Sony VGN-SZ360P, and the fan is making such a loud wavering buzzing sound, I'm sure that it's about to die. I'm about to order a new replacement fan, but I've heard that the SZ series-7 fans are a lot quieter (especially when running at high speeds). Is it possible to order one of those and make it fit? Also a friend has a series-2, can that also fit a series-7 fan?

Cheers!