Introduction: Computer (Laptop) Cooling Basics
The cooling of the CPU (Central Processing Unit), otherwise referred to as "The Chip" or to laymen "The Brain" of the laptop is a dilemma that most manufacturers have to face when designing a laptop enclosure (casing) and choosing the correct CPU for it. The cooling is normally performed by a fan and some kind of metal conductor like copper or aluminum called a heat sink. The CPU, and lately the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), are "connected" to the metal heat sink via a thermal grease or compound. This grease conducts heat but not electricity. The "trick" for manufacturers is to get rid of as much heat as possible using as small a fan and heat sink as the CPU will allow. Vents are also cut into the casing allowing the fan to suck cool air from the bottom, force it over the heat sink and blow it out the side or rear thus cooling the CPU and GPU. In more modern times copper is being used as the conducting metal, liquid is "pumped" through the system and radiators and exhaust ports are used just like in motor vehicles. All this to get rid of the heat and make the system run faster.
The Problem
The problem is that over time dust and other particles clog the vents, fan and exhaust port or radiator of the system thus restricting air flow and cooling. This is fixed relatively easily by blowing out the vents and fan with air or using a brush or earbud (Q-tip) to clean away the dust. Remember: In the computer world - DUST DESTROYS! There is however another hidden problem that occurs when computers (laptops) heat up or overheat. They tend to dry out the thermal compound that conducts the heat thus causing the system to overheat more quickly. Luckily most CPUs, GPUs and chip manufacturers have built in protection for this. They step down the operating speed bit by bit until they eventually switch off the CPU and thus the system shuts down. So if you have a computer system that starts working slower and slower and then switches off for no apparent reason, overheating could be your problem.
The Solution
To solve the overheating problem, especially in laptops, I am going to show you how to get to the cooling unit, dust it out, replace the thermal grease and put everything together again. In order to demonstrate this I will be using a friend's LG F1 Pro Express Dual laptop that started exhibiting just such symptoms. It would become sluggish and then suddenly switch off for no reason. This caused him a lot of lost work and a corrupted Outlook PST email file. Here I will show you step by step the solution to this nasty problem.
Interesting Tech Fact: I captured all the pictures with my Samsung Galaxy S cellphone.
The cooling of the CPU (Central Processing Unit), otherwise referred to as "The Chip" or to laymen "The Brain" of the laptop is a dilemma that most manufacturers have to face when designing a laptop enclosure (casing) and choosing the correct CPU for it. The cooling is normally performed by a fan and some kind of metal conductor like copper or aluminum called a heat sink. The CPU, and lately the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), are "connected" to the metal heat sink via a thermal grease or compound. This grease conducts heat but not electricity. The "trick" for manufacturers is to get rid of as much heat as possible using as small a fan and heat sink as the CPU will allow. Vents are also cut into the casing allowing the fan to suck cool air from the bottom, force it over the heat sink and blow it out the side or rear thus cooling the CPU and GPU. In more modern times copper is being used as the conducting metal, liquid is "pumped" through the system and radiators and exhaust ports are used just like in motor vehicles. All this to get rid of the heat and make the system run faster.
The Problem
The problem is that over time dust and other particles clog the vents, fan and exhaust port or radiator of the system thus restricting air flow and cooling. This is fixed relatively easily by blowing out the vents and fan with air or using a brush or earbud (Q-tip) to clean away the dust. Remember: In the computer world - DUST DESTROYS! There is however another hidden problem that occurs when computers (laptops) heat up or overheat. They tend to dry out the thermal compound that conducts the heat thus causing the system to overheat more quickly. Luckily most CPUs, GPUs and chip manufacturers have built in protection for this. They step down the operating speed bit by bit until they eventually switch off the CPU and thus the system shuts down. So if you have a computer system that starts working slower and slower and then switches off for no apparent reason, overheating could be your problem.
The Solution
To solve the overheating problem, especially in laptops, I am going to show you how to get to the cooling unit, dust it out, replace the thermal grease and put everything together again. In order to demonstrate this I will be using a friend's LG F1 Pro Express Dual laptop that started exhibiting just such symptoms. It would become sluggish and then suddenly switch off for no reason. This caused him a lot of lost work and a corrupted Outlook PST email file. Here I will show you step by step the solution to this nasty problem.
Interesting Tech Fact: I captured all the pictures with my Samsung Galaxy S cellphone.
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Signing UpStep 1: Preparing for the Process
Before you start, make sure you have made a backup of all your data files and that if in the unlikely event that something does go wrong, you will be able to restore your application programs and the data. (Tip: Test the data files to make sure they were backed up correctly!)
Make sure the backup is totally separate from your laptop, not on the same hard drive, on an external device like a SD / USB or portable drive.
Prepare an area to work on that is well lit, clean, dry and has enough space. Use a towel or soft cloth under to laptop to protect it because it will be lying on it's screen for most of the time during the procedure. Make sure that nothing you use, even your clothes, generate static electricity. This process will take about 30 minutes.
NOTE: THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY IF YOUR LAPTOP STILL HAS ONE. ASK YOUR SUPPLIER TO DO THIS FOR YOU IF IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY!
Make sure the backup is totally separate from your laptop, not on the same hard drive, on an external device like a SD / USB or portable drive.
Prepare an area to work on that is well lit, clean, dry and has enough space. Use a towel or soft cloth under to laptop to protect it because it will be lying on it's screen for most of the time during the procedure. Make sure that nothing you use, even your clothes, generate static electricity. This process will take about 30 minutes.
NOTE: THIS WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY IF YOUR LAPTOP STILL HAS ONE. ASK YOUR SUPPLIER TO DO THIS FOR YOU IF IT IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY!
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+1
Thanks, just trying to help.
++++
My pleasure!
Many thanks,
T
I am so glad it worked for you. My wife's current laptop is a HP G60-220US. I can feel it is starting to heat up but the HP laptops have millions of screws to take out before you get to the cpu! I will wait until I have more patience for that one. I hope your Lenovo (IBM) Thinkpad SL400 gives you many hours of hassle free operation.
I just rescued my brother's overheating LG F1 Pro by following this tutorial. The instruction is very detail and complete. The 5 year old computer is back to work and current running ubuntu 12.10 I'm very happy with the result. thanks
WingPui
Great! I also have an old LG F1 and have also re-applied thermal compound (grease) to the CPU. Now it runs like a dream. I have XP on mine but Ubuntu should work great on yours. I am glad I could help you save your laptop.
I like your instructable very much. Nice work.
I hate it to void warranties but I also hate it to send away my laptop (which is a most crucial tool to most of us nowadays) for something that you can do so easily yourself.
To bad that every laptop has to be opened differently, so that part might not be helpfull for many people, still, showing that you don't destroy an electronic device automatically by just opening it, will hopefully take the fear from a few people.
One last thing, in my opinion that is way to much thermal grease on that small surface.
Greetings from Germany,
Shah
Currently the maximum operating temperature of the CPU is 65°C.
What I will do now is remove all the thermal grease, only apply a very thin layer and measure again. I will take photos of everything and post them as well.
I read your temperature test. Thank you for trying this out and sharing your results with us. I wouldn't have thought that the difference would be so significant!
I checked on this instructable regularly to see if you had updated it, it has been a while so I thought you had forgotten this. Glad to see you didn't!
Well keep your work up, would like to see more like this.
Greetings
Shah
Maybe you could add a benchmarktest?
Altough I like your approach this might not be considered a proof, yet. But at least a very good indication.
Greetings,
Shah
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/category/overheating-problem/
Sunshiine
the fan never turns off though, its always running. as far as upgrades go on the heatsink and fan, nothing is commercially available and i havent got the tools to fabricate anything myself
i think as far as this laptop goes its good for internet but anything more than that is really pushing it.
I see WAY too much thermal paste there. Loading up with that much is one way to cause over heating.
You only need a tiny amount to fill in what would otherwise be air between the chip and heat-sink which are supposed to be touching each other.
L
I have applied thermal grease to quite a few heat sinks in my time and have never had one continue to overheat although there is always a first time. However, as this is only my opinion, lets put it to the test in the real world in this specific case. My friend, who owns the laptop in the instructable, uses the laptop everyday in his bistro. It is on for about 14 hours a day and runs his business. Previously it used to shut down three, four times a day. Seeing as I did this three days ago, I will monitor and log the status and temperature of the laptop and them come back and publish the findings. That way we will know for sure if I did apply too much.
Thanks for taking the time to read the instructable and adding the help. It is appreciated.
That is what I meant by "way too much".
L
I have know people to replace or re-seat a CPU and find it idle hotter, less thermal paste and they were more like they should be.
Being clogged up with muck is not good for 'em either of course.
L
Ta, 5 deg. is significant.
The more interesting results (for next time) are:
Measure temperature on idle (1) and a standard processor-load (2)
Clean it
Measure temperature on idle (3) and a standard processor-load (4)
Reseat the heat-sink with new paste*
Measure temperature on idle (5) and a standard processor-load (6)
Reseat the heat-sink with new paste*
Measure temperature on idle (7) and a standard processor-load (8)
L
*one time with the amount you use, and the other with 10% of that amount.
thanks.
Also you could check this link, they might have you laptop listed.
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/category/overheating-problem/