Laptop Cooloing Problem? - Toshiba Qosmio G20

[Richard10002]

Not sure if this is boaty but I use the laptop for lots of boaty things so here goes:

Toshiba Qosmio G20 has just produced a pop up which says "problems with the cooling system detected. return for service"

I'm guessing it's something to do with the fan as it has been making a bit more noise than usual recently.

As I am in Portugal, leaving for all points Mediterranean 17 June, I'm guessing returning for service and getting it back will be difficult.

Any suggestions for DIY solution welcomed.

I'll probably have to buy a spare just in case.

Many Thanks

Richard

 

[Talbot]

might be something as simple as a build up of fluff on the fan blades that have unbalanced the mechanism - if you can get at the fan, give them a clean.

 

[webcraft]

It may just be that it is overheating as the ambient temp is higher, or you are using it more intensively (i.e. more applications running at once).

Suggestions in order of increasing effectiveness:

- Don't have too many programmes running at once, as it is processor activity that causes the heat

- Make sure air can circulate underneath the laptop while you are using it

- Sit it on a (sealed) bag of ice or something equally cold, or even a container of water to act as a heat sink

- Buy a dedicated laptop cooler (a platform with fans in that you sit the machine on)

- relocate boat to Scotland

 

[pelicanpete]

It seems to be a common problem with latest generation laptops, so I'm told. Certainly my new one runs much hotter than my 5 year-old. I had to resort to something like this: http://www.xpad4laptop.com/?gclid=CK3Ehpa0qYwCFQS2SgodrW2OIg

It works well, is very light and is powered via one of your USB ports. If you Google 'Laptop pads' or 'Laptop Coolers' you'll get a choice of hundreds! Probably your local computer store in Portugal will have some in stock??

 

[BrendanS]

If the fan is getting noisy and laptop is overheating, it is almost invariably dust as Talbot says. Blow hard into air outlet and if that improves things, get a aerosol of compressed air and give it a good blast.

 

[Drumtochty]

There are two main sources of heat on a laptop. The CPU and the video card.

The video card on this machine is towards the lower end so that will not be the problem.

The CPU in your machine is a Pentium M 2 Mhz which is easily cooled.

Some others have mentioned recent laptops being hotter. The Pentium 4 M processors in Webraft's machine being one. The Pentium 4M was a desktop processors that was not properly designed for laptops They mostly developed heat problems.

The Pentium 4M has not been used for around 4 years.

As a best guess the problem with your machine will be

The heat transfer compound between the CPU and fan drying up.

The fan being faulty or out of balance due to dust.

To dismantle the machine check these sites
http://www.notebookforums.com/thread125870.html
http://www.irisvista.com/tech/

eddie

 

[rhumlady]

When a new processor is released the laptop maufacturers use the ones aailable to get machines on the shelves first. As has been said these are usualy desktop processors which need far more cooling that the later released 'mobile' processors. You can usualy tell if you have a 'desktop' cpu as the fan runs more or less all the time as mine is doing now! You should also make sure you have as much memory as possible to avoid sw3apping programs to and from disk which slows the thing down and heats it up. If you are running XP than the minimum should be 512Mb preferably 1024MB. I don't know what is required with vista, but it will be more like 1024 starting. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Jomo]

Hi Richard,

a number of the more recent Toshibas have large fans (for laptops) to cope with the extra cooling requirements of the modern processors. Some even have 2! The problem with this is that they suck in more dust along with the extra air, and this blocks the fins on the heat exchanger. The fan(s) then have to work harder causing more noise until eventually it gives up. If there is an access plate underneath, just remove this, 4 screws removes the heat exchanger system, clear the air path & Robert becomes your uncle. If yours doesnt have the access plate, unfortunately this usually means a complete strip down to get at the fan & fins. However, any reasonably competent laptop techy should do the job in an hour or so, if you don't fancy it yourself.
If you fancy a crack yourself, just take it steady and keep a track of the screws - a bit like most people here tell me to do when I'm trying to fix somat on me boat!

HTH

Ian

 

[Birdseye]

[ QUOTE ]
If the fan is getting noisy and laptop is overheating, it is almost invariably dust as Talbot says. Blow hard into air outlet and if that improves things, get a aerosol of compressed air and give it a good blast.

[/ QUOTE ]

Give it a blast with your fog horn.

 

[steve28]

I second the soloution provided by JOMO, i have sorted out nearly 80 laptops with this type of problem. Its very common where there is dust and fluff or hairs from pets etc. they just block up the microfined heat pipe, this causes the fan to run all the time(flat out), crashes. reboots etc.


the job JOMO has described should take no more than 15 mins even for someone who hasnt done it before.

ps take the battery out as well before starting




steve