Keeping a laptop (relatively) cool on DC

[Ken g6]

So, I just got a new laptop. A refurb core i5-2540M. It's generally very nice.

I installed BOINC on it, along with HWMonitor and CPU-Z to make sure everything was in a safe range, and started PrimeGrid. But temps were getting up to 95C on the CPU! I know tjmax is 100C, but that's closer than I'd like. How can I bring temps down below ~90C while still doing an optimal amount of work?

At default setttings, running 2 LLRs, the CPU turbos to 3-3.1GHz. And so far I haven't been able to slow it to a reasonable speed.

The first thing I looked at was the BIOS. Couldn't find much, except disabling Intel Speedstep works. Brings the speeds down to 800MHz. Keeps the cores at a very cool 50C, but everything else is slower this way. This solution isn't ideal.

Next I tried setting the Maximum Processor State in Windows. Took it all the way down to 40% with no effect.

Next, I tried Speedfan, intending to up the fan speeds. But it can't find any controllable fans. I didn't know if I could use any other parts of it safely.

Currently, I'm running just a single LLR WU on the CPU. Brings it down to 80-85C with turbo at 3.1-3.3GHz. Though closing the lid pushes it back up toward 95C.

My last resort would be adjusting BOINC's % CPU time, but I hear this may be stressful on processors.

So, have you found any good ways to keep a laptop cool-ish doing DC?

 

[waffleironhead]

Have you looked into throttle stop? You can raise the thermal limits, so maybe you can lower them as well.

http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/2288/throttlestop-6-00/

 

[Ken g6]

Thanks! The good news is that there's a Set Multiplier setting, which does what I had been trying to do. Setting thermal limits would be nice, but I don't see how to do that. It won't let me select the TDP Throttle radio button.

Also, PrimeGrid just went down for maintenance and I didn't have a big enough cache. :\

 

[GLeeM]

PrimeGrid on the CPU is probably the hottest running project with Asteroids close behind.

Try one of the cooler running projects?

Is the air intake area clear? Propped up to let air get under?

 

[Ken g6]

Yeah, I know PrimeGrid runs hot. But it's what I want to work on. I found the TPL panel in ThrottleStop, but almost everything is grayed out. For now, setting the multiplier to 28 (2.8GHz) is keeping it under 90C.

I can't exactly find an air intake. It's a Lenovo Thinkpad, and there are lots of little tiny holes on the bottom. I think they may all be air intakes?

 

[Fardringle]

Laptops run warm in general just because there's no room for proper cooling. My wife's does the same thing no matter what I try, so I just ended up getting her a laptop cooler tray. It has a big fan that forces air through the laptop vents. It's still warmer than a PC with proper cooling, but drops the load temperature on the laptop by about 10C.

The intake vent on Lenovo laptops is usually either on the bottom of the case in the back left (basically where your left knee would be when the computer is sitting on your lap, or else on the sides of the case near where the screen attaches to the rest of the laptop.

 

[DooKey]

I use this laptop stand with my Haswell laptop and it works great:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[GLeeM]

I guess I think of PrimeGrid as a Desktop PC project ... aarrgh (a tough manly sound, think Tim Allen in Home Improvement).

And, well, a laptop might do better on a not so tough and cooler running project ()

The right tool ...

Does the fan start making more and more noise as the laptop gets hotter?
Also, the outflow needs to have a clear path just as the intake needs to have a clear opening.

 

[Ken g6]

Does the fan start making more and more noise as the laptop gets hotter?

I think so, a little. It's hard to hear it over my desktop's fans. I can certainly feel more hot air coming out the outflow*s*. It seems to outflow to both the back and the side. I think it was louder when it got over 90C.

I got it working, elevated with good airflow, and clocked so it doesn't overheat so much. So for now I'm happy.

 

[Bradtech519]

I might look into the thermal stop setting on my Surface Pro. I heard there is a fan inside of it but I doubt the tablet form factor is kind to 100% load. Then there is the SSD writes to worry about. I could attach a USB stick to install boinc on.

 

[Ken g6]

Funny you should bump this now. I was just going to post that I discovered a way to turn my laptop's fan speed up to 100%.

I mentioned before that I tried Speedfan, but it didn't find any fans. I guess some laptops have custom fan interfaces. For my ThinkPad, I found software called TPFanControl. (The reason that link says "donate" is that more than half the page is donor recognition. You have to scroll more than halfway down to find anything useful.) Anyway, it took my fan's speed up from 3000RPM to 4500RPM - and I can finally hear the fan. It's now running 2.7GHz at ~75C. The more I look at Sandy Bridge, the more I want to keep it running cooler. But I may run it a little hotter for at least part of the next PrimeGrid race.

@Bradtech519, ThrottleStop can apparently set the multiplier anywhere from the maximum-allowed turbo speed down to the minimum idle speed. So I suggest turning it down as far as you like until you're comfortable with the temps.