Overheating Laptop

[mrlayance]

The Laptop I am working on is a ThinkPad i Series 1400 366 Cel

When you fire it up it last for about 45minutes. Then freezes, then it will run for 5 minute intervials and freeze. I have not looked inside the laptop yet. I don't think this one has a fan or anything like that. Any ideas no how to cool it down?

 

[OldSpooky]

My friend says the 1400 i series is hopelessly badly engineered. If the system has no fan, the best you can do is operate it in a room with a low ambient temperature.

I would advise you to simply buy another notebook...

 

[MedicBob]

If you do take it apart clean it out. Dust can and will block the heatsinks.

 

[DaveSimmons]

If cleaning doesn't work:

You could search auctions / completed auctions on eBay to see what the parts are worth -- you might get a decent start towards buying a Hot Deals laptop if people are paying enough for the screen, drives, RAM (if there's RAM besides the onboard). The motherboard may be faulty so be careful about selling it.

Since it's a laptop I'm pretty sure you can't underclock it (unless there are clock-multiplier jumpers on the mobo) and it's probably not worth trying to find a 300 MHz CPU replacement (especially since it's probably soldered in place).

[ ed ] it might also work to perform surgery on it as a last resort, something goofy like cutting you own holes and gluing on a little fan to the outside of the case. I take no responsibility if this destroys it

 

[mrlayance]

I know I can't sell it. I work for a non-profit company. We need all the resources we can get.
I will try and clean it out alittle more.

 

[topaz22]

anyone used a laptop cooler before?

 

[MedicBob]

I think it would work. How well would be determined by your laptop. Is there vents underneath for the air to get to? Where are the air intakes and how well do they line up to the cooler.

Pretty good idea though, IMHO.

 

[Gunbuster]

My friend says the 1400 i series is hopelessly badly engineered

If you do take it apart clean it out

If you are not a pro at working/taking apart (and putting back together) laptops the 1400 series is NOT the place to start, as OldSpooky said that thing is a mess.

 

[mrlayance]

I wonder if that Laptop Cooler would make any difference?
Also, Do you think running XP would add extra workload to the laptop causing it to overheat? Show I downgrade to 2000?

 

[mrlayance]

overheating bump

 

[mrlayance]

I found a solution, the BIOS

http://www-900.ibm.com/cn/support/download/attachment/JWAG-4FNBMH/spsdiq4e.txt


I. Summary of changes
version 1.13 - R01-A4E
- (New) Power Management Update - enhancement of CPU thermal control design.
Click here for a complete list of changes fixed by this BIOS update.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: topaz22
anyone used a laptop cooler before?

Who sells it? Byteccusa.com doesn't have any prices, just an email address for sales.

 

[zephyrprime]

Wait a second, what version of windows are you using? Because if you're using Win9x, you should use Rain or CPUIdle to make sure that you're idle cycles use the HALT instruction. If you're using win nt, 2k, or xp this is unncessesary. Using the HALT instruction will drop your heat significantly. The only other thing you may be able to do is use a Via C3 processor if your current cpu uses socket 370 (high chance it doesn't but you won't know unless you take a look.)

 

[mrlayance]

Does anyone know anything about IBM Laptop fans? Is there a way to force the fan to turn on? I am not even sure if the fan works at all?

 

[prosaic]

If the fan doesn't power up and spin during POST, then it isn't functioning properly. The fan might be bad, or might just be disconnected from its power source, or it's lack of function (even during POST) could possibly be due to a faulty BIOS revision. So, can you tell if the fan spins up when the unit is first turned on?

- prosaic

 

[Derango]

Originally posted by: prosaic
If the fan doesn't power up and spin during POST, then it isn't functioning properly. The fan might be bad, or might just be disconnected from its power source, or it's lack of function (even during POST) could possibly be due to a faulty BIOS revision. So, can you tell if the fan spins up when the unit is first turned on?

- prosaic

I believe it was mentioned that this particular model of notebook doesn't have a fan. Dunno how accurate that is, considering I don't have a 1400

 

[mrlayance]

I just did a test on the laptop, the fan didn't even move. I know the fan on this laptop that I am on moves on post.
Thanks for the pointer

 

[mrlayance]

Originally posted by: Derango

Originally posted by: prosaic
If the fan doesn't power up and spin during POST, then it isn't functioning properly. The fan might be bad, or might just be disconnected from its power source, or it's lack of function (even during POST) could possibly be due to a faulty BIOS revision. So, can you tell if the fan spins up when the unit is first turned on?

- prosaic

I believe it was mentioned that this particular model of notebook doesn't have a fan. Dunno how accurate that is, considering I don't have a 1400

There is a fan, I can see it on the side
check http://www.pc.ibm.com/qtechinfo/MIGR-49AJF5.html?doctype=

Part #24

 

[prosaic]

It it's feasible (from an economic and / or logistics standpoint) to get the unit disassembled so that you can examine it, I guess the first point of order is to check to be sure the power leads for the fan are connected. (I've seen them come loose on notebooks due to chassis flex or "trauma" from being dropped.) If they're connected, and the fan still doesn't work, then the fan can probably be replaced for not too much money.

If the OS uses the HLT instruction (or if you use a utility that invokes it when the CPU is idle) that can be very helpful in terms of reducing operating temps, but it's not really enough in a case like this. That's still not a system that should be using "passive cooling."

Just to be sure that I'm not assuming something that isn't so, did you go ahead and apply the BIOS update -- and the fan still doesn't work? It was kind of a forlorn hope that a BIOS revision might fix a fan that doesn't ever spin up, but hope does spring eternal, etc., etc.

- prosaic

 

[mrlayance]

I updated the BIOS yesturday. That did help alot. The Laptop lasts about an hour longer underload. I took the laptop apart and all the connects where fine.

There has not been a history of that kind of BIOS problem before.

 

[prosaic]

Can you get a replacement fan from IBM for that unit?

- prosaic

 

[mrlayance]

Yup, In total its $75 Canadian including shipping.

 

[prosaic]

:Q Holy KWAP but that's a lotta moolah, especially when you can't be absolutely sure it'll fix your problem! Yikers! Will they let you RMA the fan if it turns out that it doesn't do the trick for you?

Hmmm. Come to think of it that's a dumb question. If it don't woik, it don't woik? Of course you can RMA it! (I hope!)

- prosaic

Oops! Just realized you were talking Canadian dollahs there. That does make it a little less horrific.

 

[mrlayance]

haha, yea
That is about $40 US all together.

I have actually held off on the fan. I have the laptop running folding@home @ 80% for the last 2 hours. I think the BIOS did the trick.

 

[prosaic]

Good news, that! Is the fan turning on at all, or is it still dead? I don't know that the system will be able to perform reliably without it. I'd expect it to go toes up sooner than would otherwise be expected.

- prosaic