Still getting high temps after repasting processor

[gregrocker]

This is a Compaq Presario CQ60-215Dx laptop which was badly overheating. I repasted the Athlon processor but am still getting 90c CPU temp readings with CoreTemp.

I noticed there were two other chips having their heat dissipated by heat sink, one an Nvidia display chip and not sure about the other. But these were using a foam pad on heat sink and not paste. The pads were in good enough condition I left them although thought about using paste. I don't think they're responsible for high temps because these are dual core CPU readings.

Any suggestions of what to look at. The CPU fan is blowing very hot air.

 

[solarmystic]

Just to clarify Greg.

90C at load, or 90C at idle?

The thermal pads should be sufficient for the NVIDIA chipset as it's an integrated NVIDIA 8200 card that's not a heat monster.

 

[gregrocker]

I was only watching streaming cable news on it while monitoring the 90c temp. So I guess that's a load. The news certainly was.

 

[DavidE]

You say the CPU fan is blowing hot air.
Does that mean you can run the laptop disassembled enough that you can see the CPU fan running?
Or do you feel heat coming out of the vent and maybe it's an exhaust fan pushing the air out?

 

[Solarstarshines]

New paste should equal better temps

I would change the fan to a more quality one

That has happened to me in the passed few days I couldn't get stable temps

My fans weren't up to par anymore and that sounds like a good indication


Im sure you did all the dusting and cleaning that would be the only issue unless something is creating heat check your board out to see if there is some heat stressed area's

I know when my capacitors blew it got really hot then pop shut down

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks guys. I feel a hot breeze coming out of the CPU fan's exhaust port, which is the only fan I saw when disassembled. I could not test it then to see if it worked. But it seems it's working as there is an unmistakeable flow of hot air from the port. Could it be otherwise faulty?

This is the unit as best as I can tell tho it doesn't specify 225DX model of the CQ60: http://compare.ebay.com/like/180780548737?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

I also found this which makes me think I should have dissassembled the heatsink from fan to clean it. I also did not follow his advice to paste the GPU and another chip which have legs on the heatsink but which are cooled using foam pads - these were still in good shape. http://augustapcrepair.wordpress.com/2011/10/08/compaq-presario-cq60-215dx-overheat-repair/

 

[Solarstarshines]

Exhausting both you say ?

is the GPU putting any heat out ?

I don't know if that is standard or not to include both of those on the same path of exhaust

CPU/GPU that is

did you try the old putting a fan in other vent and pushing more air through the other side to see if there is a actual decrease used to do that ith a desktop when they get wicked hot

The picture of the Fan and Cpu looks like a VGA fan and I think you should have cleaned the heatsink too the heatsink on the picture looked like a cat got into it all kinds of lint and dust

 

[solarmystic]

I also found this which makes me think I should have dissassembled the heatsink from fan to clean it. I also did not follow his advice to paste the GPU and another chip which have legs on the heatsink but which are cooled using foam pads - these were still in good shape. Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX Overheat Repair « Computer Repair Augusta GA – Lightspeeds PC

If you wanted to paste the GPU and that other chip you'd have to remove the Thermal foam pads and replace them with copper shims of similar thickness and dimensions to help dissipate heat better.

 

[gregrocker]

I really don't since he refers to possibly shorting it, the pads look good, and temps I'm reading are from CPU anyway. Does this sound right?

Right now I think I agree what I missed is taking the fan off the heatsink to clean out the gunk shown in Compaq Presario CQ60-215DX Overheat Repair « Computer Repair Augusta GA – Lightspeeds PC. Is there a way to test the fan when I do this? Or just replace it?

Compaq CQ60-215DX Fan



Fan Removed From Heatsink >>>>
Still wondering why your laptop feels very hot, and is shutting down? Yes, that is dust, hair and what ever else. At one time, the laptop pulled air into through the laptops cool air intake vent, and is suppose to exhaust the laptops internal heat out of the laptop. Not happening anymore with this Compaq CQ-215DX laptop, with what you see here.

 

[DavidE]

One thing you could check is to make sure you put enough paste on the processor.
If you remove it you should be able to see that the paste did spread correctly.
If a "large area" has no paste, you may need to use a little more.

 

[gregrocker]

Thanks David. I am concerned about that because at the time I was focused on not getting too much. I put less than the amount of a pea spread lengthwise on an area about the size of a postage stamp, then spread it to all corners, relied on clamps to do the rest.

 

[DavidE]

Ok, well that sounds good.

And - you're sure the clamps are secured correctly!

 

[gregrocker]

It was three or four heavy metal screws which I tightened fully.

 

[DavidE]

Well, you could do the cleaning you mentioned and see if that helps.

You could also check the fan RPM to see that looks ok.
I use HWMonitor - it displays my desktop fan speeds.

CPUID - System & hardware benchmark, monitoring, reporting

 

[gregrocker]

Great idea. I guess that's what SpeedFan is for as well.

I wonder if the CPU is advanced enough to show it? What speeds should I be looking for?

 

[DavidE]

Yea, just have to try program(s) and see if they display fan speeds.
Depends what sensors are built into the laptop, and what these programs are programmed to display for that laptop.

I don't have a laptop, so i have no idea what fan speeds to expect.
If it's low hundreds...that sounds real slow to me.
My desktop fans are running 900 - 1700 rpm now.
In the winter they run 500 - 950 rpm...

 

[gregrocker]

This is weird. For the past hour I've been streaming video on the laptop with temps staying around 50c.

Only difference from yesterday is we have the a/c on in the house and I elevated the rear a full inch since the vents are curved underneath the back side. Could either cause this?

No fans showing in SpeedFan. I also do not feel the exhaust as much today although there is heat emanating from the exhaust vent. Is the fan heat activated?

Here is the CPUID output after an hour's streaming.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum Greg what thermal are you using? I use Arctic Silver for most of my stuff but that nano diamond (Antec Formula 7) and the Noctua NT-H1 stuff is good too. The latter are very stiff mind you and take some forceful applying. I have been looking round for that thermal that Toshiba recommend in their manuals - Shin etsu but difficult to find.

I am assuming that you use the cleaning gear before applying and am also thinking maybe the fan is failing or even the pipes?

There is also that new stuff Indigo the only thing I don't really like the sound off is letting "burn" in at a reasonably high temp. Indigo Xtreme™ - High Performance Thermal Interface for Overclocking Applications thee again it is really meant for desktops I suppose.

If you need a spreader I found those plastic artists spatulas ideal (very cheap at those dollar shops) as they come in different shapes and get into spots hard to reach with conventional spreaders -like those small NB chips.

 

[gregrocker]

Don't laugh! I used Radio Shack's own brand which is all they had, spread it with my finger in Plastic Wrap. Cleaned a lot of gunk from both heat sink and CPU with alcohol swabs til it was shiny.

I thought the copper exhaust pipe through the fan was all one piece so didn't know to clean the vents within. But there wasn't much dust at all anywhere so I wasn't really looking for it. But for all I know it's clogged like in the dude's picture.

What's confounded me now is that my roommate and I both agreed there was hot fan exhuast as soon as it was reassembled and started up, but now neither of us think so. It feels like heat but no fan exhaust. Yet the temps are now holding around 50c after an hour's streaming. Does the fan not kick on until hotter? I don't even see fans in either SpeedFan or CPUID.

It must be the A/C making the room 20+ degrees colder than yesterday.

 

[DavidE]

Greg,

Look in bios setup for a "Fan Always On" setting.
It may turn off the fan if temps are low enough to extend battery life.
20+ degrees difference in room temp will make a difference.
Raising it that 1" could make a difference, but that should be easy to test - just lower it.