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Thermal Malfunction and computer shutting itself off

post #1 of 6
8/16/09 at 12:37am
Thread Starter 
Hi everybody:

I have a N9880 almost 4 years old, I just “upgrade it” with two new 250 GB HDD, extra 2 GB RAM and new screen (the original got dead).

Now I'm having a new problem, 3 days ago the computer shutdown itself, I thought it needs cleaning, so I cleaned with compressed air (as always).

Then I checked the temperature of the CPU (using Mobmeter in Windows and Computer Thermal Monitor in Linux) and it was +1C!!!!

Suddenly it shows the right temperature again (about 53 C), and then it got to 1C again, this is happening continuously.

Obviously when the sensor is in 1C the fans don't turn on, so the computers shuts itself off.

I searched in the forums, founding that this problem is relative common http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...hlight=thermal

This thread doesn't give a solution, I hope is not a bad MoBo . Could it be that the thermal sensor in the heatsink is broken?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Regards.
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post #2 of 6
8/16/09 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mostro View Post
Hi everybody:

I have a N9880 almost 4 years old, I just “upgrade it” with two new 250 GB HDD, extra 2 GB RAM and new screen (the original got dead).

Now I'm having a new problem, 3 days ago the computer shutdown itself, I thought it needs cleaning, so I cleaned with compressed air (as always).

Then I checked the temperature of the CPU (using Mobmeter in Windows and Computer Thermal Monitor in Linux) and it was +1C!!!!

Suddenly it shows the right temperature again (about 53 C), and then it got to 1C again, this is happening continuously.

Obviously when the sensor is in 1C the fans don't turn on, so the computers shuts itself off.

I searched in the forums, founding that this problem is relative common http://www.notebookforums.com/showth...hlight=thermal

This thread doesn't give a solution, I hope is not a bad MoBo . Could it be that the thermal sensor in the heatsink is broken?

Thanks in advance for your answers.

Regards.
Without physically seeing any images of the readouts you're getting, and any error codes that may be coming up in BSoD's, or in tests, it really could be anything from a motherboard on its last legs, to something as silly as a bad sensor. Even if it's merely a bad sensor, the computer only can go by the information the sensors provide, and thus will shut down even if the computer to human hands is cool to the touch. (Remember, computers can only use information presented to them, they can't make subjective choices.) The first step that I would take is to open up the bottom and make sure of a few things:
  • That there are no dust bunnies anywhere lurking about inside the computer that may have snuck in.
  • Verify that everything in the computer is seated in its respective slot / pin rack correctly, and that the appropriate heatsinks and fans are seated the same as well.
If that doesn't work, then I would also try the following:
  • Ensure you have the latest BIOS for your machine, if not... then http://drivers.softpedia.com/get/BIO...OS-10005.shtml is the latest available BIOS, and should be used. Simply download it, burn it to an ISO disk, and when you restart, use that disc to flash the BIOS upwards.
  • Reinstall Both Operating Systems. Could it be that one installation was corrupted by the other installation? Back up all necessary files, and then reformat and reinstall everything properly, going from the oldest OS to the newest OS. It also doesn't hurt if both OS's use the same HDD format type to minimize the risk of corruption in dual-OS installations.
If all else fails, and you know the computer worked fine with the older components, it's time to start removing new components and inserting the old ones. As soon as you get the desired readings, and consistently, you know that the removed and replaced part is the one that was causing the misery. It could be the RAM, it could be one of the HDDs, it could be the monitor. If all that fails, then I would say there's something wrong with the motherboard itself and some sort of repair / ebay action is needed to rectify the situation.

Just my .02

Jason
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post #3 of 6
8/17/09 at 5:14pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks for your answer, the computer works fine with the new components for more than two months, so I don't think this is the problem, BIOS is up to date, both OS's live in different HDDs, so there no chance that one is corrupting the other.
Everything is properly connected and there aren't any bunnies in the heatsink (as I mentioned I just clean it)
I forget to tell you that after the computer shuts down by itself (with any warning, BSoD o anything) the fans start by themselves, then after 1 minute or two they shut down too.
Do you know if the CPU temperature is measured from the heatsink or the MoBo? My laptop uses this heatsink (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...Name=WDVW&rd=1), there is a black cable attached to it which connects to the MoBo, I think that this is the thermal sensor, and maybe (I'm hoping) this is the sensor which is broken.
I also forget to tell that if I "Fn+F2" (which turn on both fans in high speed permanently) the computer doesn't shuts down.

Thanks
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post #4 of 6
8/17/09 at 5:31pm
Being a 4 years old notebook, I would try first to apply new thermal paste (between the cpu and the heatsink)

cheers ...
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post #5 of 6
8/17/09 at 6:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by qhn View Post
Being a 4 years old notebook, I would try first to apply new thermal paste (between the cpu and the heatsink)

cheers ...
I second this, the stock thermal pads deteriorate HARD over time. I recommend Arctic Silver 5 or ICD7 (a diamond-based paste, thick, but cools a LOT, and non-conducive) for the job. Doing this once / year keeps temps down.
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post #6 of 6
8/18/09 at 12:25am
Thread Starter 
Thanks:

I will try to check the thermal sensor, and I will change the paste.

Also I want to add that today I notice that the problem show itself sometimes when I move laptop. I was working for two hours without any problem (around 55 C which is normal), Then I closed the lid, took it to my desk and when I opened again, the temp monitor was showing 1C. So it seems to be a loose connetion or something similar.

Thanks again for your answers.
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