Arch Linux

SomeGuyDude

Member

Registered: 2008-10-09

Posts: 271

Overheating like crazy.

Hey all. So I have cpufreq-utils installed, and have the governor as OnDemand as per the wiki's suggestion.

Problem: EVERYTHING makes my CPU usage go up and my temp shoot to over 70C, which makes the system freeze if left unchecked. If I watch an HD video on YouTube, a big video in VLC, use MusicBrainz Picard, or compile ANYTHING, I have to shift to the PowerSave governor just to avoid my system crashing.

Is there any kind of a fix to this? It's driving me crazy. I've got an Intel C2D and using Arch64.

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And in the midst of such perfection,
I can't help but feel diseased.

Themaister

Member

From: Trondheim, Norway

Registered: 2008-07-21

Posts: 652

Website

Re: Overheating like crazy.

70C with a C2D? Your problem is definitely not software related. Fix the cooling inside your computer I'd say.

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Ultraman

Member

Registered: 2009-12-24

Posts: 242

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Your CPU cooler probably isn't installed properly (anymore).
If you are using the one that came with the CPU, perhaps one of the pushpins has come loose.
Or maybe there is something preventing the fan from rotating (or it has broken down, but with a recent cooler that is unlikely).

R00KIE

Forum Fellow

From: Between a computer and a chair

Registered: 2008-09-14

Posts: 4,734

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Or it's just a problem of dust accumulating in the cooler fins.

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R00KIE
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SomeGuyDude

Member

Registered: 2008-10-09

Posts: 271

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Oh the fan's definitely spinning. The vents on the underside of my machine feel like the exhaust of a dang car, but yep I've been as high as 79C before the thing died.

Guess I can pop the thing open and see if there's a problem.

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And in the midst of such perfection,
I can't help but feel diseased.

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Besides cleaning the fan consider removing the fan from the CPU and redoing the heat sink compound: http://www.pcguide.com/proc/physinst/sink-c.html

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Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,097

Re: Overheating like crazy.

70c under load with the stock intell cooler is quite normal. The cooler is rather bad, specially with the original fan.
Lapping it and using a good thermal compound (use as little as possible) can improve it quite a bit tho.

Last edited by Mr.Elendig (2009-12-28 17:53:42)

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Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
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Gumper

Member

From: U.S.A.

Registered: 2009-10-26

Posts: 132

Re: Overheating like crazy.

...using a good thermal compound (use as little as possible) can improve it quite a bit tho.

I've had good luck with Arctic Silver 5.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

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Ready yourselves, ready yourselves
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SomeGuyDude

Member

Registered: 2008-10-09

Posts: 271

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Not a bad idea on the compound. I'm on a laptop, so my ability to open the machine up is fairly limited, haha.

Thanks guys.

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And in the midst of such perfection,
I can't help but feel diseased.

.:B:.

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2006-11-26

Posts: 5,819

Website

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Maybe it's a bit more difficult...

Why the heck are you running Arch if you're afraid of tinkering?

I've disassembled my Vaio TZ before and it's never easy. But that's the challenge, right?

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andrewd18

Member

From: Wisconsin, USA

Registered: 2007-08-02

Posts: 34

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Having worked with an overheating C2D before, they tend to run up to about 75-80C before hitting the automatic shutdown point. I agree with everyone above; take the laptop apart and use arctic silver on the CPU between it and its heatsink. I usually use rubbing alcohol and a cotton swab to clean the CPU and its fan before I reapply (the alcohol evaporates nicely), then apply a 3/4ths-dime size blob of paste to the CPU and spread it using a plastic sandwich bag over my index finger. Reattach the heatsink securely, and voila.

Some tips about laptop repair:
* Take it slow when disassembling and reassembling or you might yank a cord out.
* Keep all your screws separate by length/width/type.
* Make sure you plug all the cords back in where they belong.
* Test all your keys when you restart it to make sure you haven't missed anything.

Mr.Elendig

#archlinux@freenode channel op

From: The intertubes

Registered: 2004-11-07

Posts: 4,097

Re: Overheating like crazy.

Not a bad idea on the compound. I'm on a laptop, so my ability to open the machine up is fairly limited, haha.

Thanks guys.

70C on a laptop is even more normal than on a desktop. Many laptops nears 90C under full load.

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Evil #archlinux@libera.chat channel op and general support dude.
. files on github, Screenshots, Random pics and the rest

SomeGuyDude

Member

Registered: 2008-10-09

Posts: 271

Re: Overheating like crazy.

90C might be normal on yours, but my system locks up if it hits 79C for more than a minute. It's never been above 80C.

Random update, though: I think the new kernel fixed everything. It hasn't gone above 55C in a while even while playing HD vids on YouTube. Awesome.

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And in the midst of such perfection,
I can't help but feel diseased.