Berkeley CSUA MOTD:Entry 35058
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2025/05/25 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
5/25    

2004/11/24-26 [Computer/HW/Laptop] UID:35058 Activity:nil
11/24   I have an overheating CPU on a laptop, I know this for a fact because
        when I take apart the laptop and let it run it runs fine. With the
        top assembled it will auto-shutoff. I removed the heatsink and found
        the thermal compound to have a very "plasticky" feel to it, like
        it's somewhat dried out. Does thermal compound ever dessicate?
        I've never heard of this happening before. The laptop is getting
        around 4 years old and this particular toshiba model is known to
        start acting up after a while due to overheating. I'm guessing
        it's the thermal compound because the fan leading to the heatsink
        wasn't particularly dirty with dust.
        \_ I don't think thermal compounds are water-based.  More likely it
           underwent some chemical change as a result of long-term heat
           exposure.  You could *carefuly* scrape the old stuff off and apply a\
           dab of new thermal compound.
           exposure.  You could *carefuly* scrape the old stuff off and apply
           a dab of new thermal compound.
           \_ Well, my hunch was right. I scraped off the old stuff and put
              on a fresh coat after cleaning the die top with some alcohol.
              After putting the machine back together it hasn't crashed for
              a while (used to crash after a minute).
              Guess Toshiba has a manufacturing problem...
              \_ Well more likely a bad supplier.  If it takes the compond
                 a few years to fail, quality-control might not catch it.
        \_ I've always wondered about that stock Intel thermal compound.
           It just didn't look very ... thermally conductive. -l0s3r
           \_ A real simple test would to be get a mug of hot water/coffee/tea
              put thermal goop on one finger and touch that finger and the
              opposite hand's clean finger to the mug at the same time and see
              how much hotter the greased finger feels in the first second or
              so before both get warm.
              \_ ob yermom joke
        \_ Same sit., w/ dell 1100, new. Sent it back to replace CPU fan
           It's those damn ODMs!
2025/05/25 [General] UID:1000 Activity:popular
5/25    

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