Old laptop getting hot

[Captain_17]

I'm setting up an old laptop of mine for a friend to use for some casual gaming. Its a 4 year old Toshiba Satellite L655 running an i5 460M CPU. When its running Minecraft on some pretty moderate settings the CPU reaches temperatures of around 80 degrees Celcius, even when on a cooling stand with a fan (not sure how much of a difference that actually makes though). The laptop also has a dedicated GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5470; 512MB.

Is this a normal and safe temperature for the laptop internals to be at for a couple hours of gaming? I opened it up recently and removed a small amount of dust from the fan but the temperatures displayed with Core Temp still show up to 80 degrees. I haven't yet checked the state of the thermal paste but is that something I should consider replacing after 4 years?

I don't ever remember it getting this hot when I used it but I also wasn't monitoring the temperatures then, so I guess they could have been the same. Also, after any game is closed within a couple of minutes the CPU temperature returns to its idling temperature of around 45 degrees.

 

[Rickster]

I'm setting up an old laptop of mine for a friend to use for some casual gaming. Its a 4 year old Toshiba Satellite L655 running an i5 460M CPU. When its running Minecraft on some pretty moderate settings the CPU reaches temperatures of around 80 degrees Celcius, even when on a cooling stand with a fan (not sure how much of a difference that actually makes though). The laptop also has a dedicated GPU: ATI Radeon HD 5470; 512MB.

Is this a normal and safe temperature for the laptop internals to be at for a couple hours of gaming? I opened it up recently and removed a small amount of dust from the fan but the temperatures displayed with Core Temp still show up to 80 degrees. I haven't yet checked the state of the thermal paste but is that something I should consider replacing after 4 years?

I don't ever remember it getting this hot when I used it but I also wasn't monitoring the temperatures then, so I guess they could have been the same. Also, after any game is closed within a couple of minutes the CPU temperature returns to its idling temperature of around 45 degrees.

Hell yea, OEM thermal paste turns to dust after a few years, so yes change it.

Also get one that cost at least R120.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Hell yea, OEM thermal paste turns to dust after a few years, so yes change it.

Also get one that cost at least R120.

Good advice.^^

Did the deed on a Toshiba C550 with thermal paste and cleaned out the dust a few weeks back ... BIG difference.

http://www.makeupguides.net/kKkD8St...aning-cooler-and-replacing-thermal-paste.html

In addition, make sure you dont have programs or services running in the background unnecessarily ie - have quick scan in task manager to see whats consuming resources. Maybe also have a quick scan in event viewer logs.

Edit - thermal paste comes in the syringe pack, use at least half of it - a thin layer wont help.

 

[mr_norris]

I regularly stripped my laptop, cleaned out the heatsinks and redid the thermal paste. I think over the years I've gathered a few spare screws in the process though.

It does wonders for cooling, not so much for structural integrity though.

My old core 2 laptop is in it's 6th year now...

A good proper clean inside every few months really does wonders.

 

[Rickster]

Good advice.^^

Did the deed on a Toshiba C550 with thermal paste and cleaned out the dust a few weeks back ... BIG difference.

http://www.makeupguides.net/kKkD8St...aning-cooler-and-replacing-thermal-paste.html

In addition, make sure you dont have programs or services running in the background unnecessarily ie - have quick scan in task manager to see whats consuming resources. Maybe also have a quick scan in event viewer logs.

Edit - thermal paste comes in the syringe pack, use at least half of it - a thin layer wont help.

Remember, thermal paste is only to fill in the microscopic grooves on the heat spreader so that there are no air bubbles, a thin layer is all it needs, too much paste and the heat from the CPU wont transfer to the heatsink, it will just be trapped in the Thermal paste.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Remember, thermal paste is only to fill in the microscopic grooves on the heat spreader so that there are no air bubbles, a thin layer is all it needs, too much paste and the heat from the CPU wont transfer to the heatsink, it will just be trapped in the Thermal paste.

Thanks ... I think I may have been a heavy handed on the paste

 

[ponder]

A little bit of Arctic Silver 5 (or whatever is better these days) should help. Clean the old stuff off with a cotton bud and some alcohol or acetone.

 

[cerebus]

First things first - take out the screwdriver, open all the vents at the back, and remove the dust. There's an 80% chance that will fix the problem. 10 to 1 you'll find a walloping clump of dust-bunny choking up the fan outlet.

 

[Venomous]

BEFORE you start opening and changing paate and shyte...

blow out the dust in the unit.

AND

Update the bios. (laugh all you want, but humour me. Thank me afterwards)
Just be sure to get the bios update file for the correct model.

it is an inherent fault.

 

[Captain_17]

Thank you for the advice everyone.

The BIOS is already updated to the latest Toshiba recommended one. I found a few people providing unlocked BIOS versions, but also a lot saying after a BIOS update their laptops won't boot, so I think I'll stick with the one on the Toshiba website.

When I get a chance over the next two weeks I'll open up the laptop completely to remove all the dust, and while its open I may as well replace the thermal paste.

 

[Venomous]

Thank you for the advice everyone.

The BIOS is already updated to the latest Toshiba recommended one. I found a few people providing unlocked BIOS versions, but also a lot saying after a BIOS update their laptops won't boot, so I think I'll stick with the one on the Toshiba website.

When I get a chance over the next two weeks I'll open up the laptop completely to remove all the dust, and while its open I may as well replace the thermal paste.

always only use the official bios releases.

if the fan does not come on then it might need to be replaced