Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

[dood]

Working on a laptop that came in yesterday. Owner complains it works for a while then shuts off. I start checking it out... It runs fine for random amounts of time. Typically, if you start it up and just let it idle in Vista, it'll run fine indefinitely. But, once you start doing something (spyware scan, for example), the computer will run for a bit longer and then shut off.

CPU is a T2250 Core Duo 1.73ghz. I installed speedfan to check the temps. At idle, it runs about 56c. Under load, it'll touch 80c, and that's where it shuts down. It does appear that the computer shuts down properly when this happens, as the screen fades, and then it turns off.

Now, here's what gets me to believe the heat pipe is faulty... the entire time, the fan will be running, but the vents are both blowing cool air (ambient temperature, I should say). I have, of course, checked all the fins, and they are completely unblocked. When the computer shuts down, the heat pipe around the CPU is very hot... but the actual heatsinks are barely warm to the touch.

Should I take a leap and get a new heatpipe assembly for this thing?

[Wizard]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Definatly get new assembly and check that chipset heatsink are making good contact. I use ceramique by AS as it does not dry out as much as arctic silver would do and stay flexible, and not as messy, not so electrically conductive.

Cheers, Wizard

[dood]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

The CPU and the heatsink are making good contact. I don't have any Ceramique, but I did put AS5 on, after removing the stock dried-up paste.

[ratdude747]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

no offence, but there is a laptop section now. next time, please post it there.

[dood]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Heat pipe was faulty. Got the replacement from BlueRaven on eBay and it's working fine now.

Oh, and thanks so much for the help Mr. Rat.

[Wizard]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Excellent, that's unusual. The heat pipe is special engineering marvel that contains little amount of water and gases (could be air or inert gas) under partial vacuum so water is below it's boiling point and boils at lower temp to move vapor and heat to cooler end and radiate heat out, condensing the water back and run back to the hot end.

Cheers, Wizard

[dood]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

My guess is that the solder joint at the end of the pipe failed and let the liquid out, as well as releasing the vacuum.

[toastygoodness]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

yeah so the solder joint let go? wow this is one weird failure.

pics please? this is pretty cool (well interesting, it sucks u had to buy a new one)

[Wizard]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Not totally under vacuum. Just low enough (like you are at top of mountain and water is boiling at rather low temp like 40C) due to atmospheric pressure is low.

Cheers, Wizard

[PCBONEZ]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Interesting.
I've never seen one go bad.
Wondered why they even sell spares.

[kc8adu]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

i have seen several fail in hp laptops.
all of them were robin brand.
iirc the ones we played with in their early days had acetone or methylene chloride in them at a partial vacuum.

[Pyr0Beast]

Re: Gateway MX8711 laptop overheating - faulty heat pipe?

Sorry for revival. I've had one before fail here and another one failed now.
Bah HP ...
Tried refilling it - changed only to worse.