1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Notebooks Help! Laptop fans playing up/laptop overheating

Discussion in 'Tech Support' started by PortalBen, 14 Dec 2012.

  1. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    Hi. I have an Acer Aspire V3-571G that was bought at the end of June and worked perfectly up until about six weeks ago. The fans never spin at a high speed anymore, even when the laptop is very warm, and over the last fortnight the laptop has had five or six BSODs.

    Is there any way to get the fans spinning at the right speed again? I'm pretty desperate to fix this so that I can comfortably play games again, so any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Many thanks,

    Ben
     
  2. aramil

    aramil One does not simply upgrade Forums

    Joined:
    10 Jul 2012
    Posts:
    961
    Likes Received:
    58
    Where do you use it? In bed or on your sofa arm? Or on a desk? Might just be bunged up with fluff and dust.

    I have seen laptops etc with clogged fans.

    If not could just be a faulty fan. Is it under warranty?

    You could try speedfan (software) to see what the fans are running at.

    Sent on my CM10 JB powered i9100 by TapaTalk 2
     
  3. Pod

    Pod What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Dec 2012
    Posts:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    If it's under warranty have it looked at, and if not it's time to break out the little screwdriver and take a peek inside.

    Do you know what the bsods have been referring to? This might help pinpoint whether it's a cooling problem or something else.
     
  4. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    Yeah it's been put on the bed a lot recently, that's probably why. Is there an effective way to unclog the fan without dismantling the laptop? It's still in warranty.

    Thanks for the help!
     
  5. adampski

    adampski What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    14 Dec 2012
    Posts:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    All depends on the structure of the case; as to where the heat sink is. If you really aren't comfortable on taking off the bottom parts of the case then you could get a canister of compressed air, blow it into the vents but obviously the dust will go else where in the laptop.

    ... I was just trying to find videos or guides on how-to disassemble your laptop, however there doesn't seem to be one of your particular model. It really is simple, but won't recommend you do it because most warranties void if disassemble yourself. Just give it in for warranty repair, probably time consuming but if we're wrong with dust build up then atleast they'll fix it = hassle free on your side.

    I wouldn't put it on your bed any more though, unless you get a laptop stand/tray to put it on whilst on the duvet. Preferably one with fans.
     
  6. Shirty

    Shirty W*nker! Super Moderator

    Joined:
    18 Apr 1982
    Posts:
    12,936
    Likes Received:
    2,058
    One quick thing to add though, not all laptops are warranty sealed (with security stickers, for example), so it is often possible to remove part or all of the back panel to clean any fluff or dust out without voiding anything. Just make sure you use the right sized screwdriver so you don't butcher the screws.

    That said if you're not confident doing this and can live without it for some time then just get it warranty repaired. Make sure you back up first ;)
     
  7. mrbungle

    mrbungle Undercooked chicken giver

    Joined:
    20 Sep 2004
    Posts:
    5,307
    Likes Received:
    165
    If it was blocked with dust ud likely find that the fans would rev up more..

    However if you are sure its overheating you really need to take it to bits.
     
  8. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    Thanks for the help guys, much appreciated! I'll check whether what I need to do will void the warranty and if not then I'll dismantle it when I have access to my tools again on Monday. Hopefully just a dust issue!

    Thanks again :)
     
  9. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    Well I took it apart today to clean it, it was easy enough but I couldn't see much (if any) dust. I've put it all back together but the fan still isn't spinning up properly when the laptop is getting hot. As such my fps in L4D (not a hard game to run) is terrible and nowhere near as high as it used to be. Does anyone have any other suggestions?
     
  10. Elledan

    Elledan What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    4 Feb 2009
    Posts:
    947
    Likes Received:
    34
    If you install a measuring app like Speedfan, what kind of temperatures etc. are you seeing?
     
  11. Sutters

    Sutters Silent lurker!

    Joined:
    24 Apr 2009
    Posts:
    258
    Likes Received:
    8
    Sounds like it could be a GPU issue.
    I would try to ascertain the temparature of the graphics card when idle and gaming.

    It could be perhaps throttling it due to a high temp...
     
  12. rici1241

    rici1241 Minimodder

    Joined:
    4 Jan 2011
    Posts:
    676
    Likes Received:
    58
    What CPU and GPU have you. Speedfan gives me idle temps of 40 for both the CPU and GPU. I can test load temperature if you want, so we can compare.
     
    Last edited: 19 Dec 2012
  13. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    My GPU had an average temperature of around 90 in game, while my CPU averaged a bit above 60 (as measured by speedfan). At idle my CPU is ~ 37 and my GPU is ~60.

    Hi, my CPU is the i5 2310M and my GPU is the GT 630M.

    Thank you all for your time in replying to this post, it's much appreciated :)

    Ben
     
    Last edited: 19 Dec 2012
  14. rici1241

    rici1241 Minimodder

    Joined:
    4 Jan 2011
    Posts:
    676
    Likes Received:
    58
    60 degrees is way too high for idle. It really sounds like a faulty fan. The only other thing it could be is bad thermal compound on the GPU. I think you should RMA it, or maybe change the thermal compound your self.
     
  15. wolfticket

    wolfticket Downwind from the bloodhounds

    Joined:
    19 Apr 2008
    Posts:
    3,556
    Likes Received:
    646
    I'd RMA it.

    If there's an underlying problem taking it apart and cleaning it could give the impression of helping without actually solving the problem.
    Also, even if the warranty isn't voided by opening it up, mass produced laptops can be awkward to service and damaging it levering sticky access panel off or something probably would.

    If it's still under warranty I'd take advantage of that.
     
  16. kenco_uk

    kenco_uk I unsuccessfully then tried again

    Joined:
    28 Nov 2003
    Posts:
    10,104
    Likes Received:
    682
    Is there a bios update available? If so, they may have considered fixing when/how long/how fast the fan comes on. It wouldn't be the first time.

    It could be worth taking apart, it depends how accessible the heatsinks are as from the sounds of it, they could do with re-timming.
     
  17. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    Hi again. This morning after light use for an hour the GPU was at about 50. Then from about 30 mins of Minecraft it was back at 90! I switched to just using my integrated graphics for Minecraft but it's still hovering between 60 and 70 degrees.

    I'm not sure how to go about an RMA as I received this laptop through an insurance company after my last one was stolen. I'll try and find a BIOS update but I'm not too hopeful because when I first got the laptop it ran everything excellently. :(

    Ben
     
  18. Pointy

    Pointy What's a Dremel?

    Joined:
    15 Nov 2008
    Posts:
    49
    Likes Received:
    2
    I did an older Acer laptop for a customer a while back, he was having slow downs during gaming, L4D2 would drop to 8fps on occasions.

    The laptop itself looked clean but after a strip down, the inside of the heatsink was about 30% blocked, this was not apparent until you took the whole fan assembly apart. The fan itself didn't seem to be any louder than normal.

    As a general rule laptops usually suck in air from the bottom and exhaust it out of the rear or side. If you can't feel a good draft coming out the exhaust while the fan is running then it is probably blocked.

    If it's not too badly blocked, a can or air can blast out the dust if you spray it from the exhaust towards the fan. Be warned that sometimes you can dislodge a big ball of fluff that may even stop the fan from spinning.

    Regards,

    Les
     
  19. Andersen

    Andersen I'm fine. I'M FINE! *banshee howl*

    Joined:
    25 Nov 2002
    Posts:
    1,282
    Likes Received:
    484
    Yup. Dug out a felt-like mat of gunk from missus' laptop couple months ago. Being a HP craptop it was, politely said, very difficult to take apart (read: disassemble completely) and gain access to heatsink.
     
  20. PortalBen

    PortalBen Minimodder

    Joined:
    22 Nov 2009
    Posts:
    235
    Likes Received:
    5
    I suspect this is the case as there is much less of a draft than there used to be. I'll try and get a can of compressed air and give that a go because it seems to be a pain to fully take apart.
    Thanks for the advice!

    Ben
     

Share This Page