Power hungry laptop

[Durham Red]

You guys have been great with every problem I've had so far, please don't fail me now.

I have an HP Pavilion dv6330 laptop with the following specs:

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System Information
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Time of this report: 12/28/2007, 21:42:47
Machine name: WILKINS-PC
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6000) (6000.vista_gdr.071009-1548)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
System Model: HP Pavilion dv6000 (GH878EA#ABU)
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLv
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo CPU T2350 @ 1.86GHz (2 CPUs), ~1.9GHz
Memory: 1022MB RAM
Page File: 816MB used, 1482MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 10

The problem is that when running games, like Championship Manager - well within it's capabilities, the fan goes to full and occasionally the laptop shuts down on it's own.

I have quite a few programmes installed on it but not so many that should cause an overheat problem (in my novice opinion). I have already stopped as many programmes as possible from opening on startup and used air to clean the fan and heatsink.

As always, any help would be greatly appreciated
Durham Red.

[hitchface]

Does it give you any warnings like it is legitimately shutting down, or does it actually just 'power down' in the middle of everything? Is it just when running games, or also during other intensive tasks? Has it ever done this during neither of those (ie at idle)

My first thoughts are as follows: Do the usual spyware and virus checks. If the shutdowns are completely random, and you get a warning, your problem might lie here.

Failing that, open up the parts of your laptop that contain fans (bottom panels usually just unscrew, revealing everything inside) and blow them out with compressed air to get the dust out of there. You might be having an overheating problem if the shutdowns only occur during 'hot' apps and give no warning. That is my first guess, since the fans spin up just prior, as you say. Give the parts you can see a good look for bulging/leaking capacitors, burn marks and the like.

[Masaki 7-11]

Were you running the laptop on battery or plugged in? If you were running the laptop on battery, once the battery gets to around 5% the computer automatically shuts down.

[hitchface]

Not if the settings have been changed, though that is a good suggestion. It troubles me that the default setting just shuts everything down with no warning...

[Durham Red]

Thanks for your thoughts guys. The laptop shuts down only when running a game and without any warning. Even when only running firefox (and no other application) the fan keeps getting faster. It has only done this when plugged in as the battery life is pathetic at about 1 hr 15 mins, so I rarely use it unplugged.

I have just removed all spyware and run a virus check (with NOD 32) and will see if that makes a difference

[thefultonhow]

Download and install Notebook Hardware Control and monitor the temperatures using that. It does indeed sound like overheating, but you can't know for sure unless you use NHC or something similar.

[Panama Red]

I agree with tfh regarding heat being the likely culprit. My Toshiba laptop would shut down for no reason when running Folding and when I checked the cpu fan it looked clear. When I disassembled the unit and pulled the heat sink I was amazed to find it fully clogged with lint and cat hair on the inside surface. Seems the airflow is from the front, over the main board, thru the heat sink and out the fan on the underside of the laptop. Once the clog was removed and new Arctic Silver 5 applied, it ran cool as could be and no more shut downs.

[Durham Red]

Thanks ever so much guys. Using an inert aerosol without removing the casing has already stopped the laptop from shutting down, but I will try NHC as the fan is still working overtime.

[thefultonhow]

Incidentally, I have begun to have the same problem since upgrading to Vista last week (I kept on trying to watch a movie this evening and it kept on shutting down). We'll see what my issue is...

[liambl]

If it is overheating it must be awfully hot, those Intel chips' shut down temp is 97C (206F).