Laptop powering off due to excessive heat…

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Hello Everyone,

I’ve owned a Gateway M-1624 laptop for about two years now, I’ve recently upgraded the HDD to 500Gb and the OS to Windows 7 Professional. It’s always had this problem of overheating easily when in use, though lately it’s become more frequent and I’ve paid for it (My hard drive died, had to pay for a repair of the system). Even after sending my machine for repairs, it still has the overheating problem. And yes I am aware of the things that can provoke overheating like airflow obstruction, surface, and ambient temperature. However, I pay attention to these types of situations, I use my laptop on a desk or flat surface, and at ambient room temperature (though it happens even in places with an A/C system). It can take as little as fifteen to twenty minutes to overheat, if I’m running a big program or something; but even when I’m not, it still overheats after a while. I mostly use the computer to run Visual Studio or other IDE software, and the occasional game (I make sure to not play any particularly recent or demanding titles. I mostly play the Age of Empires series on this particular laptop, specifically AoE II).

Is there any way to prevent the computer from reaching an overheated state, in order to avoid the shutdown? I can’t really afford to use an external fan or cooling apparatus, and I use this computer outside of my house and when I’m in college, and I don’t really have anymore space in my backpack. Is there a way to limit the performance of the computer if it gets too hot? I’ve tried to search the web for alternatives and poke around the BIOS, but have found nothing thus far.

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You could limit the amount and duration of processor and graphics intensive applications to a minimal.

As far as underclocking goes you can check the bios and see if it is configurable, but I doubt you will
find anything usefull in there to play around with. Laptop bios’s are usually pretty lame.
**Limit hyperthreading of cpu if possible.
**AMD is famous for warm cpu’s

I don’t have alot of confidence in changing these values but it may be worth trying;

Reduce CPU to a single core; msconfig>>bootini>>advanced>>check “max mem” reduce as needed.

Reduce RAM to a single DIMM; msconfig>>bootini>>advanced>>check “numproc” reduce to single core.

Is this similar to your specs?

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Laptop designers allow for the maximum heat output and use a fan to cool the system.
Does your fan run? It should not run at all when the machine is idling and should run at full speed when the machine is working hard.
Is the fan / intake (on the bottom) full of dust?
It is possible the machine was not built correctly as it has always been a problem. I would be having words with the manufacturer.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Karlo,

A number of users have had the same problem with overheating on the M-1624. Have you recently checked Gateway support to see if a new BIOS update has been issued? Some time ago, when the Nvidia 8600 graphics chip was acknowledged to have a packaging flaw that caused it to suffer catastrophic heat failure, Dell issued a BIOS update that effectively caused the fan to run constantly. Of course that was just a band aid fix but maybe Gateway has done something similar. That type of fix is not ideal and comes with its own set of problems (much shorter battery charge life, constant noise, etc), but if it can dissipate enough heat to prevent damage and shutdowns you could get by until you can get a new machine at a time of your choosing.

You mentioned you always use your laptop on a table top or other flat surface. Have you considered buying an adjustable laptop stand that will provide some clearance from the table top to the bottom of your laptop. That would aid in dissipating some of the heat as well as making your air intake fan more productive.

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Read :
http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60300177

Jerry

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You could limit the amount and duration of processor and graphics intensive applications to a minimal.

As far as underclocking goes you can check the bios and see if it is configurable, but I doubt you will
find anything usefull in there to play around with. Laptop bios’s are usually pretty lame.
**Limit hyperthreading of cpu if possible.
**AMD is famous for warm cpu’s

I don’t have alot of confidence in changing these values but it may be worth trying;

Reduce CPU to a single core; msconfig>>bootini>>advanced>>check “max mem” reduce as needed.

Reduce RAM to a single DIMM; msconfig>>bootini>>advanced>>check “numproc” reduce to single core.

Is this similar to your specs?

Thanks for the reply, those are indeed the specifications of my system. Like I mentioned before, though, I looked through the options in the BIOS and there wasn’t many things that would seem to affect performance. But I might resort to the msconfig utility you suggested if the problem proves persistent enough.

Laptop designers allow for the maximum heat output and use a fan to cool the system.
Does your fan run? It should not run at all when the machine is idling and should run at full speed when the machine is working hard.
Is the fan / intake (on the bottom) full of dust?
It is possible the machine was not built correctly as it has always been a problem. I would be having words with the manufacturer.

cheers, Paul

Hi Paul,

To answer your query the laptop’s fan does indeed run. I alternates the speed at which it runs most of the time, but it isn’t uncommon for it to be running at anytime, including when the laptop is idle. Usually when idle it alternates between low and high fan speeds, almost like a heavy breath. The fan is pretty clean along with the intake, as it just came from servicing with the manufacturer.

Hi Karlo,

A number of users have had the same problem with overheating on the M-1624. Have you recently checked Gateway support to see if a new BIOS update has been issued? Some time ago, when the Nvidia 8600 graphics chip was acknowledged to have a packaging flaw that caused it to suffer catastrophic heat failure, Dell issued a BIOS update that effectively caused the fan to run constantly. Of course that was just a band aid fix but maybe Gateway has done something similar. That type of fix is not ideal and comes with its own set of problems (much shorter battery charge life, constant noise, etc), but if it can dissipate enough heat to prevent damage and shutdowns you could get by until you can get a new machine at a time of your choosing.

You mentioned you always use your laptop on a table top or other flat surface. Have you considered buying an adjustable laptop stand that will provide some clearance from the table top to the bottom of your laptop. That would aid in dissipating some of the heat as well as making your air intake fan more productive.

Hello Gerald,

I did just recently update the drivers and utilities using Gateway’s support site, there were no BIOS updates but the machine hasn’t overheated yet either. So I’m hoping one the updates from the site might have fixed it.

I already have another laptop by the way, I just like to use this one when I leave my house because it has certain features. Which is why a laptop stand isn’t an option for me right now.

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I just like to use this one when I leave my house because it has certain features. Which is why a laptop stand isn’t an option for me right now.

There are stands that you can take anywhere. I use a Lapramp which fits around the laptop in just about any bag the computer will fit into. I never use my laptop without it.

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Sounds like something is making your cpu and or gpu work, perhaps harder than it should be. Hopefully your
driver updates will show overall improvement.

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I have a gateway MX-3416 with the exact same problem. It has always tended to run hot. Lately, it started to shut down about once a day. I have blown the dust bunnies out of it on a couple of occasions as it continued to overheat and shut down. Finally, I cut 4 blocks of wood 1 1/2″ square from a 1X2 board (3/4′ thick) and placed one under each corner of the computer. This certainly did not correct the poor engineering that went into the computer design, but the increased air circulation from the additional 3/4″ between the computer and tabletop made the difference between shutting down un-announced and staying running until I say “shut down”. These blocks can be glued or taped to the bottom of the computer with double stick tape if desired.

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Over the last two years, especially with powerful laptops, i have seen many customers having the same problem: their laptop was abruptly shutting down. Most of the time, it was a “barrier” of dust that was almost glued to the radiator next to the processor fan: humidity + dust = heat problems. In that case: a small screwdriver and a toothbrush if you can open the laptop where the fan stands, or with compressed air.

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My Gateway MX6958 gets hot so I got a computer rest with fans to put underneath it. I also got a external powered usb hub to run the fans.
My laptop runs for hours at 70% watching Hulu and when I remember to turn them on it stays cool.

Also try speedfan It does not work on my laptop but it might on yours.

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This is a very low tech answer, but it’s worked like a charm for six years on a Dell laptop model that was known for overheating. By all means use some canned air to clean in and around the fan and intake.

Then buy two old fashioned rubber, wedge shaped doorstops. Assuming you don’t use it in your lap, put them under the back/bottom of it (not blocking the air intake). Gives the air much more room to circulate and a nice angle for the keyboard. In the last couple of years I have noticed some fancier products to do the same thing, but it is that simple. Notebook air intakes are usually on the bottom and the bottom is usually sitting on something, which lessens air flow.

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I’ve had a similar problem with my Gateway MX7515 ever since Gateway replaced the CPU fan (the CPU fan does work, now).

I’ve been using a laptop cooler under the computer and it seems to keep the laptop cool enough to run without over heating. My daughter-in-law ran into the same problem and a cooler is keeping her laptop running well. It’s worth a try. These “notebook coolers” and “laptop coolers” and aren’t terribly expensive — $19.95 to $49.95 — and are often on sale for less.

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I’ve been using a laptop cooler under the computer and it seems to keep the laptop cool enough to run without over heating. My daughter-in-law ran into the same problem and a cooler is keeping her laptop running well. It’s worth a try. These “notebook coolers” and “laptop coolers” and aren’t terribly expensive — $19.95 to $49.95 — and are often on sale for less.

I think you mean laptop cooling pads, Daniel.

I gotta get me one of those for my mom’s Dell Inspiron laptop, especially when my brother or my mother uses it in the summer months. Highly recommend getting a laptop cooling pad.

I upgraded the hard drive and ram in my Toshiba P205D-S7438 (it’s a year or two old). A while after this it started shutting itself off, and seemed to be getting worse. It sure seemed like an overheating problem. I vacuumed out the cooling ports, but this didn’t help. Then a tip from the internet suggested a BIOS upgrade. I did this on Jan-11-2010, and this has cured the problem completely. I use the computer multiple hours every day, sometimes all day.

Good luck,

Brian
Ausitn, Texas

Brian, I think certain Toshiba laptops have faulty power management problems which is why your Toshiba laptop has some unexpected shutdown problems but it’s good you updated the laptop BIOS to fix those problems.

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How would you like to have a Gateway NX860XL or 685 and bought a 4 year warranty on it and then hae Gateway sold to MPC who went bankrupt and need service and not be able to get any service. I paid my money to Gateway not MPC and have a machine that is still in “warranty” but have no ability to have it serviced. I think Gateway is a fraud for doing this to honest consumers. I want it fixed or a new computer cause I’m having an over heating issue. I replaced a hard drive myself that was supposed to be under warranty. MPC strung me along for parts for 5 months before chapter 7 …. Lots of people sent their laptops in and were left without any machine.

Tell me is Gateway acting fair.. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NONO

I feel ripped off by Gateway… NO SUPPORT and no repairs even though I paid for it.

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I upgraded the hard drive and ram in my Toshiba P205D-S7438 (it’s a year or two old). A while after this it started shutting itself off, and seemed to be getting worse. It sure seemed like an overheating problem. I vacuumed out the cooling ports, but this didn’t help. Then a tip from the internet suggested a BIOS upgrade. I did this on Jan-11-2010, and this has cured the problem completely. I use the computer multiple hours every day, sometimes all day.

Good luck,

Brian
Ausitn, Texas

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For those of you with Dell and HP laptops purchased in 2008 and earlier that have a faulty NVIDIA graphics chip that can cause overheating, visit this page for the links that identify which models are affected and have been provided with a BIOS update that speedens up the internal fan. – http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Laptop-Notebook-Problems-1.htm

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Came across this while browsing around.
More ambitious

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