LinuxQuestions.org
Help answer threads with 0 replies.
Go Back   LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware
User Name
Password
Linux - Hardware This forum is for Hardware issues.
Having trouble installing a piece of hardware? Want to know if that peripheral is compatible with Linux?

Notices


Reply
  Search this Thread
Old 07-18-2006, 06:29 PM   #1
jrdioko
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2002
Distribution: Debian 6.0.2 (squeeze)
Posts: 944

Rep: Reputation: 30
Thinkpad T41 laptop running hot


I just got back from a month and a half vacation away from home and computers, and arrived back to find that my laptop seems to feel a lot hotter on the bottom than it usually does. Granted, it's been almost two months and maybe I just forgot how it normally feels, but especially when it is plugged in it gets quite hot to the touch, and this is a Pentium M processor and a laptop that I think is normally very cool.

As far as I can tell, fans are running and everything is working correctly otherwise. Are there any diagnostics I can run or checks I can do to see if something isn't as it should be?

Thanks.
 
Old 07-18-2006, 07:06 PM   #2
Matir
LQ Guru
 
Registered: Nov 2004
Location: San Jose, CA
Distribution: Debian, Arch
Posts: 8,507

Rep: Reputation: 128Reputation: 128
I'd start by getting a can of air and blowing into all of the air vents around the bottom and sides of the laptop. Over two months, it's possible that the system collected some dust on heatsinks and the like.

Also, you can use lm-sensors to check your processor's core temperature.
 
Old 07-18-2006, 07:43 PM   #3
jrdioko
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2002
Distribution: Debian 6.0.2 (squeeze)
Posts: 944

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 30
The laptop was inside a case the whole time, so I don't know if dust is too likely, but I can give that a try (is it a good idea to blow all the dust deeper inside, though?).

Could you give a little more information on Im-sensors (links?), and, once I do get a temperature, where can I find what the range should be?

Thanks again.
 
Old 07-18-2006, 07:55 PM   #4
jrdioko
Member
 
Registered: Oct 2002
Distribution: Debian 6.0.2 (squeeze)
Posts: 944

Original Poster
Rep: Reputation: 30
I thought I should be good and do my research before I ask questions, so I've done so and I'll be a little more specific. I couldn't find much, except something saying Im-sensors code has been known to corrupt EEPROM on Thinkpads. I also use apm, not acpi. Is there an easier way to check cpu temperature I'm not seeing, or even is there a way to do it easily under Windows (I'm dual booting).
 
Old 07-18-2006, 09:22 PM   #5
anibis
Member
 
Registered: Apr 2005
Distribution: FC5 & Slack 10.2
Posts: 50

Rep: Reputation: 15
I'm not sure how to check the temps for laptop's using APM's in linux, check the downloads section on the thinkpad website, they may have a utility for windows to check your temps. Newer laptops keep quite warm, if your laptop is working properly then its more than likely not overheating.

I have a toshiba 3.3ghz and I had overheating problems, the laptop would suddenly shut off if I was doing something that put the cpu under high load, I had to take it apart and blew out quite a bit of dust and animal hair from the inside of the heatsink, there was no way I could have gotten the dust balls out externally.

If you have the laptop on your lap be sure not to block any fan intake or exaust ports, try to keep it on a hard surface as much as possible, also you may want to invest in a cooling pad, they run about 30 bucks and hook up to your usb port, they def help things keep cooler.
 
  


Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off



Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Getting my WiFi to woRk on THINKPAD t41 dOEPain Linux - Laptop and Netbook 3 09-18-2006 03:17 PM
Thinkpad T41 with SuSE 9.3 and XP greentara Linux - Hardware 0 08-09-2005 04:34 AM
Laptop running very hot djljjm Linux - Newbie 3 11-25-2004 12:29 AM
SuSE 9 dual boot XP on ThinkPad T41 dkpw LinuxQuestions.org Member Success Stories 10 11-14-2004 03:25 PM
Laptop Running Hot While Idle? Trey2501 Linux - Laptop and Netbook 6 03-17-2004 07:34 AM

LinuxQuestions.org > Forums > Linux Forums > Linux - Hardware

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:37 PM.

Main Menu
Advertisement
My LQ
Write for LQ
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute content, let us know.
Main Menu
Syndicate
RSS1  Latest Threads
RSS1  LQ News
Twitter: @linuxquestions
Open Source Consulting | Domain Registration