Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: mj1976 on June 24, 2009, 07:15:49 AM
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I've got an issue with my laptop but I'm not sure whether to try and fix it or just buy a new one.
It has been running hot for years, and occasionally cutting out. I replaced the fan a while back and cleaned the vents, but it didn't prevent the power cuts. The repair shop ran some power tests and said they could find nothing wrong, and as I couldn't reproduce the cut-out on demand there was nothing they could do. It continued to run hot and cut out intermittently.
The cut-outs are getting more and more frequent - but they're not just after long periods of operation, they can be completely random and happen only one or two minutes after startup.
I assumed the cut-outs were caused by overheating, but as the issue appears to be escalating (and can occur when cold) I'm not sure if this is a different problem or simply the result of more serious damage caused by long-term overheating.
This is beyond my ability to diagnose and repair but I don't know if it is worth seeking further professional help or just writing it off and getting a new computer.
Any advice you could offer would be much appreciated please.
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Times, when laptops with similar specs were twice as expensive, as desktops are long gone.
Since your laptop is "years" old, I'd definitely go for a new one.
You can get decent one for under $500.
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I have to agree with Broni.
If you replace the laptop then you will get something that is less likely to have a hardware issue for a while, and it will be under warranty. Plus you get the added benefit of a hardware upgrade.
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Long term overheating can cause degradation in semiconductors (like a CPU). The kind of instability you describe is typical of the sort I would expect from this process. In a desktop environment, increasing the voltage to the CPU might mitigate the instability and improving the cooling efficiency would go a long way toward curing the rate of degradation, but laptop environments typically do not easily offer those kinds of adjustments.
Take a look at a new laptop as suggested and see if the price difference is worth investing any more time and money into your current equipment. Good Luck!
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It has been running hot for years, and occasionally cutting out. ...
I assumed the cut-outs were caused by overheating, but as the issue appears to be escalating (and can occur when cold)
Warm temperatures seen by computer users do not harm semiconductors. But when semiconductors go bad, heat is the diagnostic tool to make that weakness obvious.
Many confuse this by saying heat degrades semiconductors. Inside your laptop is a failing part. As the part continues to fail, your symptoms occur at lower temperatures.
Warmer room temperatures identified the defect months ago. Now, as that manufacturing defect progresses, the same failure occurs at cooler temperatures. Many techs would have solved that defect by curing the symptoms - more fans.
Better information might be available if your manufacturer was responsible - provided comprehensive hardware diagnostic for free on the disk drive, on a CD, and on the web site. Not all manufacturers are so responsible. But your failure is exactly why the better manufacturer provides those comprehensive diagnostics.
Unfortunately, most techs do not have the necessary technical ability to find that failure- can only swap parts. You probably don't want to spend that much money on shotgunning.
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Adding on to what westom said..
Perhaps you can try using a cooling pad or one that has at least 4 fans to help
keep your laptop cool.
If that fails, best bet is to get a new laptop
And you'll even have a cooling pad to keep cool