Overheating? Laptop Keeps Crashing

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Ikarii_

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#1 Ikarii_
Member since 2005 • 33 Posts

Alright, so I've got a bit of a problem with my Toshiba Laptop. It's about 4 years old and has rarely given me problems, until recently. The model number is Toshiba Satellite A200-TJ5

On Monday, I decided to play a video game in the morning and to my surprise the laptop crashed within 2 minutes. I didn't think much of it, so I restarted the laptop only to find that the onscreen image appears "broken" or distorted. The laptop doesn't even load but instead goes straight to a BSOD while windows is trying to load. Since the image is distorted I can't really tell you what it says. The laptop shuts down on this screen and if I reboot it I get the same distorted image and BSOD issue. I have to leave the laptop off for about 15 minutes, then it started up just fine.

So I decided to stream a video but within ten minutes, the laptop crashed again. I then got the distorted image and BSOD problem, so I waited another 15 minutes. After some testing I realized that now I can't play any video games, or watch any videos because the laptop keeps crashing when I do these things.

I figured, maybe the fan is dusty. So I get my compressed air spray and send it into the vents, but there was no dust since I had cleaned it earlier this month and I also use a cooling pad.

So I downloaded a program to monitor the temperatures of the hardware. The CPU and hard drive seemed fine, but I noticed right away that my video card has jumped to 70 Celsius, and my computer only just started and doesn't feel hot at all. So I tested this and I noticed when I played any video game the video card temp jumps up quickly and reaches 100 Celsius after about 1 minute, and then my computer crashed. I streamed a video and I noticed a slower increase, but after 10 minutes the video card temp jumps to 100 Celsius and it crashes. During this the CPU temp was around 66 Celsius, but I think that's normal.

Also, I have windows fully updated and all drivers as well.

Here's a screenshot of the temp when my computer is on idle after just being started:

http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/9681/idletempk.jpg

Temperature

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04dcarraher

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#2 04dcarraher
Member since 2004 • 23858 Posts

This might help http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834991042

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ChiliDragon

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#3 ChiliDragon
Member since 2006 • 8444 Posts
So I tested this and I noticed when I played any video game the video card temp jumps up quickly and reaches 100 Celsius after about 1 minute, and then my computer crashed. I streamed a video and I noticed a slower increase, but after 10 minutes the video card temp jumps to 100 Celsius and it crashes.Ikarii_
100C is the boiling point of water. That is definitely too hot. How much of the back of the laptop can you remove? Opening it up and thoroughly dusting everything would not be a bad idea. What kind of cooling pad do you use, and are you sure it is as effective as advertised? If it is broken, replacing it may fix the issue. Though to be honest, if only one single component overheats, it's usually a matter of that component being broken. If it is a separate GPU with its own heatsink, you can try checking the thermal paste, if you have access to it.
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Ikarii_

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#4 Ikarii_
Member since 2005 • 33 Posts

I'm actually not very technically savvy, so I'm not sure what you mean by thermal paste. Also, I believe the card is integrated, so I won't be able to remove it from the motherboard to apply this thermal paste. I might be able to open the back of the laptop up, but the back pad spans the entire back of the laptop so I'm not sure how safe it is it do so.

Also, I'm using theLogitech Cooling Pad N100. I'm not sure how effective it is, but the air from its fan doesn't feel very strong at all.

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ChiliDragon

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#5 ChiliDragon
Member since 2006 • 8444 Posts
Thermal paste = the heat conducting compound that goes between chip, for example CPU, and the heat sink on it. It makes the heat sink more effective by helping it grab and dissipate the heat faster. If you're not comfortable taking the laptop apart, don't try. To be fair, getting them open is usually really easy, but putting them back together requires some knowledge. No point in breaking the thing completely. ;) Is it still under warranty? By the way, I have the cooling pad 04dcarraher linked to for my laptop, and my GPU temps went from upper 80 to mid-70s after long gaming sessions. If the laptop is not under warranty, upgrading the cooling pad can may get you through a few more months, while you look into options for repairs or replacements.
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edinsftw

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#6 edinsftw
Member since 2009 • 4243 Posts

I hate fixing laptops at work soo much. For them most of the time its hardware problems, but you can sell the screens for $100 or more.

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darksusperia

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#7 darksusperia
Member since 2004 • 6945 Posts
the laptop pad linked above moves ALOT more air then the logitech ones...ALOT.. Logitech: ~6 CFM that Thermaltake pad ~54 CFM. Massive airflow difference.
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Ikarii_

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#8 Ikarii_
Member since 2005 • 33 Posts

How do you tell the CFM of a cooling pad? I don't normally buy things online, so I might just go to a local retail store and see what they have to offer. Any idea what I should be looking for?

Also, I found a website that shows how to dissamble my laptop but it seems I have to take apart just about everything to get to the motherboard, so I suppose that won't be happening. Here's a look for anyone interested:

http://www.irisvista.com/tech/laptops/toshiba-satellite-a205/laptop-disassembly-1.htm