Laptop fan always on 1

[xwb]

My son has a Samsung X11 laptop. It is a T5600 with 1Gb RAM. This is supposedly a Centrino Duo if the labels are to be believed. For some reason, the fan is always on. The CPU running at 15% max load so I don't quite understand why the fan is always on and when I feel the heat coming out, it is quite warm. Put a thermometer next to the fan and the temperature is coming out at 50C/120F (might be even higher but that is the max my thermometer goes to).

1) Is this normal on modern laptops?
2) Is it just a Samsung thing?
3) Is there anything else that can be done to lower the power usage. The only screen saver is a blank screen and the monitor is off. The disks are switched off after 3 minutes.

 

[stduc]

I don't know about that model, but does the manual have anything to say on the matter? Have you tried contacting the manufacturer - via their website perhaps?
50C does seem a bit warm for the exit air.
General tips.
Check the vents aren't blocked in any way.
Always use on a hard surface.
You could look into the heat pads/trays that are available to keep laptops cool.
Is it being used in a particularly hot environment. > 25C

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[BadBigBen]

Hola, sounds like the Laptop is not going into powersave mode, ergo it is running continously at full speed...

things to check...

under the POWER MANAGEMENT, can be accessed by right clicking on the DESKTOP then SCREENSAVER at the bottom there is a button for the POWERMANAGEMENT... or trough the control panel...
see if it is set to reflect a LAPTOP...
make any appropriate changes there... and see if it changes anything...

Centrino = Chipset, Core2Duo = CPU... a T5600 is a Core2Duo running @ 1.83ghz, last I checked...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[xwb]

That's what I thought: 55C is way too hot. It went up another 5 degrees after I posted the first email.

I have checked the power management. It is the same as other laptops which work quietly. Checked every single tab and check box. Just a thought: might be something in the BIOS. I'll try that alley and let you know.

Manual doesn't say anything about it. Just the usual stuff on how to reinstall software. Their website is pretty crappy. No problem solving stuff: just all the gimmicky snazzy stuff that impresses people who are impressed by pictures.

I'll also try vaccuming the vents when he's not using it.

 

[BadBigBen]

I would also check to see if there is a BIOS update for your system...

http://www.samsungpc.com/products/x11/x11.htm

and see if the ACPI option is activated...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[xwb]

Apparently he was running stuff in the background and even with everything switched off, it was still on full power. If those programs weren't running then the fan didn't come on at all. I've got no idea what these programs do but they must sap a lot of power.

Thanks for the BIOS update - I went to samsung.com and I just couldn't navigate around it.

 

[BadBigBen]

thanx for the Star...

btw. you could list the programs here and if I know them, I could tell you what they do, or what they are...

ie. use HiJackThis, DL from :

http://www.trendsecure.com/portal/en-US/threat_analytics/hijackthis.php

do a log and paste it here...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[xwb]

It is a game simulation that he is running and he happens to be running 4 copies of the same thing with different parameters. His argument is "why else would you buy a dual core CPU - so you can run more simulations".

Also, he had his file on top of the keyboard which probably doesn't help the cooling a lot.

 

[stduc]

LOL

Check these out.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?TabID=1&criteria=usb&ModuleNo=48976&doy=search&C=SO&U=Strat15

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[xwb]

stduc #1 son was telling me about this. His aunt got one with two 2Gb memory sticks thrown in free from Malaysia for £20 (+ cost of air fare and muscle power lugging it to and from the airport). It is all relative isn't it? Pay the extra £9 and you can spend your holiday money on other things.

 

[BadBigBen]

His argument is "why else would you buy a dual core CPU - so you can run more simulations".

Yep, I kinda agree with that...

except, that single cores are getting harder and harder to find...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."