Laptop questions

[tonyromen]

My girlfriend has an old Sony Notebook with a 500mhz or so K-6 in it a Vaio F630. A couple months ago, it started to make a whirring sound intermittantly. It sounded to me like fan off it's axis or something. The time I heard that noise before was when a fan in one of my desktops was nearing the end of it's life. I replaced the fan, and all is good. Well I've noticed that the noise is now gone. However, I could tell you exacly where the processor is, because it's blazing hot on the underside, and eventually the heat rises to the keys.

My questions are:
How are laptops cooled?

Is it the same scheme as desktops?

One fan blowing air in, another sucking it out?

Heatsink and fan on the proc?

How often do the "cooling systems" of laptops break down?

Has anyone ever cracked open their laptop and messed with the insides before? I mean, I've built computers before, but I've never messed with laptops.


I think it locked up for the first time last night, and it's probably because of the heat generated without sufficient cooling. Any words of advice?

Thanks in advance!

.:T:.

There is usually just an exhaust fan on laptops. The heatsink is usually a rather large plate on top of the CPU used to dissipate the heat. It's rather very easy to open the laptop and replace the fan. You might need to take a picture of the fan and we can help you look for one. I actually have a few from inside old Compaqs that might work for you.

[tonyromen]

Originally posted by EvilRick
There is usually just an exhaust fan on laptops. The heatsink is usually a rather large plate on top of the CPU used to dissipate the heat. It's rather very easy to open the laptop and replace the fan. You might need to take a picture of the fan and we can help you look for one. I actually have a few from inside old Compaqs that might work for you.

Sweet. So there usually isn't a fan on the cpu? Just a big ol heatsink? Listening closely, I can hear a sort of whirring....but i'm not sure what it is. I do know that that sucker gets pretty hot !

Are notebook fans usually proprietary, like the rest of the insides? or are they usually standard parts?

.:T:..

[The Terk]

Originally posted by tonyromen
Are notebook fans usually proprietary, like the rest of the insides? or are they usually standard parts?

.:T:..

most definately proprietary (non standard fans)! you cant use a 80mm case fan in it! also, the cooling depends on the laptop model itself... i noticed on my dell inspirion 5100 that there are 3 intake (not fans) spots that suck up air, one on the side, one on the bottom, and one somewhere else but the processor has a hs on it that is right next to the exhaust fan, so it blows the majority of the hot air out... if u were able to post some pics of the laptop we could figure out the layout....

[tonyromen]

Originally posted by The Terk
most definately proprietary (non standard fans)! you cant use a 80mm case fan in it! also, the cooling depends on the laptop model itself... i noticed on my dell inspirion 5100 that there are 3 intake (not fans) spots that suck up air, one on the side, one on the bottom, and one somewhere else but the processor has a hs on it that is right next to the exhaust fan, so it blows the majority of the hot air out... if u were able to post some pics of the laptop we could figure out the layout....

Yeah, I just didn't know if there were standard sizes and formfactors for laptop fans. I'll bring my digicam and take some pics of it tonight.

Thanks for the help!

.:T:.

I've got two different sizes . . . well, I guess just one. I think I gave one away already.

The one I have is about 1 1/8" square and about 3/8" thick. I ain't got no mm measurin' device around. It has a 3-pin connector on it, very tiny.

I'm not recommending you buy a fan from this place but it might help you find which one you have.

[tonyromen]

Originally posted by EvilRick
I'm not recommending you buy a fan from this place but it might help you find which one you have.

Holy GEEZ! Are those fans made of gold?...that must be it. They're made of gold.

.:T:.