Korean Job Discussion Forums

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

I opened up my laptop the other day and noticed i have easy access to my processor. it's an athlon xp-m, and i think it is causing problems.

any reccomendations or advice on getting a new processor, and installing it?

thanks guys! Smile

Wrench · Joined: 07 Apr 2005

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

Well, whats the problem? I mean... why do you suspect the CPU?

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

i don't use my computer for anything more strenuous than using the internet, watching dvds, and word processing. it copes with all of these things fine. but when i try to run a simple program - specifically Spybot - my cpu counter goes crazy. the fans start whirring like it's going out of fashion. then after ten minutes, the lappy dies.

i have defragmented my HD, and did a full virus scan using Kaspersky's Lab. i also have an external heatsink. i think the problem is the processor, but i'm no expert. what do you guys think?

thanks for your help Smile

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

When you say 'dies', can you be more specific?

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

it just turns itself off. as if it's protecting itself from getting too hot or something. it used to happen before, during the summer when i had no external heatsink. but it's bloody cold in my room now, which is why i think the problem may be something other than the fans. when it turns itself off, the casing underneath doesn't feel too hot.

if i try to turn it back on straight away, it doesn't boot up. the screen just stays black. no BIOS screen or anything.

What d'ya think Dr.Giant? Smile

Giant · Joined: 14 May 2003 Location: South Korea

LOL!! Well, this is a wierd one. But it still could be anything. Have you tried re-seating the CPU, and well as the RAM? And when re-seating the CPU put some thermal paste between the CPU and heatsink.

How old is this laptop?

The thing is... the symptoms are classic to overheating. It may be that you need to blow out your fans with compressed air so they work more efficiantly. (They may be not working efficiantly since they could be blocked with dust/dirt etc.)

Also, I have a Dell and I can download a fan control application. Try and find one for yours. I run my fans at full speed 24/7 so I know my system stays cool.

Well, I hope this helps. Smile

Dodgy Al · Joined: 15 May 2004 Location: Seoul

hi Giant. the computer is about 3 years old, and i try to keep it clean (a much more difficult task in korea!). It's an Aries Precision. i think they are a british company. not a household name so the chances of finding a fan control application are slim. i will hunt for it though.

Where can i buy thermal paste from. i'm a bit scared of doing this myself, as i have no experience of tinkering with computer hardware. do you think i should take it to be serviced somewhere, or would that be a big fat waste of money?

Thanks Giant. U da man!

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Some of those scan programs can eat up all the physical memory, then max out the page file as well, causing the computer to basically just stall there, waiting for more memory, which doesn't come.

So, a big lockup, CPU load is high and all just stops, on high.

Do a "custom scan" with the program, only enabling one scan at a time...not the whole suite of possible scans. It worked for me with "Regisrtry mechanic"...same problem. I eventually got an "out of memory" type error, or a reboot/shutdown.

Doubt it's the CPU. More RAM or do smaller scale scans...bit by bit.