Configuring for less cpu usage?

[brett]

I have an HP Pavilion zd7000. The fans are usually spinning at a good
rate. I don't think this is healthy for them since they are very
mechanical. I'd like to avoid sending the laptop in for repairs because
of excessive wear and tear on fans. This unit is 2.5 years old. The
laptop has 1.5GB RAM, 4200 RPM HD with 4GB free space, and a P4 3.2Ghz
cpu.

I open task manager to see what may be heating up the cpu. Click the
Process tab and then order the cpu column so that higher numbers are at
the top, I see these jumping in and out of the top slots:

System Idle Process (usually has 94 - 98 in cpu column)
iexplorer.exe (IE7 with about 12 tabs open)
iTunes.exe (usually am not doing anything with it)
explorer.exe
mstsc.exe
msimn.exe

The above items usually go between 02 - 12 or more in the cpu column.
I like leaving applications open since it saves much time in
closing/reopening. Most of the time I'm in IE7.

Is there anything I can do to cut down on the fan spinning (i.e. cpu
getting hot). My CPU Usage (under Performance tab) usually fluctuates
between 2 and 12 but sometimes goes up to 20 and 33. Is this normal?

Are there any tools to that can help me find figure out why the fans
are spinning so much or just something in general I can do?

Thanks,
Brett

 

[paulmd]

I have an HP Pavilion zd7000. The fans are usually spinning at a good
rate. I don't think this is healthy for them since they are very
mechanical. I'd like to avoid sending the laptop in for repairs because
of excessive wear and tear on fans. This unit is 2.5 years old. The
laptop has 1.5GB RAM, 4200 RPM HD with 4GB free space, and a P4 3.2Ghz
cpu.

I open task manager to see what may be heating up the cpu. Click the
Process tab and then order the cpu column so that higher numbers are at
the top, I see these jumping in and out of the top slots:

System Idle Process (usually has 94 - 98 in cpu column)
iexplorer.exe (IE7 with about 12 tabs open)
iTunes.exe (usually am not doing anything with it)
explorer.exe
mstsc.exe
msimn.exe

The above items usually go between 02 - 12 or more in the cpu column.
I like leaving applications open since it saves much time in
closing/reopening. Most of the time I'm in IE7.

Is there anything I can do to cut down on the fan spinning (i.e. cpu
getting hot). My CPU Usage (under Performance tab) usually fluctuates
between 2 and 12 but sometimes goes up to 20 and 33. Is this normal?

Pretty much normal.

 

[R. McCarty]

Better to not worry about Processes/Services but actually monitor
the thermal conditions inside the notebook. If the processor is not a
"Centrino" technology chip it's likely generating lots of heat. Laptop
PCs run very warm anyway and your only venting is probably the
single exhaust fan on the back. I'd suggest you download and run
SpeedFan 4.31. It should read all the sensors, including the disk drive.
You may be surprised at how hot the notebook actually is running.
If so a "Notebook Chiller" may be a good investment. Antec makes
a nice model that fits most vendor notebooks.

SpeedFan available here:
http://www.almico.com/sfdownload.php

Antec Notebook cooler:
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=75004

 

[brett]

Thanks. I downloaded SpeedFan and the cpu was at 56C. After putting a
book under the back of the laptop and allowing it to take in more air,
it went down to 53C and is now at 50C. I'll keep checking it to see if
it goes lower. Think I like this too (feels more comfortable).
However, I have a little flame next to the temperature read out.
Guessing this is way to hot. What is the normal range?

The fan is very quiet now but why would it still be so hot?

Do you know how exactly the Antec cooler attaches (bottom, outside of
lid, etc)?

I couldn't find how to order it on their site but there are a few other
places:
http://www.google.com/search?q=ante...-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1

Do you know what the difference is with the Perl version?
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=75005. I couldn't
find anyone selling it.

Thanks,
Brett

 

[brett]

Just to see what would happen, I put a little dish of ice under the fan
intake. It went down to 47C and now there is a green check next to the
temperature in SpeedFan.

Brett

 

[R. McCarty]

132-F isn't a danger level temp especially if your notebook has a
traditional NetBurst/Non-Centrino CPU.

All CPUs have a "Critical" temp. At this point the CPU will start to
automatically throttle itself to lower temps. There is a "Cutoff" value
where the CPU will simply Halt to prevent damage. The thresholds
vary depending on which CPU is being used. You can check Intel's
website they usually post the Thermal ratings for each processor.

Notebook manufacturers DO NOT want customers to complain on
the noise that fans make. While it makes no sense they'd rather allow
the notebook temp to get dangerously high than allow the fans to
run longer/faster to keep things cool. SpeedFan has the provision to
let the user raise the speed and select trigger temps when fans engage.

The Antec cooler sits on a slightly raised feet. The notebook just sits
on top and the fans ventilate the hot air away from the notebook. It
(Antec cooler) receives it power from a USB socket and then has an
extension so you plug USB devices into it and not loose the use of a
USB port.

Believe the only difference is style/color, functionality is the same.
Most Office Supply stores ( Staples, Office Depot/Max ) have them on
the shelves.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Thanks. I downloaded SpeedFan and the cpu was at 56C. After putting a
book under the back of the laptop and allowing it to take in more air,
it went down to 53C and is now at 50C. I'll keep checking it to see if
it goes lower. Think I like this too (feels more comfortable).
However, I have a little flame next to the temperature read out.
Guessing this is way to hot. What is the normal range?

The fan is very quiet now but why would it still be so hot?

Turn off the laptop.
Get your vacuum cleaner and take off al nozzles.
Turn on vacuum cleaner.
Repeatedly hold the hose over all vents for a minute each, moving it to
apply vacuum to the whole vent area.
Turn off the vacuum cleaner and try the laptop again.

 

[brett]

The fan is very quiet now but why would it still be so hot?

Turn off the laptop.
Get your vacuum cleaner and take off al nozzles.
Turn on vacuum cleaner.
Repeatedly hold the hose over all vents for a minute each, moving it to
apply vacuum to the whole vent area.
Turn off the vacuum cleaner and try the laptop again.

Thanks Frank. I will do that.

If the temperature range the cpu is in now is normal, I may not bother
with the external fan. One appeal about having a laptop is you can
quickly go to another room or patio and work. Once you start
connecting all sorts of devices to it, you're no better than a desktop
again.

Since I put the book underneath the laptop, it hasn't spun up.
Normally it would be fluctuating.

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Since I put the book underneath the laptop, it hasn't spun up.
Normally it would be fluctuating.

That worked for me for a couple months before I had to vacuum.

 

[Guest]

Brett,

I'm have a zd7000 as well. Another tip along with the excellent ones
suggested so far would be to remove your fans and heatsink and clean them.
The first time I did this, you wouldn't believe how much quieter the fans
ran.

When the vents and fan blades get plugged up with dust, dirt and hair, the
airflow is restricted, so cpu just ramps up the fan rpm to keep the airflow
up.

If you're not mechanically inclined, have a shop do it for you. If you DIY,
remember to remove the old thermal paste from the processor and heatsink
base, and add new paste as you put it back together.

Detailed instructions, with pictures can be found here:
http://www.zd7000forums.com/viewtopic.php?t=7105&highlight=heatsink+removal

Good luck.