Have i Fried my CPU? due to no Thermal Paste???

Hi guy's, hoping someone can help us out.

I have a Acer Aspire 5535 Laptop and it has suddenly stopped working.

I get a blank screen upon trying to turn it on, i did a little Googling and i found out it could be the Thermal paste that could be to blame so i had a look.

I took it apart and found it was all dried up around the CPU and the Pad on the GPU was falling to bits i removed all the Paste/Pad booted it up and it worked for about 20 seconds on so - enough time to log in etc but then shut off again

I have since bought some Paste - Artic 5 and applie it to both CPU and GPU but it won't show anying on the screen it's just blank grrrrrrrrrr.

Anyone any ideas? could it be that i now need a new GPU? and if so are they easy to fit??

Thanks in advance, iawait any help/replies

Lee.

Just to add, the USB ports and cd drive seem to be ok and when i plug the charger in the Battery light lights up ok too.

Thanks for the reply 13thmonkey.

Maybe i haven't fried it yet! I just swapped the Ram about and it has booted up!!! not sure if it will last though but it's something at least!

It did come up with a screen asking me if i wanted to start Windows normally etc as there's been a problem, damn right there had

Right, this is getting silly now!

I fiddled about with the Heatsink i barely moved it as it was all screwed securely in and turned it on again and it has WORKED! got to the log in screen!!

I don't understand it though - one min it will work then it won't.

Hi Brett,

Thanks for that, very helpful.

I'm back to square one again hence me posting again! I will check all the screws as you suggest but i was going to get a new CPU - same one that's in it now, AMD Athlon X2 QL-60.

Do you think there is anything wrong with the CPU as it will turn on now and again or do you think it's ok and just needs adjusting slightly?


Thanks again buddy

Hi mate,

I have tightened every screw as much as i can and double checked them but now it won't show anything on the screen

I'm on the verge of ordering a new CPU in the hope that will fix it, anyone think it may?

Hi majorgibly,

I shall take another look tomorrow ( bed time here ) and post back.

I thought changing the CPU in this laptop would be simple no? it just seems to pop out with 1 latch - i was going to get the same CPU again like for like swap, i'm guessing it aint that easy though!

they may have used a bigger heat sink, fasfter fan with the bigger chips to get rid of the heat, latops are a lot more thermally constrained than desktops.

I would be leaning towards something more than a burned out processor, my experience with processors (at least most made in the last 10 years) are pretty rugged in terms of surviving overheating. The system shuts down to protect the overheating CPU from damage. Normally letting the system cool off and starting it up again would give a video signal until another shutdown.

Reading back on this post, the only evidence you have leaning you towards a failing/overheating CPU is the fact that you found the thermal paste to be caked up?

Hi again,

I can't get CoreTemp to run - get an error message but i used Speedfan instead, results below.




I have had it running ok for over 2 hours now BUT i have not screwed the back on or risked turning it off and restarting!

The Fan and the exit looked like this!

Hi

Take my word..its NOT the CPU....

All the best Brett

Hi

I have already told him what I suspect..he didnt get the heatink fan unit securely and horizontally fixed down evenly....

Any more than that he needs to take it to a Pro...if it was in front of me I could fix it...but its not and as I cannot even see it, all I can do is offer advice based on 29 plus years experience...

All the best Brett

Alrite guys, me again!

I've managed to get it on but sure how or why it has come one but it has.

I think though it will go back to the way it was when i attempt to restart it - did once or twice before.

Here's the Temp readings - they did go as high as 39c 32c and 37c though.



I'm possibly thinking it may need a Copper shim/Thermal Pad on the GPU instead of Paste - there was a Pad on there originally.

I have checked and double checked the Heatsink/Fan is securely screwed down correctly, seems fine can't tighten the screws anymore.

Thanks for trying to help guys, maybe i can bring it to you Brett, if it aint a simple fix where you based?

Ok, thanks mate.

Frustrating the hell out of me this is! Got it to work then powers up then pop off it goes

leew99, Hi. I had to leave a message about some of your posts.. you never ever want to over-tighten screws! That's a fantastic way to crack something, and that's beyond bad.

Other than that - have you gotten a solution to your problem? I know it's been a couple of months since your last post, and I'd like to help out!