Ran into the PowerBook heat design flaw
It is well-known that the newer PowerBooks have the nice option to attach almost any size of external screen (up to this beauty) - what is rather seldom the case for a notebook. Making use of this option means mostly that the PowerBook is used with closed lid and having screen, keyboard and mouse connected.
Using the PowerBook in that way exposes a serious design flaw. The left and right fan, mounted in the back of the notebook can only dissipate a limited amount of heat. The outgoing air channel is much smaller as when the notebook is used with open screen, additionally if placed on a table - the small exhaust ends more or less on the table.
I've been using my PowerBook like this for some times now - and as the PowerBook can run more or less without fans when working under normal condition I didn't had any trouble. I unfortunately had to learn it the hard-way last week - had an crashed application using 100% CPU over a longer period of time (>10min) and I was not at my desk. Returning I found the fans running at full speed, the notebook not responding to any user input and the case almost impossible to touch because of the heat.
I had to give the PowerBook away to get repaired - as it was not stable anymore (random crashes as soon as the temperature is getting hotter e.g. while burning DVD).
I'm astonished that there is not overheat protection built-in that e.g. shuts down the notebook, force it to sleep mode or reduce the CPU speed to produce less heat.
Technorati Tags: powerbook overheat
Using the PowerBook in that way exposes a serious design flaw. The left and right fan, mounted in the back of the notebook can only dissipate a limited amount of heat. The outgoing air channel is much smaller as when the notebook is used with open screen, additionally if placed on a table - the small exhaust ends more or less on the table.
I've been using my PowerBook like this for some times now - and as the PowerBook can run more or less without fans when working under normal condition I didn't had any trouble. I unfortunately had to learn it the hard-way last week - had an crashed application using 100% CPU over a longer period of time (>10min) and I was not at my desk. Returning I found the fans running at full speed, the notebook not responding to any user input and the case almost impossible to touch because of the heat.
I had to give the PowerBook away to get repaired - as it was not stable anymore (random crashes as soon as the temperature is getting hotter e.g. while burning DVD).
I'm astonished that there is not overheat protection built-in that e.g. shuts down the notebook, force it to sleep mode or reduce the CPU speed to produce less heat.
Technorati Tags: powerbook overheat
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