I have a dell xps with a nvidia geforce 8600 gts. Running windows vista home premium. If I try to watch a video online within a few minutes I hear the fan rev up and the video stops though I can still hear the audio. I have run avg, malware, spybot, ccleaner, ad-aware, both in standard mode and in safe mode, with the pc disconnected from the internet. I find no problems. I can watch DVD's and also video off a thumb drive no issues. Any thoughts?
It's the 'streaming' video that's causing the problem. That's why DVD player works fine. Sounds like the common problem of an overheating GPU chipset (Graphics processing unit). No manufacturer adequately cools the GPU anymore. If you keep using the laptop to the point of video shutdown you will eventually create enough heat to de-solder the GPU chipset from the motherboard. At that point your scre...d. Blame it on poor cooling methods and lead free solder requirements. Check the air vents for dust buildup. I never recommend using caned air because it just blows the dust inside the laptop, sort of defeating the purpose of removing the heat blanket of dust? A clean dry stiff paint brush will reach the inner parts of the vents. Use a vacuum while you force the brush into the vent. If you can remove all the bottom covers and vacuum in there too it will help. If removing the bottom covers gives you access to the CPU/GPU heatsink and fan, pull the fan and sink and add a good silver sink paste in lieu of those cheap gray rubber pads they use on dells. Some dells have access under the keyboard. That's only 4 screws to remove the power cover and the keyboard. Your "service manual" with blow by blow and picture assist is on the dell website under "Support". If you have a cpu heat shutdown setting in bios, lower it about 5 to 10 degrees. The CPU heatsink is merged with the GPU heatsink and they share a fan. It will help prolong the inevitable. Hope that helps.
If you are using windows media player as your ap try this diagnostic by Microsoft. http://support.microsoft.com/mats/windows_media_player_diagnostic
well at this point I am no longer using this pc. I need to find someone who can trouble shoot it. It no longer boots up. I am having to use an 8 year old lap top and a 10 year old pc that are slow and high memory usage
ddran is right on. Putting a laptop actually ON your lap is a bad idea. One can compound the problem by putting the laptop on one's lap covered with a blanket or comforter or using the laptop on carpet. Not only does that impede the airflow, but MUCH worse, it pulls fibers into the heat exchanger and builds up much like a screen on a clothes dryer. I have opened many a laptop of those complaining the computer shuts down after a few minutes, only to find the air chamber to be packed tight with lint-like debris. You can try a powerful vacuum to attempt to free some of the debris if you don't wish to open it up and clean it.
