Video card has a little flaw after re-doing CPU thermal paste!

Alright, so I have a cooling fan that my laptop sits on and it works great, and while I resolved my heat issue with Artic Silver 5 thermal compound, the video card works, BUT whenever I put a "stress test" on to "test" it, the entire computer simply turns off.

This has now happened three times, on three different OS's, so it's not the OS.

Device Manager reports no conflicts, and that the device (ATI Fire GL V5200) is "working properly ".

Sigh...I thought I was pretty thorough with remembering where each screw and each cable went after disassembling my Thinkpad to the point where I had access to the CPU.
(thanks Tony for the YouTube links. Very useful! )

One example that most everyone can relate to is the VEI, and 7EI(?), the Vista Experience Index that assigns numbers according to what you have in your system, and how fast it is, etc.

Anyway, the test that the machine is put through when it is being rated! Happens eeeevery time. In just On all three OS's, so what can I do, or check, or whatever in order to attempt a "repair ".

Thank you, guys! I really need help on this one. Can't figure it out.

 

That was my first thought. Tests don't reflect real world. How does your computer work otherwise? If fine, don't mess with it.

 

That's true.

You might want to test your RAM using one of the following programs. Both require you to create and boot to a bootable floppy disk or CD to run the diagnostics. Using the floppy method is generally easier (and another reason to include floppy drives in new builds). However, the CD method is just as effective at detecting RAM problems. Allow the diagnostics to run for several passes or even overnight. You should have no reported errors.

Windows Memory Diagnostic - see the easy to follow instructions under Quick Start Information.
or
MemTest86+ (for more advanced users) - an excellent how-to guide is available here.​

 

Among all sorts of possible problems. It is hard to overemphasis the importance of using a good, brand name, PSU, and avoid the no name, cheap and cheaply made off-brands.

 

Oops.

 

And IBM to me says quality anyway... Though am I too 1990s for you? Either way, one of their monitors was over 12 years old when it finally expired on me...

 

Whoops...I almost forgot about this thread.

Arie...good idea!

Steve: What video card do you have that your Win 7 machine doesn't like??

Bill: Other than the WEI, *everything* works, including Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit. I did buy a cooling fan, which is proving to be HIGHLY effective.

PeteC: T60p -- the last great laptop. lol...I'm holding onto it solely due to the fact that it has an IPS @ 15" 4:3 UXGA. Actually Super IPS w/AFFS.

Alright, I'll test the RAM with at least two different utilities, as the video cards works just great, but I'll do the re-seating of every last cable I unplugged.

Arie, should I reapply the thermal compound. Apparently I did a good job, as, after looking at the temps for about a couple of weeks, are down an average of 25C, and I run it @ High Performance, vs. running it @ Power Saver and 25C warmer.

I can only hope it's the RAM, as I have plenty of it.

 

The only time you can reuse TIM is if you never applied power (heat) to the old. But once the TIM has been heated up, it cures, and has to be removed once the seal is broken.

 

Agreed - I was just blabbering for future readers.