Yet another question on heating issues...

Hello everyone!

First off, I'm terrible sorry for beating a dead horse here, but I'm starting to get concerned about the heat of my M14x-R1. I have the 2670QM, and even installed a SSD (partially because I was hoping it would help with heat).

Despite this, I've been getting temps of 95-99C while playing games such as TF2, Shogun 2 TW, Skyrim, and the like.

The problem with this is, I have a cooler (U2) and even resorted to putting a fan behind my laptop to try and vent away some of the hot air. I have Turbo disabled, the correct BIOS...and a partridge and a pear tree.

Unfortunatly, I did not get the extended warranty (mistake, I'm now finding out). Is there a long term threat when it comes to running temps this hot? I put a lot of cash into this notebook, and honestly I'm kind of bummed that I have to be constantly concerned about it melting into a pile of goo. My last laptop (an old M17-R1) died because of a overheated GPU, so I'm somewhat paranoid this time around.

Any ideas as to what else I can do? Thanks a ton in advance!

 

I had the same issue, than I re-pasted. My GPU never reaches above 75 degrees now. The stuff they put on these laptops isn't even thermal paste. Its more of a thermal pad that is pre-applied on the heatsinks so the techs building the laptop don't have to take the time a squeeze it out of a bottle and apply it properly. Its a pad that with heat mold around and over the cpu. Its like the stock thermal paste on a stock intel cooler except worse. The stuff is complete garbage and half of the time the heatsink isn't even bolted down tight enough so there is either plenty of air or not enough contact.


Either get Dell to re-paste and buy some of the good stuff for them to use if its still under warranted, do it yourself its pretty easy just long, or find/pay someone to do it.

 

This.

re-paste is step one. opening up a laptop can be intimidating but the M14x isnt that bad. there are many videos on youtube and on my R2 all the screw holes are even labeled so you dont attempt the wrong size screw in the wrong hole.

you should notice a nice drop in temps after doing this.

 

PLEASE READ: http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/686354-my-m14x-r2-repaste-details.html

Several steps can be taken, and my results suggest that the biggest GPU temp drop might be had from simply cleaning the guts of dust and debris and propping the back up 1/2".

I used to have an r1, and would hit core temps of 98c or 99c when rendering in AE or otherwise stressing. It messed up my VJing because I was always getting throttled when I hit a certain temp under stress. The r2 is pretty much a slap to the r1 - It greatly reduces the heat issues and becomes a beast when you repaste and tune it.

 

Check out these tips to keep temps under control. But I agree, re-pasting can significantly drop those temps. I'll leave the service manual for that system so you have a guide.