Dell Inspiron 1520 Overheating Issues

I've recently installed Windows 7 64-bit on an Inspiron 1520, and upon trying to overclock the CPU/GPU, I've come across some pretty disturbing heat readings (thus having me revert to normal settings).

On Stock Settings

-I ran Orthos and got a max temp of 98º C on my C2D T7500.
-I ran Furmark and got a max temp of 86º C on my 8600M GT.

I'm pretty sure those temperature readings are not normal? Also when playing a game(usually Team Fortress 2) for about the first 25-30min I get pretty decent performance, though afterwards when it feels like the computer gets a bit too hot the performance declines about 75%, going from 60fps to around 15.

I read somewhere that this model (Inspiron 1520) having only one fan for both CPU & GPU? unsure if thats true. I was just hoping for some options/suggestions to pursue, as of right now I'm looking into undervolting via RMClock, and possibly investing in some OCZ Freeze. If there is a fan mod out there, or some way to improve the internal cooling of the laptop, I'd be very grateful for the direction.

The only gripe I have is cooling pads.. in my opinion, manufacturers should design their hardware with airflow in mind, requiring a cooling pad represents bad quality(to me). That, and they're hideous and lag the portability of what is supposed to be a mobile device; I would only resort to this as an absolute last option.

Any direction would be very appreciated :]

 

Have the temps always been that high? Have you tried dusting out the fan and heatsink recently?

 

What is your ambient room temperature? If it is 50C then your temps are fine but if it is like 20-30C you might have an issue.

The GPU/CPU share the same fan. Make sure it isn't clogged with crud. Blow out the heatsinks with canned air. The heatsinks don't really cross for the GPU/CPU but the fins are right by each other.

Check my signature on my Vostro 1500/Inspiron 1520 teardown/repaste guide.

 

And, just to add on like what the others have mentioned......

What you are doing for those temperatures are actually "beyond" what most games and applications do. The tests you are doing are actually stress tests that pushes the system (in fact, any system) to the max, thus giving off way much higher temperatures... I would like to know what are your normal gaming and idling temperatures (surfing the web, checking email, whatever) would be of better information.

To have a maximum control of fan speed, you can use I8kfan to force the fan to max rpm giving off cooler temperatures, but with the compromise of noise. (which is quite manageable IMO)

On another note, how long did you run these series of stress tests?

 

Yeah but if you do extreme gaming (though I wouldn't recommend it on just an 8600M GT) or extreme number crunching, those tasks would be as stressful as benchmarks. Of course that doesn't apply to normal tasks.

But there are also so many factors that contribute to overheating. Ambient room temps, poorly applied thermal paste from the factory, fans clogged up, heatsink fins clogged up.

Though my T7500 doesn't get anywhere near that. It was repasted with AS5 and everything cleaned out with 23.5C ambient room temperature doesn't go above like 62C Prime95 full load, though every processor is binned differently...

 

Not entirely so. The 1520/1720s as far as observed doesn't really have an issue with overheating with most users. The GPU's cooling is quite manageable, with most users at the standard temperature in the 60s and early 70s, Crysis and everything else. Like you've mentioned, yes, dust and TIM does have the overall cooling effectiveness.