temps on M4400 OK?

I've got a Precision M4400 for which I did some DIY upgrading... Specifically, I put in a T9900 (3.06GHz, 35W TDP) processor and a 256Gb SSD. You can see the specs in my signature, actually.

The problem is that my temperatures seem to be going pretty high. Realtemp is saying that once I turn on the laptop, both CPU cores are at around 30-35 C. But after a very short while, this heats up to the mid-40's. And if I play Sims 3, let's say, the temperature can go up all the way to the high 70's. The GPU seems to stay at under 80 C, which I think should be fine.

The laptop is used either on my lap or on my bed... I seem to give it enough room to exchaust heat via its vent, but maybe the bed isn't an ideal environment. One thing to note is that I replaced the standard thermal tape on the heatsink with a good thermal paste. But I'm worried that maybe I didn't put enough, or too much. The heat is felt all over the laptop, though, so I think that spreading it to the heatsink might not be the problem.

Do these temperatures sound OK for how I'm using it? I understand that 100 degrees is technically OK for most mobile C2D CPU's, but I'm curious as to how hot other people's M4400's get.

 

You should be OK if the CPU temps are staying below 80C. I recall getting hotter than that in a Toshiba R500 with a U7600 CPU (and a minuscule fan).

If the T9900 doesn't use a half multiplier then you could investigate undervolting the CPU. You should be able to take 5 to 10C off the maximum temperature.

I would recommend that you use a tray on top of the bed. The lap trays are very suitable. Otherwise either the air won't be able to get to the air inlets on the base and/or fluff will get sucked in and clog the cooling system.

John

 

I think that these temps are quite normal given the fact that you play games on your lap Mine vary from 30s (on the desk) to 50s (when I use it on my lap or bed). It's quite the same with the VGA - 50s against 80s.
The vent isn't enough to cool the temps down so as John suggests, you can use a cooling pad as for example this one - http://www.thermaltake.com/product/Cooler/NBcooling/r15on01/r15on01.asp . I think it can help you a lot with the temps and it still is going to be comfy to work with it on your lap ... and is completely quiet. It's just a suggestion

Pantersen

 

Does anyone know if the 12-cell battery slice from Dell might help? Or would it be too heavy/unwieldy compared to the Dell "cool-slice"?

 

Neither the battery slice nor the cool slice will help cool the computer, they will both reduce the heat passing downwards from the bottom of the computer. You need an active cooling system such as mentioned here.

John

 

could you try intelburntest to test your 4400(http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=197835). i got a max of 90C CPU temperature for a P8600 in vostro 1320.

 

i dont know the amount of space between the battery slice and the bottom panel, however the coolslice does reduce the temps if u use it on a bed/lap under normal usage, but under heavy usage it seems to increase temps compared to leaving the laptop on a desk or elevating it.

so for normal usage, use coolslice

for heavy usage use a active notebook cooler, or just elevate the laptop so it has better airflow.