M14x temperatures

Hi guys! I just got my new Alienware m14x, and after playing some Dawn of War 2, my cpu's temps were in the 50s. Does that sound right for the i5 2430m? It didn't overheat on me while I was playing so I think it is OK but I want to be sure. Also, I noticed that some areas of this machine get very warm, I have heard that is common but can someone verify that for me? Thank you and have a nice day!

 

Cpu temp seems fine. Download gpu-z and check your gpu temps (make sure continuous log is checked).

 

There are also alternative to that program, by using program specifically create to monitor the temp such as HWMonitor, OpenHardwareMonitor, Real Temp etc...

 

Well I ran speedfan to check. It looked like the cores were in the 50s. I think that is right considering that I have not overclocked and have it on a cooling pad. I was worried because before I did that there were random frame drops on the final mission in dawn of war 2: retribution, it is hard to believe it was throttling though because the session that I played to test the temps was longer than the time I played then, and the person who was playing said he noticed no slowdown, and I did not notice any either. That also never happened before the incident where I got worried. Thank you guys for responding though I appreciate it! This forum seems very good!

 

Hey quick update I just played the final mission again and all the way through and had no frame drops. Last time I did not even play the entire mission, so I don't know what happened.

 

I had no idea the i5 was that different in terms of heat. Load only in the 50s? My i7 is at 50 degrees idle right now.

 

Lol right? My i7 runs about ohhhhh 99C playing swtor...... I say bring on the heat and ill use that 3 year warrenty

 

Well I checked the temps right after gaming and they were in the 50s. Maybe they get in the 60s and 70s while gaming. Also, I recently installed Skyrim and while the framerate is decent one session I started getting some stutters, not like fps dips but the game like freezes up for like a second. Is that throttling? If so, what do you think this is? I don't know if I need to make a new thread for this question but it seems to be somewhat on-topic. Also, Id id not know overheating was in the warranty.

 

Okay so my 2630QM is at 70 degrees C right now and all I'm doing is browsing and transfering files from external to external..Is this normal?? Sorry but my previous M11x had an average of 38 degrees C so this is kinda scary..Not to mention I haven't even overclocked it yet...:|

 

Yes it is normal, in fact it happen to all i7 CPU since it run hot, I normally get around that temp when doing normal stuff. But if it hit 80s then you might want to start worry.

 

If youre afraid about your CPU I would disable turbo boost. Ive yet to see a difference but I remember my temps idle were about 40 degrees which is a nice drop. I never go over 70 gaming. (I cant check now as I sent my m14x in to Dell for a mobo repair)

 

One more thing I want to add to Gearsguy is the performance, if you disable the Turbo Boost, you wont get any performance drop, because Turbo Boost is not meant for gaming it is for getting thing done faster. And yes disable the Turbo Boost (you can do it in the BIOS, press F2 at startup and it will be in the Advance tab) will tremendously decrease the heat. It is a very good thing since disable it will not give you any major disadvantage. But do also expect to see some slower everyday performance such as transferring files or virus scanning, because that's what Turbo Boost is for.

 

hi, i just want to but in seeing that thread starter is also has an i5. I've only been playing skyrim on my m14x on med settings 1366x768 res. so far no stutter etc even when gaming for +4hrs straight. My concern is temp. when idle i get ~40C for both gpu and cpu. while gaming, cpu gets to 70-80 and gpu maxes out at 70. when i hit alt+tab temp rapidly decreases down to 50's for both cpu and gpu. the computer doesn't feel hot besides from the speaker area(where gpu&cpu are at) which is only relatively warm. If i put my hand near the vent though it gets really hot. do i need to do a repaste or will a cooler suffice?(i have 1/2 inch books on the sides to raise the laptop a bit.)

 

I would try cleaning out your computer with compressed air ($5 for a can at OfficeMax/Staples), or getting a cooler if youre concerned. Honestly I found that if you keep it clean and raise it up with 6 DVD cases youre fine (stack them by 2, and put 3 under the machine horizontally with the main fan just floating)

 

I'd use Throttlestop to set the multiplier rather than disabling turboboost in BIOS. Gives me much flexibility

 

Anybody getting CPU temps over 100C? That's our spec.

 

I once used to get to 99C on Core 0 and 1 (but that was a long time ago, around 3-4 month ago), but not 100C, still it is very very close and the was before I get a cooler and disable the Turbo Boost, after I get a cooler and disable the turbo boost, the max temp I get is 93C. However, now the overheat is not on the CPU but it is the GPU, every 2-4 days I will get a BSOD of GPU overheat, it's like a tradition now.

 

I would see usually about 90-95C on Core 0 and Core 1 just like CGSDR, and a little lower on Core 2 and 3.

CGSDR, clean your system with compressed air. I was getting BSOD's because of overheating but I cleaned out the fan area and HUGE clumps of dust and pocket-lint-looking wads came flying out. I now hit 70C overclocked at max, usually lower. I think the problem is that it uses one large fan instead of maybe two smaller ones, which just makes the system breathe in lots of debris.

 

That was a long time ago when it happen, for now like I said I never actually reach 95C on any core at all, plus around a week ago I call Dell to come to paste the thermal compound and now the temp is even drop lower, for e.g a few days I test it on Skyrim and BF3, the avg max temp for Skyrim is 80C, now it's 64-65C and 89C for BF3, now it's 70-71C which is an acceptable result for me.

 

Holy balls! I just got my M14x back from Dell today and wow. My idle temp is currently 24 degrees C on idle, CPU at 40 browsing the web. I asked for a repaste and they definitely did it, very pleased with the service. Had to send it in but got it back in 5 days. Computer still works fine, although I could tell they were having fun with it (Computer was flashing crazy lights and stuff when I turned it on LOL)

 

Not likely. The core temperature sensors that Intel uses on their Core i CPUs are limited by Intel so the temperature data does not change when the core temperature goes beyond 100C. Monitoring software will keep showing a maximum temperature of 100C whether the core temperature is 100C or 110C or 120C or beyond. Intel sets a thermal shutdown temperature of 125C to 130C for most of their Core 2 and Core i CPUs.

Intel obviously has a lot of confidence in their CPU's ability to run reliably at a high core temperature so most users don't need to worry as much as they do. You do need to keep it under 100C if you expect to get the full rated speed out of your CPU.

 

I ride 99c whenever I game. TBH, I'm just waiting for it to fail, cause I got the 3 year warrenty. That is unless you are going to send in a repaste ticket for me

 

WHAT!? I disabled HT and 2 cores and still see ~45-50C idle. Can a repaste with good paste really make that huge of a difference? If so I'm tearing this baby open today!

 

Like I said before, I had Dell repaste my CPU and GPU (well they had to I think because they did a motherboard replacement), and im idling at 45 C on the CPU so not bad.

 

Whats the 24C then?

 

The GPU; Its going to be really low with optimus

 

I'd worry more about GPU temps than CPU temps if I were you I believe lol. My CPU peaks at 70 but my GPU goes up to 86 at times..And it's honestly starting to scare me lol.

 

Clean with compressed air. Trust me

 

I blow the fan with the compressed air right? I mean just to the fan right ?

 

Just blow some through the vent in the back and on the actual fan on the bottom, and your temps will drop a ton.

 

The air can doesnt always fix it... Personally, i have never got much out of the heatsink/fan, and I ride 99C every time I game. I know the CPU is thermal throttling, but I think I got a terrible paste job personally. Either was, I have highest 3 year warrenty on mine, so I am not worried about it at all.

 

I have the 3 year accidental as well, but other people don't so they probably want their system to last more than 3 months...

 

That and other people own their M14x... work owns mine, so if it burns out, it burns out...I say let it melt, maybe dell will fix mine then...

If the dell rep that poked into this thread is still watching, you can put a ticket in for me... but I am not calling it in.... being on hold for a few hours is not my plan for a fun day