M14x, and Extreme Temperatures!?

basically.... should i be worried that my processory is running at 85-90*C?
or that the area aroudn the processor, and the harddrive are hot to the touch?......

i have it sitting on a flat desk in an open area... and it still seems to heat up like a beast.....

any ideas? :S

 

how are you checking your temps? i want to check mine....thanks

 

For the cpu thats quite normal, this laptop runs very hot, but to run cooler turn off turbo boost in the bios

 

also you want to prop up the back end of the laptop somehow for better airflow. i have a calculater and a couple of checkbooks holding mine up.

 

or you can do what some other people have done and build something to hold it up with legos

 

Yeah that's normal, it runs hot during normal usage and much hotter during gaming. Nothing you can really do about the heat, except a cooling pad. Can also try to reduce processes/start up items to keep idle temps down. that's what I did and it sorta works. The heat is an issue, but doesn't bother me as much, really hate when it gets hot and im just web surfing though.

 

Just to add more to this, you can also repaste the CPU if you can, because I saw some thread saying that the temp is improve a lot after they repaste the CPU. But if you dont know how or doesnt want to damage stuff in process of the repasting, then you can get a cooler as temporary to long term solution.

For me it is used to be even worse than your temp, I used to reach 96C for Core 3, 97C for Core 2 and 99C for Core 0 and 1 while playing BFBC2. But after I saw Tyler27 (Thanks for the suggestion Tyler ) post about the Turbo Boost disabling, and I try it and it seem to help the temp around 2C - 7C (without cooler), and 5C - 10C (With cooler).

For if you worry about the performance, it will not affect your in game performance nor the every usage, because the turbo boost only activate when it is needed to boost a little Mhz to get more thing done quicker, and as for the i7 CPU (Especially the Sandy Bridge), it is the fastest series, so you dont have to worry about the performance drop.

 

I use Cooler Master U2 and a small fan putting beside the laptop, hehe ...

 

I use a program called CPUID HWMonitor. All you to is run the program and it lists the CPU and GPU temperatures along with other information. If it does not show the nVidia GeForce GT 555m temperature, first try opening a game, then minimizing back to desktop (keeping the game running) and THEN starting the HWMonitor.

 

ok cool sounds good. Do you guys recommend against using the windows gadgets? like the cpu monitor and the battery monitor and the network monitor ect. ? or are they ok to use also?

 

Those built in windows gadget are useless, what they do is to monitor the usage not the temp, beside I found out that those gadget tend to eat your memory resource a lot, so I do not suggest to use it, but I suggest you to download OpenHardwareMonitor instead, because this software, it's not only monitor your CPU usage, it also with the temp and the best thing is you can have it pin onto the desktop just like the gadget. Have a try.

 

thanks man! you seem to know your way around these computers pretty darn well....repped!

 

my temps are around 50 degrees Celsius per core, 46 for the GPU and 36 for the HDD just surfing the web, listning to music, and watching youtube videos. These about where they are supposed to be?

 

Yeah, that's avg temp on my laptop too, thanks for the compliment ^^

 

so what temperature would completely screw over the Processor* on these things?
my last laptop shut itself down at around 95........

 

As for the Lego stands, I started that thread, but I now made a better one out of my Knex from when I was younger. I loved those things! But the lego one that lifted it about half an inch above the ground lowered max temps from 95 to 87, this one gets a max of 83. I think I'm going to replace the blue legs that make it so tall with white ones so it's a little smaller.

 

Hey OP, well, I had a black m14x that I retruend because it got up to 99+ degrees in battlefield BC2 but that was without a laptop cooler.

I returned it and got the red one....Low and behold, still runs hot in games, 80-90+.

So, like everyone else, I realized these bad boys run hot. Best you can do is try to offset it with a laptop cooler. I have the Antec Unbeatable one, it was like 59.99$ on amazon its really good.

So now my temps get max in 70-80.

It's a powerful computer for its form factor, so its going to run hot. Im sure it would be fine,but I would get the cooler so it runs colder and don't have to take the chance of possibly cutting the lifespan of the components due to the heat.

I used CPU ID hardware monitor and CPUz and GPUz etc.. etc.. to monitor funtionality on my computer

 

speedfan, gpuid, and cpuid.

 

If you were refereing to the crappy CPU monitor I agree,but I id just like to say that the side monitors aren't all useless. I have core temp along with the program so it shows voltage, usage, and temps as well as RAM usage. I also have a GPU monitor to just keep an eye on my CPU when I don't have afterburner up

 

Well, the one I suggest is for someone who want it simple, sure you can always find a better one, I dont think it is crappy but instead it's more of a form of simpler, and I also notice in the picture, it seem like it has 2 separated gadget - CPU & GPU, but mine one (see pic below) is a combination between CPU, GPU, & HDD temp, it does not look colourful and complex as yours though, but it is in one gadget. Oh btw if possible can you tell me what is that program name? Link would be good.

 

not a bad side bar there. I use my side bar more for CPU temps than the temps of the GPU, I don't ever really have to worry about the 460m getting hot even over clocked

As to the links this is the link for core temp
Both the CPU and GPU monitor are here, CPU monitor at the very top GPU third row down and fifth column.

 

Cool, thanks for the link rep+ , but I found out that the link (CPU/GPU Monitor) are outdated, here is the updated one: CPU/GPU Monitor, As for the M14x, the cooling system design is so bad, so you have to monitor both CPU and the GPU however for the GPU, you can left that one out, but just in case. And for that reason (one of the reason actually), that is why when M17xR4 is out, I'm going to sell this M14x and get the M17x instead.

 

shame that people are having so many problems. The m14x looked good on paper, but i guess its got some major issues in real life. As for the M17x,
there is some GPU throttling problems with the 580m, but thats fixable all in all I love my machine and might end up selling it for the R4

 

According to unclewebb's post He said:

So to be safe, the shutdown temp is 100C, and I believe Dell/Alienware set it at 100C as well, because since laptop is like a concealed hardware cramp together in a box, so having a high temp hardware inside can spread or share the heat very easily, and since the GT555M is soldered onto the motherboard it is more likely to get overheat cause by the CPU itself as well, and that would goes for other hardware the reside near the CPU too.

 

You are 100% correct the m14x design is flawed.I think I may do the same with an m17x,I am trying to get a thread on this for dells engineers to look at.A dell escallation rep said they are looking into heat issue and will call me tuesday.

 

I only hit 80C CPU temps on my rig when I run Furmark and Prime 95 at the same time wonder if the next revision of the m14x could have a smaller version of the cooling system that the M17x has.

 

Just as an aside, I'm using Core Temp and it's not detecting my processor correctly. I have an i7-2670QM and it is saying I have an i7-2720QM. Is that doing anything to my temperature readings? I have normal web browsing temperatures at about 50C

 

idle temps are comparable to mine so I think you are ok

 

I think your on to something,I just read on Anandtech that the m14x with core i7 under full bore is substandard cooling and fan issue.I also remember it took dell 3 years to admit to a problem with the older xps 1710 and similar series.I just hope it doesn't take dell 3 years to realize they packed maybe a bit more in the m14x than the system can handle.We shouldnt have to turn off turbo or throttlestop to get the fastest gaming 14 inch laptop to game.

 

how many fans does the m14x have?

 

I dont remember exactly but when I repasted 4 months ago it was a small heatpipe design with a single fan I believe,It's not an m17 thats for sure,but it's not supposed to be right?The whole problem is said on anandtech better than I could,dell crammed to much machine in this size laptop.I loved mine when I first recieved it even with the few annoying issues,I just spoke to a dell higher up.Ahem,He said the m14x is being actively tested for palmrest and other heat issues,on facebook he said was alot of heat complaints.

 

One fan.

Me was planning to order the M14x as was getting it for around $800 but now am scared with all the heat talk!

Thinking now that the quadcore may be a bad idea and probably should go for the i5.

 

dang for 800 get it anyway, mine runs a little hot sometimes but ive seen no performance loss or damage yet, other then my mysterious battery wear level its a fantastic laptop and 800 is a great deal

 

$800? Are you kidding me? BUY IT! It's worth it I got mine $2000+!

 

i got one with an i5 2430m

and the temperatures are good, ,max is about 75 to 77 even with turbo boost enabled (atleast when playing skyrim, bfbc2, bf3, witcher 2)

 

I'm running overclocked at 624/915/1250 my Max could temp is 80C and my Max Gpu is 53C when playing skyrim on ultra for 2+ hours

 

different games have different temperatures, skyrim isnt as cpu intensive as witcher 2, crysis 2, bfbc2 or bf3.. so to get good references run prime 95 and furmark at the same time and check the temps!

 

Gamba is right....Dell is looking into the heat issues,since they have gotten alot recently,that doesn't mean they all have issues some owners are reporting good temps with an i7,But even on tech reviews the i7 gt555 combo went what they said were way too hot and on anandtech it skyrocketed when gaming,anand even said he couldn't imagine this machine at full bore.My 1st was hot but reasonable my 2nd with new bios a6 and 2680,it lasted a day and died.It was so hot I couldn't keep my hand on the right of the touch pad.Again "not all are having heat problems"

 

sounds like just a plain crappy design to me. Hopefully they find a way to fix this, but i personally think if they could manage to get two fans (one for the GPU, the other for the CPU) crammed into the r2 version, it would be awesome

 

I hate to agree but since I own so many laptops and things I see so many variables between designs,I think Dell saw an opening in the market and based on the success of the m11x they put the m14x out with a bit to much too early.I love everything about my m14x,i.e,style,size,just the ideah of a fairly portable laptop with almost great game play,especially in a world where Ipads almost outsell laptops.That's where the industry is headed tablets, ultra books,look what the xps went from to the 15x,I had an xps14 in may 2011 now the 14x wow.I mean not even close half the size 1/3rd the weight.My store sold out of Ipads in 2 days over 130,I havent sold 130 alienwares in 5 months.The new intel 22nm fab ivy,and amds new apus are changing the mainstream for sure.

 

alienware is a pretty niche market for people with money to spend Ipads are.... meh i prefer android cause its not locked down plus expandable memory FTW

 

I am an android dev and its awesome,but people want those Ipads,90% market share!I agree with you on the androids, but even with all the rom devs and freedom,most people just want to turn it on and play.I explain daily the pros and cons not to mention the
cost difference,for an Ipad2.People still buy Ipads by the boatload!?!?! I have an acer iconia custom rom and kernal oc from 1gz to 1.6 and its silky smooth after a kitchen cooked rom they get better and better.I love mine,full size usb,hdmi,Great tab,and I change roms and add things almost daily and haven't had a problem yet.bigtony,if you have an android and need a rom i have an excellent one based on honeyvillian rom with a combo of mine and Thors new kernal.

 

atm moment I don't have a tablet but I am thinking of buying one of these. It looks perfect for on the go since I have a dumb phone. don't know if that rom will run on this device though.

 

Anyone in UK who is worried about your temps like i was,go to your nearest poundland store and get their laptop stand
Got it for £1 funnily enough, and it fits just about right without blocking any airflow, my temps are now 15-20c lower on the cores and about 10c lower on my gpu.
With that stand i never go above 80c on cores now even when gaming for hours on end.
I really didnt expect this stand to work,but i thought for £1 who cares if it doesnt,it works so well i have cancelled my plans to buy a laptop cooler.
Hope this helps any UK customers

http://www.poundland.co.uk/product-range/a-z/signalex-adjustable-laptop-stand/

 

Glad thats working well for you, I just use an old powermac laptop battery I had laying around the house, effectively does the same thing

 

you don't have use the bios to detect GPU or CPU temps. All you gotta do is download Coretemp and a program like GPUz and you are all set

 

My M14x tops out at around 95C running intensive games like Skyrim, around 80C when playing easier games like L4D2 and TF2, temps while browsing the Web are around 55-60C, but keep in mind this is all without a laptop cooler (which I plan on buying soonish).

Is this hot enough to be worried? Should I halt the game playing until I can get my hands on a cooler? I'm sort of paranoid because my last laptop (M17-R1, the old one) died in part due to a overheating video card.

Cheers.

 

95C is pretty dang hot but not un-normal for an m14x. could you pop up the back of the machine a bit? this would help with airflow

 

Here's an interesting comparison of 3 popular CPU temperature monitoring utilities. All 3 programs are reading the exact same sensors.

http://hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1038057457&postcount=21

The bios temperature reading is pointless. The CPU is not using any of the C States so it doesn't have anything to do with what temperature your CPU will run at when in Windows and the sensor that is being read has nothing to do with the peak CPU core temperature. The bios temp is just a number.

 

makes me second guess Core temp now is it really that inaccurate?