The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    GPU Overheating M17x-R2?

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by SpinalGT, Sep 4, 2011.

  1. SpinalGT

    SpinalGT Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hello, I have my Dual 4870 working on my R2 system, and I haven't had any problems so far, but recently my computer is turning off after some time playing StarCraft 2.

    I've downloaded GPU-Z software to monitor the sensors and one of my GPU is peaking at 99C temperatures, the other's max is around 73C.

    Is that normal? How can I check which one is my primary GPU? What can I do to fix this? Thermal paste? New cooler? Is there any software to check cooler's health?
     
    SpinalGT, Sep 4, 2011
    #1
  2. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    14,963
    Messages:
    5,671
    Likes Received:
    1,521
    Trophy Points:
    331
    You just need to clean your heatsinks, the fins may be clogged with dust.
    While you're at it, grab a tube of your favorite thermal paste and clean the old compound on your GPU dies and apply new thermal paste.

    Here are two videos to help you reach your GPUs (you don't have to take everything appart like that guy :p)
    M17x Teardown Video1 of 2 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube
    M17x Teardown Part 2 of 2 **READ SAFETY PRECAUTIONS PRIOR TO REPLACING PARTS** (Official Video) - YouTube

    put everything back together and you should be fine.

    Here's a step by step photo guideon how to apply thermal paste on your GPUs, the GPUs are not the same model as yours and you don't have to do "the retention clip mod". Also if you don't have a can of compressed air, use a brush to remove the dust.
    http://forum.techinferno.com/alienw...placing-thermal-compunds-gpu-cpu-m17x-r2.html

    Cheers
     
    katalin_2003, Sep 4, 2011
    #2
  3. SpinalGT

    SpinalGT Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Thank you very much katalin for your fast reply.
    I did clean all three coolers the one in the middle and the two side gpu-coolers.

    There were like half an inch of real hard dust all over the three coolers.

    The result, just played StarCraft 2 for 20min and the max temp was 54C.

    Perfect I'm not even hearing the fans anymore, it used to be really loud even when just browsing on the internet.
     
    SpinalGT, Sep 4, 2011
    #3
  4. katalin_2003

    katalin_2003 NBR Spectre Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    14,963
    Messages:
    5,671
    Likes Received:
    1,521
    Trophy Points:
    331

    Good to hear ;)
    enjoy
     
    katalin_2003, Sep 4, 2011
    #4
  5. Greywolf22

    Greywolf22 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    849
    Messages:
    1,453
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Yeah it's pretty amazing how much dust can accumulate on those fins and fans over the year(s).
     
    Greywolf22, Sep 4, 2011
    #5
  6. negyuh

    negyuh Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    21
    Messages:
    127
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I noticed this too, i have to clean my heatsinks quite regularly. i think it has got to do with the way you use your system, i place my system on my lap but i guess a cooling pad will decrease the dust-accumilation process...
     
    negyuh, Sep 5, 2011
    #6
  7. SpinalGT

    SpinalGT Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    137
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    the problem is that the laptop design is not noob friendly in a way that you could easly open and clean it, you have quite a lot of work ahead before reaching the coolers and my problem was my huge hands that didn't help in this process at all.

    I was noticing that fps had drop and games were not as great as they once were. Thankfully everything went great, now I"m enjoying my laptop again, full potential.


    thank you guys.
     
    SpinalGT, Sep 6, 2011
    #7