GPU Temp

Hello everyone my Alienware M17x is really getting hot recently

I can feel heat coming off the keyboard and GPU-Z is recording temps of 90+ while in BF3.

I was wondering if any one has ways of reducing the heat, I dont want to re-paste it because I am too scared ill break the thing.
I am good at taking apart things but putting them back together is a problem, not sure if worth noting but my laptop is elevated from the back
abit with a small book.


My friend suggest compressed air, but if some one could tell me exactly where do I have to aim it and I am planning to buy a laptop cooler as well.

Also I formatted the lappy and I was wondering if I may have forgot some drivers for the fans? if that is even possible

 

What are your computer specs? how old is your m17x? It could very well be that you need to clean the vents/heatsinks with some compressed air, but lets see

 

Got my M17x in September/October never cleaned it :>

8GB Ram
ATI 6990m
i7 2720QM 2.2ghz
600gb Raid 0

 

Remove the screws holding the bottom cover on and slide the bottom off. Blow out all the dust. See if that helps. Next step would be to repaste your GPU.

 

ok...that's an R3. Just like mine. Its too new to have temps like 90c while gaming

I just ran through BF3 for 20 mins...my Gpuz temps 1,2 and 3 were all hovering below 65's. you definitely have an issue there. I think you need a repaste as tostito mentioned. Also clean out the vents. You can use my CPU guide in my sig to give you an idea how to take the back plate off to clean things out. A repaste is definitely a good idea but at least call dell to see about servicing your computer if you can't do it yourself

 

Do it yourself bro! I also thought it was going to be tough at first, but m17x-r3 is like a toy begging to be opened, it is really too easy! Hell, even my HP 8510w was easy, looking to the guides of our pros (Slick's guide is awesome!) it is indeed a piece of cake (repped you Slick, I do it every once in a while )

 

ha, don't worry bro, i'll get you back when i can

yes and i totally agree...open it up, and get comfy with the laptop.

 

Good news! I opened the laptop!

Bad News I removed the screws, removed the panel, then I saw the GPU which I beleive was to the top left battery facing me, but I got stuck on 1 cord which was attached to the fan :|. Also I can notice ALOT of dust and some hair in the vents O-o I am on my way right now to Ace Hardware gonna pick up some compressed air and see if they have any thermal paste.

 

Once you learn to take it apart and clen it and swap at parts, it feels real good and more of your own. I swapped out the CPU, gpu, ram and wireless card in mine and it feels more of me in the laptop then just something I ordered. Ram and wireless card was the trickiest for me because you have to take the keyboard off and it's fragile but you feel great after you do it. To make a long story short, don't feel scared to do anything to your laptop. There are plenty of vids on here and YouTube you can use. Hope this helps.

 

The cable is the fan's connection to mobo, don't be scared of removing it, use a tiny screwdriver, put your finger in the middle under the screwdriver and then slowly push the driver below, it will click and come out no worries, just be kind to the cable if you are trying by hand!

 

Temps down!!! ^_^ I opened it up and unplugged that wire, which was the biggest problem I had, and one screw was stuck so bad I was afraid of breaking it but ended up removing it !

used a compressed air can and temps went from 70-80 idle to 60-65

Playing BF3 atm and temp is 60-65 DDDD

 

nice! enjoy man

 

Hey Mate,

could you please explain what you did exactly? I got also some temp problems recently (m17x R3 6970m), and after checking stuff here and there with software (HWINFO64 and such) I'm gonna take the cleaning-route.

Did you just open it (with those two screws) and cleaned everything on sight, or did you "dig" deeper aka did you disassemble anything else? What wire are you guys talking about?

 

I had compusa install a 6990m into my m17xr3 and the temp went up to 103C while playing BF3. When I wasn't playing BF3 the temp was around 60-65C. I went back to compusa and had them repaste the card but the temps still went to 103C. I went back a third time and switched by to my 6870m and the temp is 65C max while playing BF3. Do you think the card was bad? I still have it and really want to use it but I don't know what else to do. Any suggestions.