M17x Overheating Solutions

Ok, so I have an M17x, and like many people have seen it run too hot (internal temps of over 95c and even up to 100c+). I am looking for a way (a way a newby) can find a "fix"... like fan control, fans on permanently, easy case mod for better air flow, ext... I am not looking to open the monster up and take things apart, my fear is that I will briked (damage) a board or chip.

CPU - Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 2.80Ghz
VID - NINVIDIA GeForce GTX 260m x2

I have looked all morning for a fix, and have seen many people have the same problem... i dont know anything about programing, but how hard would it be for someone to create an M17x specific program (or reg hack) to change the temp the fans come on, and the temp they boost to full throttle?

 

When is the last time you clean your system. I had high temps about a Month ago. I ended up taking the top of the laptop off Keybaord and such there a How to guide in dell site. I pulled out the gpus and and there was dust in it. Clean it off and the temps went back down.

Can of air did not remove the dust.

This might be better dell website directly to the M17x. Follow the Service manual.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/M17x/

 

last time I cleaned it was about 2.5 months ago, I dont think dust buildup would affect it that quickly. 0_o Hmm... would it?

oh yeah, AtolSammeek, I love the avatar =^_^=

 

Hi Red,

Your system is running dangerously hot. You need to take it apart and clean the GPU's and change the thermal paste immediately. Your system is on the way out at those tempertures.

Here is a photo guide for the R2, I assume your R1 is similar if not someone could explain the differences:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...acing-thermal-compunds-gpu-cpu-m17x-r2-5.html

You have the correct idea about increased air flow but you are way beyond that at this point. Over time the thermal compound will simply cook and your bun is pretty much done.

If you are uncomfortable being new simply print off the tear down pages from the internet and take your system to a enthusiast computer store that builds custom rigs and they would have the experience to apply the correct type and amount of thermal paste for a nominal fee.

Perhaps in the build process maybe some people got more or less thermal paste than others. People that do a lot of benching need to change thermal paste more frequently. Anyone dabbling in benchmarks who doesn't know how to change thermal paste is going to run into a lot of trouble.

People that are not wanting to change thermal paste should always buy a laptop cooler to maintain lower temps to prolong the life of the paste.


Edit: You asked about fan control, the fans for the GPU are controlled via the graphic cards Vbios instructions. Some ATI cards have a manual fan control made available via the Catalyst Control Center. On these laptops they don't and you require either a third party utility or a different vbios to change the fan speed. This is the way it is with some Saphire graphic cards so I have assumed the Dell GPu work the same way.

 

thanx, I will give updates as I do the work (thermal paste), or get someone to do it for me.

 

Good luck! When you are picking up your paste, you might want to get an antistatic mat or wrist band. Old paste should be wiped off before new paste added. Tell them what you are doing and they will recommend the right paste for the job.

 

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Where on God's green earth do you get your information? His system will run at 100C for YEARS. If you get above 115C on a video card you are looking at trouble, and usually above 110C on a Processor. The temperature throttle on most of these CPUs doesn't even kick in until 95-100c most times. That should tell you something as those setting are conservative.

Also, any good thermal paste will last at *least* 3 years. That is listed on every thermal paste site. Some even quote 8. I've over-clocked since the 386 days, and have never heard someone say anything like what you typed.

Please don't spread false information. You just scare people and cause them to wear parts out quicker trying to change thermal paste all the time.

As for the answer to your question, Red, a laptop cooler would be your solution, as Falcon stated. You wouldn't have to take anything apart and it will drop your temps.

If you do feel up to it, like some others have said, there is a very good guide here for cooling mods. I may do it sometime in the future, but for now my R2 is running 75C at full load in games on the video card and 70C on the processor. I'm not too worried.

 

ok so I put in the call, and they will send (Alienware) will send someone to my place to send not only thermal paste, but a new (new model) heat sync! =^_^=

oh, and I am going to pick up the best thermal paste I can find, I dont want the tech to use the factory paste... I am guessing it is not the best... 0_o

I will keep ya' updated, and tell you all if the new model heat sync is any better.

P.S. in regards to what NiteSkie told us all - the Alienware tech support people told me the GPUs should not go above 95c, and the CPU 90... if his information is correct and Alienware is wrong... -_- meh, I get a newer model heat sync out of my nagging...

 

Setting fans on max all the time is a good way to ensure that you system is clogged nice and quick.

Here is a link to a mod posted by another member.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...ll-internal-cooling-mod-huge-improvement.html

 

Glad you are getting some warranty work .

The 90-95 was about what I was saying with the cpu throttle. I will admit that 100C is a little high for normal use. That is when you should be blowing out the system and cleaning it.

If that didn't fix it, you did the right thing by calling. I won't argue with that. I was more or less pointing out the fact that just because you are running at 100C doesn't mean your laptop is going to spontaneously combust like Falcon was making it sound, heh.

Hope they get it all fixed.

 

well, the 95+ 100+ was only 1.5 minutes of FurMark playing... with no sign of slowing down 0_o so I would think it would go much higher than that, but had to shut it down as I dont want to blow a chip -_-

 

Furmark will push your temps a lot higher than almost any game though. Keep that in mind for the future.

Again, I'm not saying you didn't do the right thing. Hell, if you can get them to come out and replace stuff and it helps, awesome for you .

Just keep in mind that Furmark is a worst case scenario.

 

understood, I had no idea FurMark pushed PCs so far... but even running the FFXIV benchmark app, I still saw temps of up to 100+ and going higher...

Edit -

Update;
a tech will be by the 2nd... in about Hmm... 14 hours ^^ "yay"

Edit -

He was a no show... >_< ...and no phone call!?! ?

 

scratch that last edit... the guy came late, but he did get here, and what did he do? he gave me new videocards! replaced the fans, and cleaned my M17x =^_^= WoW!!!

Oh, the problem was a factory installation problem, whoever put this sucker together did not connect the SLI cable, did not use enough thermal paste, AND did not use a thermal blanket!!! What a manufactering #uck job!!!

but runs like new now... i guess i dont have to say, better than before, but I feel like it. "It runs better than before"!

just kinda pissed about how it was put together the first time... man that is sick...

 

I'm running mine with dual monitors set to 1920x1200 with many programs open. My laptop sits on a laptop tray that keeps it between 115 - 130 F. My laptop is less than 3 months old.

 

when I say 95-100+ I was saying 95-10+"C"... i dont know the c to f conversion, but I am hoping your AW-M is in a safe temp. best of luck to ya'

Idle temps for the M17x are around 45c-55c (for GPU/s and CPU)... anything more than that, and it is time to clean it. (so say the AW techs)