M17x R3 - Issues "fixed" but 2 questions

3 days ago, my Alienware M17x R3 started acting up. Everytime I'd enter a game, the screen would turn blue/purple/grey and the laptop would lock up. Uninstalling the Radeon drivers fixed the issue so it clearly seemed to be a case of fried video card. My card was the 6990m.

24 hours later, Dell sends a tech to my house with a new card. Unfortunately, they claim the 6990m is currently out of stock so, obviously, they send me a 6970m. I'm pissed but the tech is here and what can I do. Dell says they will send me a 6990m once they get one, in 2/3 weeks (we'll see about that).

My 2 questions:
My laptop is doing some big fan noise. I know it's normal, my 6990m was more noisy but I'm wondering if the temperatures are not high.
HWMonitor, during a 10 hours timeframe (with about 3 hours of gaming), says:

Video
Max Temp: 147F, idle temp: 125F
Core i7
Max Temp: avrg of 185F on all 5 cores, Idle temp: avrg of 126F

Is this too high?

Question #2:
Anyone had a downgrade of card like this because of inventory issues on repair? There's no way I will stay quiet about this. In 2 weeks, if I did not get my 6990m, I want to make sure Dell hears about me. But I don't want to yell on a desk guy over the line if it won't do anything. I'm not happy of being downgraded for 2 weeks and I'd be even less happy if it takes months. Anything I can do? Any place I can call to ask maybe for a 7**** serie? Would Dell do this or no upgrades?

 

your video card temps dont seem very high, I also have the 6990m, and generally the cards run very hot (147 F is around 64-65 celsius, which is a very good max for 3 hours of gaming), I usually get around 77-78 celsius after 1 hour and 20 minutes (although you have a 6970m it still seems to be relatively cool), your core i7 max temp does seem kind of high to me (185F is about 85 Celsius), but I am not sure about that exactly my i7 2720 is around 75-79 celsius max.

I have never had my card replaced but from what I have heard from friends, Dell is very reluctant to give upgrades, and will almost never do it unless something very bad happens to your system or an extreme circumstance (like many tech onsite repairs with a persisting problem). If you really want to purchase and install a 7970m manually into your system, as several people (on this forum) have already done you should probably order the card from ebay or upgradeyourlaptop as the generally sell kits which include everything you need for self installation (also make sure it is tested to work on the alienware computers not just clevo).

Part number is 747m2 for 7970m

 

Thanks!
I was fine with the 6990m so I don't think I'd go buy a 7 serie just now. I have my m17x for barely 6 months! I'll keep in mind though for the future.

My CPU is 2760qm. Could it explain the heating? The tech took the laptop apart and looking inside, I couldnt see any major dust clogs.

 

I am not sure the 2760 qm can get hot like the 2720, but the only thing known to get real hot is the 2900 xm or 3900 xm processors. could also be your room temperature, but other than that I am not sure.