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    Perhaps a silly question

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Bickley, Jul 17, 2011.

  1. Bickley

    Bickley Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have learned with my M17x to monitor temperatures as it does get hot under graphics load. This has prompted me to wonder what the physics are that causes the heat. After all the voltage level in a laptop is not high and a graphics card is only a mass of chips (I assume). Why do they get hot when graphics are at a high level. Sorry if this is a dim query!!
     
    Bickley, Jul 17, 2011
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  2. Lithus

    Lithus NBR Janitor

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    The "chips" are made of hundreds of millions of transistors, which are the building blocks to the "1's and 0's" of computers. Transistors basically have two states - they either block current, or they let current through, sort of like switches. When a transistor changes state, it produces heat. When hundreds of millions of transistors change state, it gets really hot.
     
    Lithus, Jul 17, 2011
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  3. Bickley

    Bickley Notebook Enthusiast

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    Thanks Lithus; very clear. In these days of energy conservation pity we cannot harness it!! Given the number of lpatops it would probably keep a large city going!!!
     
    Bickley, Jul 18, 2011
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  4. shinob!

    shinob! Notebook Consultant

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    If you really really feel bothered by the wasted heat,maybe you can place the coffee behind the vents to keep the cup warm.... :D just joking...
     
    shinob!, Jul 19, 2011
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  5. NateN34@gmail.com

    [email protected] Notebook Consultant

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    Every computer/processor does this.....

    Maybe we should just abandon technology to go green and SAVE ENERGY as you say?
     
    [email protected], Jul 19, 2011
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