WHOA! My 6870m is hitting 106 C! That can't be normal...

Hi everyone, I have a M17x R3 with a 6870m card in it...

Sometimes, and for no apparent reason that card will get extremely hot (according to GPU-Z)... just a few minutes ago I started up a game and was only in the menus when I noticed the game slowing down severely.... I exited and looked at the temp... 106!

Generally it's around 58-65C, even after gaming... WHY is it doing this?? I don't want it to kill itself!

thanks!!

 

hmm was the fan at 100%?

 

I don't know... I could hear it, but I didn't check...

 

make sure you cover basics...

1. Verify intake (bottom of unit) is clear of dust build up
2. Give the exhaust grille a good shot of compressed air
3. Verify adequate free airflow - be sure back of unit is not obstructed

Once the above is done, ask yourself the following:

1. Has this always been the case since receiving the unit?
2. Have you applied any third party tweaks? example: VBIOS Modding or system BIOS modding tweaks (this voids your warranty by the way)
3. Have you recently changed display drivers? If so, reinstall the dell release driver and see if the temp issue persists.
4. Have you recently opened up the system and re-applied thermal paste or pads to the GPU? If so, this could be the reason for the temp change. A botched application of paste and/or pads can cause a major thermal change.

Lots to cover but you need to start somewhere.

 

106c is high...but i've heard of these cards going up to 115c

You need to do a repaste of the GPU. The stock job is pathetic. Also, update your drivers to the latest

 

well, I've never done any changing to the physical laptop, or modding of any kind, or changing to bios etc. It's not touched. With the dell stock drivers was when I first noticed this issue... (right after I first received the computer)... so I updated the drivers... and I thought that had fixed it, because I didn't have the problem for about a month or two... and then it suddenly happened again today. Weird. I can play for a couple hours with no problem... and then another time just a minute and the temp goes nuts and the game CRAAAWLS.....

 

106 degrees is definitely not good. I recently re-pasted my GPU to see if there's an improvement. Old temps shoot up to 99 degrees with my 5870m, then after i re-pasted with Arctic MX-4 the temp never pass 80 degrees in games. Very happy with the results, you should look at guides it's not that bad, but be very careful of course. Good luck!

 

Repasting is very easy Dethman. A few screws, pull off the heatsink, repaste, put back heatsink, put the screws back on.

Trust me, if i can do it, anyone can do it. I did both GPU and CPU in 30 mins and i was taking my time

HEre is a guide to help you:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/561599-m17x-r3-cpu-gpu-re-pasting-guide-w-pics.html

crayonshinchan's results are not unusual. The stock job from dell is soooo bad, i'm amazed there aren't more overheating machines

 

Pop off the back cover and make sure the screws for the GPU heatsink aren't falling out... that was the cause when my GPU was hitting 100C+

 

Yeah my 6970 never goes above 89 degrees max. Typically in the 78 - 81 degree range under normal gaming usage. So sounds like something is definitely amiss.

 

I might try the pasting at some point... I'm not good with internal computer stuff so I really don't want to break anything.

Anyway, why wouldn't it be happening all the time then? If it was a problem with the paste, surely it would be a more frequent problem? Like I said it only happens occasionally to me....

 

so... according to GPU-Z the fan never goes beyond 30%. Is that normal?

Furthermore, I'm starting to noticed that it seems to happen more after I bring the computer back from sleep mode... I don't recall it happening otherwise. Connected?

Also, it can happen without even running a game...

 

GPU-Z doesn't read the fan speed correctly.

Do yourself a favor, I know you don't want to mess with the paste, but check the screws. A bad paste job wouldn't hit 100C+. But having a lose heatsink would.

And hitting the temperatures your hitting is not good at all. So stop putting it off and figure out the problem... unless you don't mind damaging your videocard.

 

to check if the heatsink is loose, do I just open up the back and tighten the screws?

 

yeah, that's it. pop the battery out. removed the 2 screws holding the back cover in position. then slide the cover up, then off.

just snug up the screws on the gpu heatsink some, see if they are loose. Mine were so loose I could turn them by hand.

 

here...use the first part of this guide to get the battery and backcover off. The GPu is on the right side (with the computer on its front). Check to make sure the heatsink is securely on

M17x-R3 CPU & GPU Re-Pasting Guide w/Pics!