m17x r3 fan upgrade?

so i've heard that the fans in this thing are pretty lousy, like 2-3 cfm at most, and that there may be an upgrade to something like 11-12 CFM by pulling ones from a m14x r2 or m18x?

would it be wise to do this? i'm having a few heating issues, probably more due to the fact that i play with the thing on my lap (pants, or a blanket, are probably blocking intakes a bit) I just repasted a few weeks ago, so i know thats not the issue. I used AS5 and i've been using the same technique i've been using for years. I just upgraded to a 7970M and 2860QM (from a 580m and 2630QM)

i'm wondering if anyone knows if its worthwhile to upgrade the fans at all, get a cooling pad and/or a stand that i can use to game while in bed, on a couch, or in a recliner?
most of my gaming is done on a couch, but i'm looking into getting a good comfy recliner, or a possible portable chair that i can take with me on trips and such. if you have any recommendations on a chair, cooling pad, fan upgrade, or gaming table/stand that, i can use thats portable, and has room for a mouse for FPS games, they'd be welcome.

 

Pulling the gpu fan from an m18x R2, & cpu fan from an m14x R2. Also they do not fit exactly in the Alienware 17 that is. I'm not sure if they would even fit correctly in the R3. You had to cut one if the screw posts off In the 17 to allow the CPU fan to sit flush.

( you could even try repasting to lower temps first )

 

how much are the fans? I wouldn't mind a little modding project.

 

Blocking or partially blocking the vents underneath is going to make a massive difference to your temperatures. Using it on a hard flat surface is far easier than pursuing a possibly noisy, unsuccessful and damaging fan mod! I use mine on a fairly large cooling pad called the Zalman NC2000. The cooling pad is big enough that I can balance that on my lap with my legs comfortably spaced apart (not scrunched together lowering my sperm count!) while not blocking the intake fans of the cooling pad. I've had my cooling pad since 2008 and still going strong, it's reliable. I'd recommend it. To get the best temps slide the laptop forward on the cooling pad so that the front lip of the laptop overhangs the front of the cooler by about 1 inch.

 

They aren't that expensive depending on the place where you get them from. Usually between $10 and $40.

 

definitely gonna have to look into this then!! Would love to have a cooler running system

Edit: M18x fans looks pretty cheap. If I were to buy some would I need a CPU fan and a gpu fan? Not sure exactly what ones would fit.

 

Double Post

 

I'm not sure if you guys have read this thread, but i think it should answer some of your questions.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-17-m17x/726567-wild-fan-mod-idea-share-your-knowledge-opinions.html

 

thanks for the link I'll look into it. +rep for the link

Edit: definitely gonna see if I can get my hands on an M14x r2 fan and an 11.5 cm gpu fan. Currently have a 3 cm gpu fan.