Running A LOT hotter than normal today

Win7 Home Premium
Model: Alienware M11xR2
Processor: Intel Core i5 CPU U520 @ 1.07GHz 1.07
Ram: 8.00 GB
System type: 64-bit OS
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 335M
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Normally, my computer will run at 60-70 Idle and when gaming get to 80s sometimes peak at 90. But this afternoon it is just acting weird, first of all when I booted up I was in the 80's idle and it didn't seem to want to go back down. This alone worried me. After awhile I found the problem was throttlestop because when I closed it the temperature started to go back to normal. So then I tried out the current "Free weekend" game on steam Lead&Gold only to have the computer turn itself off after a bit. When it restarted I checked my temperatures to see that they were in the high 90s.

The thing that I find so strange is that just this morning it was running perfectly fine but this afternoon it started acting up.

Deep cleaning my fan could easily be the problem as it is overdue, but I always chicken out when I get to removing the memory as I fear that I will damage it ( as I do not have the so called "static mat" ) or could not put it back together even though I am following the video.

 

Hmm, definitely no ambient considerations going on?

I've experienced high 80s when gaming (91 has been the highest I've seen when under load) but this almost immediately drops 20+degrees after several seconds when stopped.
I have both TDP/TCP set to 30 and I have TS on constantly.

Are you only seeing this behaviour when TS is enabled?

Those temps are definitely a concern if being achieved when idling.

Cheers, Paul.

 

My issue was that I changed nothing at all and it started doing it. I had TS on at those settings for a long time with no problem and just today it started doing this. Heck it worked perfectly fine this morning.

Also no matter how low I try to cool it I can not play any game as the computer will overheat ( in the 100s temp wise ) and shut itself off ( this is without TS, with TS I start idling at 80, without I start idling at normal temps ).

Now that I think about it this computer has really degraded since I got it 4 months ago.

 

Yeah I would definitely contact Dell as it's under warranty -

As you say, if this has been a stark deterioration over the course of several month there is definitely a fundamental hardware issue with the cooling, at a guess between the chip and heatsink (and the thermal compound between the two).

Good luck, Paul.

 

wowwww, my R1 is much cooler, at 40-42 (VGA, CPU) idle and 56 for CPU, 60 for VGA when gaming. Im living in Vietnam, it's pretty warm at the moment.

 

Wow this is just weirder, I decided to give my computer a rest for the day and come back tomorrow. Now its idling at 53 ( after an hour of web browsing of course ) degrees! That is the lowest I ever had!

Its amazing how random this computer is, some days its broken other days its perfect.

 

I think I found why it is getting so hot so fast. The fan stopped turning on! I had a problem like this before but it fixed itself eventually and never got this bad. It really has a mind of its own I wish there was a way to just keep it on all the time.


Edit - I also found that there was a windows update in the time between it working and not working

 

Well one month ago my lappie CPU went to 105C and my GPU went to 99 C and then it shut down itself :x
A mobo replacement fixed everything ---- and I can overclock my CPU from 154 to 164 too!

 

Right now I am trying to call support but it seems the times on the dell site are off. That or they really do not want to answer the phone.

Although if it is a replacement would they send someone here or just send me the part?

 

Oh great.....I only e-mail to them.......Dare not to speak over phone
Now my Bluetooth causes BSOD while using my phone as a modem to connect to Internet, geez

 

I tried chat and email first and apparently it is not supported for alienwares, only phone -_-.

Its Noon eastern time right now and they are still not open. I seriously think they just don't want to answer to phone.

Edit - I pretty much gave up on calling them for now. It is seriously 4 hours after they are supposed to open yet are not

 

Well the issue changed a bit. I got idle temps to stay normal but if I start ANY game ( even a low graphics one like minecraft ) the gpu WILL overheat and shut off the computer after 10 minutes of play.

I tried contacting support but they either didn't want to answer the phone or forgot to mention that they are only open business days ( it didn't say on the website or on the answering machine so I assumed they were always open ).

 

Uninstall CPU and GPU drivers, reinstall new drivers.

Are you using ThrottleStop? Your computer could be throttling and you might be pushing it too hard.

Last resort. Reformat.

 

Well I tried reformatting last time and it won't fix the problem......
A mobo replacement solved it.

 

I doubt the drivers are the issue as it worked fine for the longest time and just decided to brake on day. Performance was always slightly worse that everyone else as well so I think I just got a bad mobo.

 

Well I was able to pin-point the issue to the fan. Strange part is, is that is it running just VERY slowly, and will randomly kick on high and go off again ( but rarely ). It is impossible to play any games as the fan won't come on and the temperature just gets too high and the computer shuts off.

I am still having no luck with alienware support. They seem to have forgotten their open hours or something.