M17 & QX9300 temps.

Hi everyone.
I have just swapped out a T9600 dual core from my newish M17 and replaced it with a QX9300 2.5ghz quad.

It's just that using some monitoring software like realtemp or cpuid or coretemp I'm not sure if the cpu temps are high. It seems to idle at around 50 degrees C on an empty desktop doing nothing. Seems to rise to high 50s and even low 60s on one core when web browsig and when under serious load playing FSX or GTAiv max temps can reach up to mid 80s.

I appreciate this is an extreme processor in a not particularly well designed laptop for ventilation but are these temps still too high? I have reseated and reapplied thermal paste three times now but with no real difference, although the paste I'm using is fairly bog standard cheap stuff.

I have used lots of different monitoring software but all give the same results really. I know the cpu has a max temp of 105 degrees - should everything be fine as long as you don't get close to this or does perfomance get affected way before you get to that limit?

One final thing is that when web browsing the third core seems to be 5-10 degrees higher than the rest. Is this an indicator the heatsink is not seated or anything else?
Thanks for any advice anyone has!

 

I think it's normal, cuz I have the same temperature too. Check my post for my temps.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=435453

 

Are you selling the T9600, id be interested.

 

I am selling yep. It's on ebay at the moment http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=200407692273#shId

 

I just received my m17x Tuesday and have been looking at the temps and both my QX9300 and 280 SLI's idle (actually with iTunes playing songs and IE open and typing this) around 41-43 degrees C with one of the 280's slightly higher at times, but the built in GeForce 9400 stays around 60 and it isnt even being used.

After 4 hours of Left 4 Dead 2 last night my temps were only slightly higher, hovering around 50 degrees on everything after I finished.

I really do not know anything about what is good or bad but just thought I would give you mine for comparison and some feedback.

 

Starstryker, are you experiencing any audio pops, drop-outs, or laptop "stuttering" with your M17x? Which OS, and are you running RAID?

 

the m17x has beter cooling than the m17


80 underload should be fine as lont as you don,t cross the 100 limit no need to worrie

 

I do have 2x320GB HDD RAID 0.

I have had a few audio pops, but quite frankly nothing like was going on with my XPS 1730. I have an old set of Monsoon 5.1 speakers and they have seen better days. I am having some issues getting the 5.1 to work properly, as of now I can only control the volume via right and left speakers, which are running volume for all the speakers, center and sub.

Not sure if I have noticed and drop outs and have not had any stuttering. The jury is out on that so far. Why do you ask?

I should have added that I have a Logitech Alto laptop stand and I am sure it really helps in keeping this thing cool.

So far I am really impressed with this system, tons better that the XPS 1730 IMO.

 

A bunch of users are trying to pin down the cause of some pretty severe DPC latency issues which noticeably impact performance in many cases. Others have minimal or no problems. Dell reps have even popped into these forums to acknowledge the problem. No word on a potential fix so far.

Glad to hear yours seems ok. Which OS do you have (guessing Win 7 since that's what the newer ones are shipping with now)?

 

Yes, Win 7.

I will keep an ear out. I havent listened to much stuff on it yet to make that call, but these speakers pop and crack if the wind blows and it was getting bad with the XPS 1730.

I am concerned that I cant seem to get the 5.1 surround to work properly, had the same issue from time to time with the XPS 1730 but re-installing drivers usually worked, but isnt working on the m17x. Really do not want to have to call tech support on that.

 

You might try creating a new thread for the sound issue. Lots of knowledgeable folks on here. Wish I were one of them.

BTW, I take it you're running stock drivers and haven't OC'd either the CPU or GPU?

Finally, on next reboot, can you provide the bios version running on your machine? Thanks.

 

how much did you get the QX9300 ?

 

£330 on ebay

 

On my M17 with a Qx9300 OC to 2.93 or 3.07 the highest i hit is usually around 74 after a couple hours of gaming with say GTA4 which would be hitting all 4 cores more then most games... I dont use a cooler and the only thing i do is prop up the back end of my machine... Also make sure the dust covers are removed from the inside of your machine as they just trap the hot air inside of it...

My first core runs a few degrees hotter but not under load just during idle or basic tasks which it should based on the fact it should be the only core doing anything ...

 

Alienware A02

Havent done a thing to it since I took it out of the box, but I do plan on playing with OC'ing both CPU and GPU

 

Sent message on ebay