M17x Cooling Question

Hello, fellow Alienware enthusiasts. Forgive me if I jump right into the middle of the problem even though I just registered, but in truth, this was the entire reason I did so: hoping to gain helpful input from some of the experienced users out here.

I recently aquired an Alienware M17x laptop and I must say I am very satisfied by it. I haven't encountered any major problems (software related or otherwise) and the minor ones have been easily taken care of... with one exception.

I realise that a platform like this requires a solid cooling system, and am very pleased to see the exhaust vents around the laptop which provide a cool enviorment for it's core while I run certain resource-consuming applications and games.

However, I have a minor but very annoying problem regarding the vents at the bottom of the machine. The manual says to ensure that nothing obstructs the airflow at the front, back, sides and bottom. I did so with the first three, but I have a rather flat work-desk and I find it difficult to keep the bottom vents flowing and free.

Right now I am using a small support I used for a very small Apple laptop a long time ago. It does the trick (the sides are solid, while the center is a bit low, allowing the laptop to be suspended on it, and the bottom vents are obstruction-free), but as you could imagine it's meant for a MUCH lighter laptop. Not only it gets really uncomfortable to work on it, but I'm afraid the support will break soon enough :-(.

So, my question is this: are the bottom vents really necessary? If not, Is there a way to disable them, or is it ok to let them running while the M17x is seated on my flat desk?

If the rest can't do the trick, I guess I'll have to buy a larger support, but like I said, it's annoying for me, so I thought I'd ask first...

Thanks in advance for any useful advice you can give me.

- r00t

 

The bottom is where all the cool air is being sucked in. The rest is where the hot air is being blown out. So yeah, the bottom vents shouldn't be obstructed. But the rubber feet should create a good enough clearing. If not, you could always add some taller rubber feet or get a Laptop cooler like the NZXT Cryo LX or similar, that will blow more cool air into the laptop from below.

 

Yeah, you're fine as long as you're placing the notebook on a flat, smooth surface... you don't actually have to lift it with other accessories. The rubber feet are there to lift it up enough to suck air in, like Gizmo pretty much stated.

 

Hi r00t,
I'm sure you're using the laptop exactly as intended. Like Glzmo and nemoris have stated, the feet on the bottom of the laptop elevate it enough for good air flow. However, if you frequently move the laptop to other types of surfaces, you may want to look into a zalman.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

I never really thought of the purpose of the rubber feet on the bottom of laptops. Haha interesting read for a noob like me guys XD.

 

The bottom vents won't be obstructed on a flat surface. The laptop has rubber feet that suspends the laptop a few millimetres above a flat surface. So as long as it's used on a flat surface, there's no problem at all. The same is true with the vast majority of laptops.

 

Thank you very much, all of you. I never knew if the rubber feet were enough on a flat surface. Now I know .

I discarded the support and use the laptop now as was intended to be. It's definetly a lot more comfortable to write and work on.

Thank you again.

- r00t