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    Video card lately idling at 75C and up! Why? Help

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Andrewkm, Jul 7, 2009.

  1. Andrewkm

    Andrewkm Notebook Guru

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    Computer is an M15X fully loaded.
    Video Card: 8800M GTX
    Drivers: Official Alienware ones, 167.55 (Yes I've tried others)

    Im thinking my fan isn't spinning as fast as it should maybe?

    [​IMG]

    Yes I also cleaned the fans, both of them. There was mega dust in them, and I cleaned them about a week ago, and it helped for a while, and now the problem is even worse.

    Couple things:
    I did format the computer fully and reinstall everything manually, all drivers and so forth because of a different problem I had. (Am I missing some sort of fan driver to make it spin faster?)
    I also did check the fan again for dust just 15 minutes ago, its clean.

    Please help, what could be wrong.
    How do I make the fan go full speed all the time? I dont care about battery life, I'm almost never mobile...Always connected to charger.
     
    Andrewkm, Jul 7, 2009
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  2. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    Have you replaced the factory thermal paste with a high quality compound like OCZ Freeze?
     
    Rob41, Jul 7, 2009
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  3. Andrewkm

    Andrewkm Notebook Guru

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    Nope...
    Any instructions on how to do this on an M15X?

    And are you sure my fan isn't spinning too slow?
     
    Andrewkm, Jul 7, 2009
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  4. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    I don't have a 15x so I don't know what the correct RPM range is and I can't give you specifics on changing the thermal compound on that model.

    I can tell you your temps at idle are way too high. That's what my temps are while doing heavy gaming. I idle in the low to mid 40'sC.

    For a specific guide look here.

    This link is right in the m15x general information thread.

    I'm almost certain if you remove the old sub-par factory thermal compound and replace it with a high end thermal paste your temps will drop dramatically.
     
    Rob41, Jul 7, 2009
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  5. Oceanus

    Oceanus Ambassador

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    A few questions:

    #1. What BIOS version are you currently running?
    #2. What operating system are you using?
    #3. How long ago have you started noticing that it has been idling at 75C?
     
    Oceanus, Jul 7, 2009
    #5
  6. PhantomThief

    PhantomThief Notebook Guru

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    What is your temperature at gaming? I'd be less worried about the temperature of the GPU when it's idle and more worried about the max temp it hits when you game.
     
    PhantomThief, Jul 7, 2009
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  7. PhantomThief

    PhantomThief Notebook Guru

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    Oh and sorry for the double post, but my fans spin at the same speed. 2500-2600, approx.
     
    PhantomThief, Jul 7, 2009
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  8. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

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    didn't Nvidia have a setting that could get messed up in the install that could make your cards run high ?

    like power something
     
    The_Moo™, Jul 8, 2009
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  9. Marvie100

    Marvie100 On a Mission

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    You're not thinking of ATI's PowerPlay are you?
     
    Marvie100, Jul 8, 2009
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  10. PhantomThief

    PhantomThief Notebook Guru

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    Just a side question of a related note, no intention to hijack the thread here. Are the readings from ThermoFan more reliable than Everest Ultimate? Everest gives me max temps of 92-93 when I'm playing Crysis, ThermoFan gives me 84, give or take. That's quite a big gap, so which is the more accurate?
     
    PhantomThief, Jul 8, 2009
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  11. Tinderbox (UK)

    Tinderbox (UK) BAKED BEAN KING

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    Tinderbox (UK), Jul 8, 2009
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  12. PhantomThief

    PhantomThief Notebook Guru

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    I do use HWM, actually. The GPU temps for HWM and Everest match, but HWM gives me 5 Celsius lower readings for the CPU temps than Everest. So all these temperature readings end up really confusing me.
     
    PhantomThief, Jul 8, 2009
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  13. flipfire

    flipfire Moderately Boss

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    flipfire, Jul 8, 2009
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  14. Rob41

    Rob41 Team Pirate Control

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    I strongly suggest you remove the old thermal paste and get some high quality thermal paste. It will only cost you 5 to 10 dollars and is very easy to do.

    Your temps will drop.
     
    Rob41, Jul 8, 2009
    #14