HD Heat Question

Hi,

I have the Asus U36S, and I have noticed that the right hand side of the computer does get quite warm quickly. I have worked out this is the HD, and I am just wondering if this is normal.

I am aware that because this is a very thin laptop, it will get warmer than a thicker alternative. But I am just worried that this machine is just going to fail in a very short time due to heat.

I would be very grateful for some technical advice on this, as my last laptop was a brick in comparison! And I never noticed the palmrest heating up so I am very worried it is a problem on this Asus otherwise, I am very happy with this laptop!

Thank you.

linguanico

 

Please install a temp monitor software such as HWiNFO64 Download & please report the temps you are getting from the sensors dialog (for example http://www.dellsonly.com/images/l702x/hwinfo64_sensors.jpg )

 

Hi,
Thanks for your reply. I have installed the HWiNFO64 program, and I have been using the laptop on a table for an hour and the temperatures are:

Core #0: 48C
Core #1: 48C
Memory Ambient: 30C
Memory Channel 0: 40C
Memory Channel 1: 40C
PCH: 59C
ST9500325AS: 35C

I am wondering if using it on this laptop-cushion-tray by Belkin is really not that great of an idea as the laptop does feel slightly cooler on the palmrest when it is sitting on a desk. However, still I feel warmth from the laptop and that is what is worrying me. However, I am perhaps not used to such a thin laptop and how the heat is handled.
I wonder if these temperatures are normal for the laptop running for about an hour with basic tasks of email, and internet browsing, and some Microsoft Office work.

Thank you.

 

I realize this may be apples to oranges but your temps are very similar to what I get with my G73JH (IOW temps are good). One suggestion that generally helps is to elevate the back of the laptop ~2 inches which may lower temps slightly.
ASUS U36S Battery Life, Heat and Noise Does the left side of your machine heat up as the article mentions?

 

Thanks for your reply!

If the temperatures are similar, I guess that they are normal. I imagine because the HD is so close to the chassis due to the thickness being so thin, I can feel this heat. But the article states the "left" side. Well, left side with the laptop in use would be where the Windows, Intel, and Nvidia stickers are - that does not get that hot. But the right side, when the laptop is in use, does get warm. But I am not sure if the review meant with the laptop screen closed, and the laptop flipped over and of course that would put the HD on the left. That is the part of the computer that gets warm and I can feel.

I am just so worried this computer is going to die after 12 months. I really want it to last 3 years!

 

As you look at the bottom the hard drive is on the left, if you look at the top it is on the right (as you have flipped it, it does look like it's pretty close to the palm rest:

U36SD - How to open it up! - YouTube (jump to 1:00)

So it would seem to be the issue.

 

Yes I think that is the issue, the HD is very close to the palmrest and of course the heat passes on through which causes the palmrest to warm up. I hope this won't cause any failures in the future.

 

If the hard drive temperatures are you what you quoted then there should be no issues at all.

 

Thanks! Yes, the temperatures I reported are the ones I acquired through the program I installed. I will stop worrying and start enjoying this computer! It was such a great price, has good build quality, a nice and not too loud keyboard, small and thin and doesn't weigh anything too heavy, and runs Windows 8 very well. I'm really pleased with it! Not to mention the battery is great too!

 

Lots of people get worried about their new baby Enjoy and ask if you need any more info.

 

I think I just was not used to the laptop being so thin, and of course there will be heat and that this is is going to be felt at the palmrest. Maybe in the future, I'll upgrade to a SSD. Primarily for performance, but if there was a heat advantage as well, then it would be a win-win!

Thanks for all your help!

 

Certain SSDs use more power than others, so you might want to get a cooler running one especially

 

Yep. That's normal. I noticed the same thing on mine so planning on replacing it with a cooler running SSD. I wouldn't worry about HDD failures due to high temps. Electronic components are able to withstand considerably higher temps than the human body can. A laptop HDD's operating temperature is typically between 0-60C. Meanwhile, when the HDD hits around 40C in my U36S, the right palm rest already feels uncomfortably hot to me.

Only when stressed, though. Since SSDs can finish tasks (e.g. program installs, etc) much quicker than HDDs, it would only heat up for a couple of seconds before going back to idle.

 

Some drives have pretty high idle power consumption too.

They do have more background management things to do than hard drives after all.