I really want the XPS16 but is it really worth it if it heats up exorbintantly?

I mean, I will be using my future laptop as a desktop replacement, meaning I will be using it a lot(games and movies especially). If it heats up a lot, not only is it uncomfortable, but it can also be deleterious to the machine and can even be dangerous. Plus, I want to customize it to almost its maximum power.

So if it heats up as much as people say it does, is it worth it?

Please ease my mind....

Thanks!

 

I plan to game on mine, im not to bothered by all the heat talk, we shall see.

 

My current SXPS 16 is basically maxed out except the graphics, and my SXPS 16 at the end of this month will be completely maxed out. When I game it gets up to about 65 degrees C, far from damaging the machine like you said (damage is like 95 degrees). It is warm to the touch (especially the bottom right corner, the HDD) but it's still good. If you want good cooling just prop the laptop up on 1 end so the air flows better.

 

Ryu, I doubt it's the machine heating up. I would say it's the people using it in stupid places (IE: on your LAP) that causes the issues.

If you ensure your laptop is propped up with decent ventilation then you can guarantee your machine will stay well below danger zones. Cleaning out the dust bunnies inside the machine once a month or so with a vacuum and a can of compressed air, your machine should run like a dream.

If you happen to get a faulty unit with overheating issues, Dell are usually really helpful with these kinds of things. I've had my cooling units replaced multiple times, and my graphics cards, until finally I've got a fantastically cool system.

At the minute, with my overclocked processor, my highest temperature has been 81C. Considering my graphics cards and CPU can hit up to 105C - this is way below any form of damage.

As long as you use the notebook how it's meant to be used, it'll run perfectly fine. Keep it off your lap, off cloth surface, and prop up the back when gaming, and it'll stay cool ;-)

 

thanks a lot guys!

 

I haven't received mine yet but from what I heard the "Heating problem" is more the fact that its metal, which "feels" hotter but is actually similar to most similar laptops in actual temps. Thats just my best guess though

 

I'm hoping to have my t9550, 4670 by at best end of this coming week, or early after that. Current delivery date is 15th. I'll run a bunch of games on it bioshock, farcry2, tf2, flightsim X, and 3dmark06. Will post as soon as I get it.

 

Its not bad. I just got mine, and I was really worried after reading the posts here.

It gets warm, but no warmer to the touch as my Gateway FX (9800GT), Asus (8700GT), or my Macbook Pro (older ATI).

When you fire up some games, yeah it gets nice and warm, around the trackpad mainly, but this is no more than the previous notebooks I noted above.

Heat is very subjective, to me this is nothing. To my cold blooded friend, he thinks its a little uncomfortable, but livable.

Also, I have never had mine throttle back due to heat. I did about 4 hours of gaming on LotRO and CoD 4 (I know, not the most demanding, but still its enough).

 

4670 card? Also what CPU.

 

Good luck!

I had one and just browsing websites it would get uncomfortable.

I couldn't run FEAR2 all settings turned down without it becoming a griddle, unfortunately....

 

If it got uncomfortable browsing websites, id call it broken. Though my hot and your hot may be different

 

Yeah, I'm not sensitive to heat but it was def uncomfortable.

I loved the system but sent it back because I do a lot of "couch computing"..lol

 

Did you replace it with the same system or get a different one.

 

If you really want it, then undervolt or try getting a 9 cell battery so it gets propped up in the back

 

I am waiting until August/September - gonna see if there are any good back2school deals

If this was a gaming machine or something more powerful I would have def tried undervolting. There is no reason that system needs undervolting out of the box considering the hardware.

I didn't have the 9-cell but the laptop was properly vented on my lap. I even tried just using the edges of the laptop with nothing touching it underneath and it still was pretty hot.....

 

So the 1640 is a Sperm Killer ?

 

LoL!

If you use it on your lap a lot then I guess It'd "probably" kill some of them.

I have totally no idea how bad it would be, though. But I still think it might decrease them by, I dunno, a bit?

 

The wireless cards microwave your crotch too

 

What is the return period of the SXPS 16?

 

21 days from when it's shipped

 

Probably not. I'd be more concerned about constrictive tight pants. Keep in mind our body temp is ~37C so external temps of the laptop being marginally higher than that really won't affect ehem "them" to such an extent.

But without running a proper experiment I couldnt tell ya for certain.

 

Actually, there was research into this subject and it was found that prolonged heat exposure "down there" would in fact speed up the sterilization process.

Don't ask me where I read it (probably the AJN - I am an RN )

 

<--R&D + high throughput sequencing lab.

 

I'm a biologist as well, and though my expertise lies in genetic techniques, I can say that your sperm count may drop a little with excessive heat. However, no long term damage will occur. Give it 48 hours and they'll be back up to speed.

I just ordered my own SXPS16. I agree with what people say about propping the machine up, and also installing a SSD will help with some heat issues I've been told (why my Kingston is already ordered).

 

I'm sorry if I insult anyone here, but if you are using a computer on your lap then you're asking for trouble

1: It's going to overheat due to the cloth and suffocation
2: There is a chance of reduced sperm count over prolonged use
3: You could suffer from burns and not realise it until it's too late.

That's why they're no longer called 'laptops', because people kept using them on their lap and getting burnt. I understand completely if you want to use it on your couch or whatever, however you don't use it directly on your lap. Stick a bit of wood, a book, whatever, between your legs and your laptop. This allows for cooling, prevents you being damaged, and is overall a win-win situation.

I always use my M1730 on my lap, however only with a laptop cooler between my legs and the laptop. Without that I'm pretty sure I'd be spermless right now =-P

 

Yeah, just go to Barnes and Noble and pick up a clip-board type of laptop cushion. It's softer on your legs, and keeps the heat from getting to your scrotum

 

Yeah i always stuck a sturdy textbook, the last one i used was Principles of virology hehehe or a clipboard or something. Whatever is sturdy really and non frilly.

 

The heat might not permanently damage your balls but the wifi will if you give it enough time

 

Well, my Sony Z520 is on my lap always - and it is as cool as ice

Every component in my sony is as powerful as the sxps 16 except the gpu.

I could understand if the gpu was worth the heat, but a 3670 is def NOT worth it, IMO.....

 

It's not the GPU that makes the huge amounts of heat on the xps, it's the southbridge. The GPU is located pretty much in the middle of the machine. If you put you hand on the middle on the base it isn't too hot, put your hand under the touchpad and it's a different story. Under the touchpad is the southbridge and wifi card, both of which are very poorly cooled, from what I can see, some anorak at dell thought it would be a great idea to use the chasis as a heatsink for the southbridge too which would also explain the heat. I might see if I can jam a pice of copper bar in there to try and divert the heat to the fan because dell were skimpy enough not to give it a heat pipe of it's own

 

Yeah, I was one of the first ppl to report the SB heat lol

Anyway, my feelings still stand... If Dell somehow combats the heating issues with the 4670 then I'll buy it

 

The return period is *21 Days from Date of Invoice*, and you are invoiced when the system is complete and ready to be sent to you!~


Cin

 

Ship date in otherwords.

 

Yep, invoice date = ship date.

 

I have SXPS 1640, Just browsing the websites, it gets damn tooo hot!

It has 3670.

Is there anyway, I can measure the temperature of the internal part and compare it with standards and then report it to Dell if it is over the standards?

 

Download a program called 'HWMonitor'. That'll report the temps back to you.

As I said before, if you're using this on your lap, on a material surface (IE a bed) and generally suffocating it - expect it to get VERY warm.

If you're someone who falls victim to the above, try using it on a SOLID surface, preferably with the back propped up a few inches to allow air flow. THEN see if it's still warm.

 

Thanks

I am downloading it right now.

I am running AC at 24 degree Celsius and my laptop is on flat surface - table.

I will post temperature results here.

 

Ok, here the report of temperatures:



Do you think, these temperatures are normal?

Can anyone having Sony Laptop post their temperatures so that we can compare it?

Actually I am thinking to get Sony VAIO now, but I need to make sure that its touchpad is not as hot like SXPS.

Thanks

 

get a hp hdx 16

 

Of course if you use it on your bed it will get hot

I need a laptop I can use on my legs - I keep the edges of the outside of it on my legs and leave the bottom completely open.

Works fine for my other systems... The 1640 just likes to get hot regardless of surface....

 

are those idle temps?