SXPS 1645 possible heat problem

My temps are:
CPU (i7-720QM): mid 50s
GPU (ATI 5730 1GB): low-mid 50s
On idle

CPU: high 70s - low 80s
GPU: high 70s - low 80s
On stress, 100% GPU load

Sometimes it goes up to high 80s but only for momentarily. I keep the bottom over open, room temperature isn't high at all, my vents and fan are clean, and IC7 diamond pasted 4 months ago. Yet, when I play Black Ops 2 (that's how I got those temps) I get dramatic drop in fps and distortion/static sound through my headset. While that is happening, both my CPU and GPU temps are at high 70s. My setting for BO2 is 1600x900, aa and vsync off, high textures, shadows off. Usually get mid 60-mid 70 fps. I don't have a laptop cooler.

I got my 1645 (replacement from 1640) September 2010. I have 130w AC, BIOS A13.

I don't know if this matters but my screen is RGBLED; it was swapped from my old 1640 on to replacement 1645.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Load temps in the 70s and 80s - you're nowhere near any danger zone at all. In fact I think these temps are pretty good for a 1645 with a 720qm.

You might nonetheless be experiencing some of the CPU throttling that's been relatively common with these machines (even when the temps aren't outrageous).

Or it might just be a software problem. Does it happen with other games? What about other CPU/GPU intensive tasks?

 

Yeah I thought theses temps aren't in the danger zone. I thought Dell fixed the throttling with 130watt AC and new BIOS (A13?).

I play pretty much Black Ops2 only right now but this game is the only game that's been behaving this way. MW3 behaved like this but that as severe as BO2. I've played COD4, L4D2, Dead Space 2, Dead Island, SC2, D3, Rocksmith, Killing Floor, Skyrim and never noticed the 'throttling' behaviour.

 

I did a test last night with MW3 and it runs significantly cooler. CPU overall runs about between low-med 70s. GPU runs around med 60s (about 10 degrees!). But I do notice the throttling-like behaviour during prolonged play. I'm leading towards that BO2 is poorly optimized for PC? I didn't like Treyarch game engines to begin with.

 

I found the problem.



I do clean up dust around the fan but never thought of the radiator vent. After cleaning out and touch-up on thermal paste, I have very dramatic difference in temperatures.

On idle:
CPU: Around med-high 40s. When its cool enough the fan actually stops. I was very surprised on that.
GPU: Low 40s

General web browsing:
CPU: Around med-high 50s. Depending on type of websites and number of tabs.
GPU: Med 40s

Stress (gaming):
CPU: High 60s. Can go up to low 70s.
GPU: High 50s. Can go up to low 60s.
I tested with Black Ops 2. So after clean the vent out properly, CPU runs about 10 degrees cooler and GPU runs about 15-20 degrees cooler. What a difference.
Also the GPU load doesn't go up to 100%. It runs at about 45%.