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    Studio XPS 1640 Overheating (100c mobo, 97c cpu)

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by arcticjoe, Feb 4, 2010.

  1. arcticjoe

    arcticjoe Notebook Deity

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    So I've just bought a second hand studio 1640 from ebay (t9600 + 4670), got myself a 130w power supply and am running throttlestop (otherwise any games I play start to stutter within 20 mins or so).
    I have noticed that the laptop gets insanely hot very quickly, even with the laptop lifted up a cm above the table to increase the airflow its at 100c on motherboard and nearly the same on CPU within 15 mins of me playing mass effect. i was wandering if anybody has any suggestions on how to make it run cooler? any help will be greatly appreciated.
    Screenshot of temps included bellow:
     

    Attached Files:

  2. arcticjoe

    arcticjoe Notebook Deity

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    Right, so I just tried running without throttlestop and temps are fine (70c range), but obviously CPU is suffering from severe occasional throttling. So my choice is between good performance whilst cooking my laptop or reasonable temps and performance.
    I am seriously considering of swapping that t9600 for a p8600.
     
  3. atlstang

    atlstang Notebook Evangelist

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    I know the i7 1645 is different, and the cooling system was a little better. But i would think the 1640's could still handle running full strength. Perhaps a take apart and clean out dust in fans etc is in order? Maybe some higher quality thermal paste as well?

    Theres also guides to using rmclock to undervolting the cpu as well to help even more.

    Things i would try before replacing the processor :-/
     
  4. tatarus

    tatarus Notebook Guru

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    I don't think that your CPU throttles due to power dissipation, but due to a heat issue. You cannot change that by using a bigger power supply. You should not change that by using throttlestop. This will kill your mobo/CPU.

    I think that your cooling was not attached correctly during manufacturing or you vents are covered by something. Call Dell support or open the laptop yourself and reattach the cooler with new thermal compound. RMClock will not really solve the problem but only weaken it.
     
  5. arcticjoe

    arcticjoe Notebook Deity

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    thanks for replies, i doubt its heat as throtling kicks in at temps as low as 60c and 1640 with t9600 is known to draw more power whilst gaming than 90w. If i turn the brightness all the way down it throttles far less often than on full brightness.
     
  6. arcticjoe

    arcticjoe Notebook Deity

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    checked the fans, there is no dust on them. just ordered some arctic silver, will replace it when i change the cpu to my old p8600.
     
  7. arcticjoe

    arcticjoe Notebook Deity

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    just an update, swapped the cpu for p8600 and applied arctic silver ceramique, now its running 10-15c cooler than before. also as an added benefit p8600 seems to throttle far less (if at all), probably due to lower power consumption.