Inspiron 1720 running extremely hot

Hi, lately my Inspiron 1720 has been running crazy hot, and overheating (actually shutting down) while playing games (specifically Sacred 2).

For example right now I am only running Firefox and HWMonitor, and here is an excerpt from the HWMonitor report:

Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T5750 hardware monitor

Temperature sensor 0 70°C (157°F) [0xF] (core #0)
Temperature sensor 1 75°C (166°F) [0xA] (core #1)

In fact shortly after saving that report, my computer actually shut down from heat. I have since restarted it and it is currently running at a roughly constant 52C.

The CPU gets into the 70s and overheats a lot when playing Sacred 2. However, strangely even after closing that game the temperature doesn't come down, such as what happened above.

I'm not sure what to do. The air intake on the bottom of the computer seems clear from dust. One thing I'm concerned about is that I don't feel any actual airflow coming from the heat grille on the left side of the computer. I can feel heat radiating from there, but there isn't any air flow. Is there supposed to be air flow coming from there?

 

Those are pretty normal temperatures but your CPU is on the slightly high side.

When was the last time you had your 1720 cleaned from dust? I clean mine every 3 months, still running cool for 2 years with my GPU max temp of just 68*C overclocked. Checking it under the air intake isn't really enough to clear for dust. You need to take it apart and strip it right down till you see motherboard and fan, and from there the heatsink is exposed and you need to check your it from dust bunnies as well. Not just looking through the chassis under the fan. Dust accumulation on the heatsink can increase temperatures internally.

On the sidenote, you may need to replace your thermal paste as well.

I want to see a screenshot of your 8600M GT in HWMonitor. Take one screenshot each BEFORE and AFTER gaming. Thanks.

You may also consider a CPU upgrade to the T9300 2.5GHz 45nm 800MHz FSB processor, at just 35 TDP power usage for a good price. It will run cool and nice as ice at just 35 - 50*C max + undervolting.

In fact the 1720 shouldn't be overheating. I need more information of your 8600M GT temperatures. Not CPU only.

Remember, take two screenshots, BEFORE and AFTER gaming. Post em' here. Thanks.

 

If you're not feeling any airflow running through the vents, your fan might be stuck or broken. While 52C doesn't seem like an overly high idle temp, you definitely shouldn't have anything in the 70s just running FF and HWMonitor.

Nonetheless, most current Intel processors are rated up to 100C, so the shutdowns do seem out of place...

I'd try using something like i8kfangui to see if you can spin up the fans manually (I think it should still work with the 1720?). If that doesn't do anything, you might want to try blowing some compressed air through the fan or actually taking the machine apart and seeing if the fan's stuck.

 

How could I clean the dust? I tried to do this a week or so ago but all of the openable ports on the laptop, including underneath the keyboard, seem to lead to only small isolated compartments of the laptop with no access to the area with the cooling system.

 

Here is a document explaining how to access the fan on the Inspiron 1720: http://support.euro.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ins1720/en/SM/fan.htm#wp1179839

Regards

 

1. Either your fans aren't working.. Laptop or GPU
2. You're blocking your vents with blankets/bed or SOMETHING.

get your laptop checked by someone from Dell if its still under warranty before trying to fix it yourself. Its easy for people to tell us newbies to use a manual and open up a laptop.

 

agree, make sure your vents are not blocked.

another thing you might try, it keep the enviroment cooler, that helps a lot. my room is usually 76 degrees.

should feel air coming out the vent when warm, otherwise suspect the fan

did you anytime have the heatsink and fan removed, could be that you are not getting proper heat transfer from the cpu and heatsink

not sure if there is a way to set the bios for cpu throttling, might take a look and see if it is a enable or disable, might not be a bios setting though

make sure your gpu temps are not hot-
RivaTuner - http://www.guru3d.com/index.php?page=rivatuner
ATITool - http://www.techpowerup.com/atitool/
Speedfan - http://www.almico.com/speedfan.php
coretemp- http://www.softpedia.com/get/Windows-Widgets/Widget-Miscellaneous/Core-Temp.shtml

might also upgrage with a 45nm cpu, they run cooler. t8300 is a good one

 

The OP can also do some undervolting and see if it really fixes the problem - temporarily.

But nevertheless, it's nothing compared to checking your fans, vents and heatsink in your 1720 to keep your notebook healthy. Trust me, it's good to know how to open your notebook and have a good understanding of its components. Due to good maintenance, I got mine lasted up till now for 2 years now without a single heat issue or problem. I even managed to fit in a 45TDP X9000 without any issue. The step-by-step instructions are very easy to follow on Dell's website. And judging from your specs, I predict it's about a year old and already out of warranty?

As far as I know, the 8600M GT should be alright. It's your CPU that's the problem as mentioned in my 2nd post. But did you even do what I asked?

 

i said what I said because I remember my cousin, who went to bed with her laptop tucked in her blanket all night and the vent in that thing was at the BOTTOM of the lappy! haha. That thing really got f***** up. The fans work and everything, yet the laptop started going cuckoo hot even when room temperatures were low, vents were open and she just used to browse the internet. If you've done something like that in the past, give it to someone for cleaning the vent. that MIGHT help.