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    Laptop cutting out because its getting too hot?

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by sarge mat, Jan 18, 2009.

  1. sarge mat

    sarge mat Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have had a few problems with my laptop but to cut a long story short not too long ago power was randomly cutting which I think was in part due to a motherboard that dell installed because it did not like new updates anyway they looked at that and I don’t have that issue any more but when I load up games like TF2 which I just installed on the other laptop or even WOW when I played it, it runs for a min or two and then the laptop just cuts.

    Now I think it was running at around 75 degrees or over from what I was able to see on the monitor I have but what I am getting at is its a quite good GPU I have for a laptop anyway and I would like to think it can run some basic games ok, so am I looking at a cooling issue?

    Even with a low work load the GPU is always around 60-65 which some people say is normal for a laptop?

    EDIT: I tried TF2 and closed it again and the GPU hit 90 degree's! and it was only on the menu I didn't even try to join a game.


    The card is an ATI mobility Radeon HD 3400 and its a studio 15
     
  2. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    What surface are you using your notebook on? What is the ambient temperature?
     
  3. sarge mat

    sarge mat Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just a wooden desk.
     
  4. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    Are you noticing the fans kicking on before the laptop cuts out? I would have them look at it again, but its thermal control is not acting properly; it shouldn't heat up that quickly.
     
  5. sarge mat

    sarge mat Notebook Enthusiast

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    Yea the fans kick in like normal when I load up somthing power hungry like a game.
     
  6. atbnet

    atbnet Notebook Prophet

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    Have you looked at using I8kfangui to force the fans to high, then run the game?
     
  7. sarge mat

    sarge mat Notebook Enthusiast

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    I will check it out.
     
  8. sarge mat

    sarge mat Notebook Enthusiast

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    HW Monitor is showing the GPU in the 60's on average I8kfangui has it in the high 30's to low 40's.

    Strange

    edit: even with that it managed to sit on the TF2 menu for 20 seconds before power cut.