HELP! My m1530 is crashing due to Gpu Overheating

Ok so, I'm hoping someone here can help me as I'm going crazy over this.

First of all, my system:
Xps M1530
T5450
8600m GT
1280 x 800 screen

Ok, so I am a gamer, which is why I got the 8600

I've had the Notebook for 3-4 months, no problems like this. A couple days ago I was playing CS:S and after a while the computer shut off instantly, the same as if you hold down the power button for a while.


I tried playing it again but then it shut off after playing for <1 min.
It kept doing this and i suspected the gpu was overheating or something.

I downloaded RivaTuner AND Ntune and both told me that I was Idling from 66c to even 79 at one point. NO 3d APPS

I loaded cs in windowed mode while monitering my temps and at the start menu for the game the temps were already climbing into the 80's

I joined a game and after about 30 sec. I shut cs down myself so the pc didn't crash as the temps were up to >120 celcius

The computer itself didn't shut down because about 45 sec. after cs was shut down the temps were back at 66-70, even higher maybe.

I reinstalled the 169.09 driver which has worked perfectly fine, but that didn't help at all.

I have never seen it shut down like that before. I even monitored in other games and in Audiosurf, the temps went over 100c in under a minute.

The strange thing is, after shutting down CS myself when it was at about 120
I put my arms under the notebook at it felt the same temperature as it usually does.


Could it be a problem with the sensors?

 

Check for dust. Gophn has a great guide for that. If that doesn't work, contact Dell, cause most likely it's a defect in the system.

 

Are you overclocking? Alos, have you cleaned you vents? That may be the problem. Another possibility is a problem with the heat sink.

 

was that cpu temp or gpu temp? maybe you wanna try a different program? HWmonitor? make sure the vent is not blocked by dust or whatsoever.

 

Get the latest Dell drivers. Then look at cleaning out your fan vents. Just blow some compressed air in (short blasts only) through these vents. I do know that drivers can cause abnormal temperature increases (I've seen it with my laptop). I find that the 174.16 seem to work best for me, but I would definately give Dell's drivers a go first.

 

I should also mention, i have ubuntu 8.04 hardy heron installed in a dual boot.

In ubuntu, It was impossible for me to set up the card for advanced desktop effects and when I did It booted to a white screen with a black stripe in the middle and all sorts of random stuff like lines.

The only way i could get into ubuntu was going to recovery boot and selecting repair x server.

 

No overclock, and that was the gpu temp.

I opened up the laptop to check for dust but I saw almost none, not enough to block I don't think.

 

Might be a faulty unit then.
If you`re not OCing, there is no dust and your temps are sky-rocketting in a matter of seconds, it`s 99% a faulty GPU ...

 

always try to reformat before you send it in

 

Well, I'm not sure that there's no dust. I didn't really know what to check for. I didn't see huge chunks or anything though...

With the fan on full though, i could barely feel any air coming out, when I usually can...

Could be dust I didn't see. How do I check properly? It might be a fan issue too.

 

Also, as i said, my gpu has never done this before. Wouldn't a faulty one be obvious right away?

 

hey try to clean the vent with compressed air if you haven't done it.

 

No, a faulty one could show it's signs at any time.

Much like a ninja.

 

Ok. Im going to buy some canned air tomorrow and clean it out. If that doesn't work should I reformat? Then send it in to dell if all fails?

If i do send it in, how long would I have to wait?

 

I would check to make sure nothing is blocking the fan since you said you could hardly feel any air coming out. When my fan is running full speed you can definitely feel it move air. The reason I bring this up is because I did have a wire that came loose and blocked the fan, and my idle temperatures shot up.

If nothing is blocking it, you either have a defective GPU or, more likely, a faulty cooling assembly. Also, reformatting will probably not solve anything. If nothing is visibly wrong with the cooling assembly, then calling Dell is your only option.

 

ask people who has m1530 to see if they can feel any air flow with full blast.

 

Well, I know that it is definitely not moving air as much as it did before.

The notebook crashed loading the live cd for ubuntu (I was reinstalling)
because it couldn't cool it fast enough.

I'll open it up later. What should I check for?

 

sounds like a dust issue to me

 

I opened it up today and it looks like there is in fact dust that i didn't see last night in the dark...

I took pics, ill post them later. I really hope it's dust! so I can get back to de_dust

lol

 

Dust may very well have been the issue. In addition to impeding airflow, if it's gathered on the heatsink, it acts as in insulator. Pretty much a double whammy as far as cooling goes. Hope it works out and you don't have to get your laptop replaced

 

Can someone tell me how exactly I should clean it with the air?

 

Gophn to the rescue!

 

Ok well I guess i don't need to know now.
I phoned dell twice:

1st call: I got some guy in india who's solution was "Buy 2 gigs of ram from us and you'll stop overheating" -I hung up

2nd call: More successful, I got a guy from Canada. I'm getting a box tomorrow to send my notebook in.

He said they're going to replace the Mobo and GPU...

AND he said they'd check out the screen and replace it. (A bit grainy)

Lesson here: Call multiple times until you get someone in your country!!!


THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO POSTED HELP!!!

 

This sounds like the same nVidia and m1330 design issue that is happening over here...

nVidia
http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9983840-1.html

Dell
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=204772

Changing the motherboard will fix it for a while and unless the design is actually changed (xps does not have cpu and gpu share the same heat pipe) or you get an nvidia chip without a "weak die/packaging" (an maybe because of the xps design it will still break down) it will break down again.

 

I used to have the same issue, it's not due to overheating, your GPU has gone bad. Even if you play at stock clocks it will still shut. What you need to do is uninstall all of your OC software and delete all the folders by doing a thorough search. Next, proceed to rebuild your index so that the delete files will be purged from the search record. happy gaming.

 

lmao, had tears laughing, buy 2 gigs of ram that will stop the over heating, it just fit into their stereotype perfectly. you did the right thing of sending it in, from what I can see its either faulty GPU or faulty cooling as you fell no air has been moved