Malibal w/ 6970M overheating while playing TERA

Howdy folks! I bought a new Malibal laptop a couple months ago. Here are the specs:

Intel i7-Q2760 2.4 ghz
Radeon HD 6970M 2gb
8gb DDR3 1666 mhz

I also had them apply IC Diamond cooling compound.

It plays TERA very well - all settings maxed, 40-60 fps. When I first started playing, it got pretty darned hot. So I enabled vSync through the Catalyst Control Center, and that seemed to get it under control. For the past several weeks, it's been running at around 72-75C while playing. But about a week ago, it started getting very hot most of the time - around 95C - but not every time. Sometimes when it gets that hot I will restart the game and it will go back to the normal temp. It makes me wonder if maybe vSync isn't activating every time. It's been overheating more and more frequently lately.

I have 3 questions:

1) Any suggestions on what else I can try (besides getting a cooling pad) to make sure it doesn't overheat?

2) I'd like to try to cap my framerate at 40 fps to see if that help. I am completely content with how the game runs at this framerate. Is it possible to do this? How? Would it help?

3) If a cooling pad becomes necessary, any particular recommendations?

I have also posted this in the Sager/Clevo section of this forum, as I am not sure which spot is better.

Thanks for the help!

 

See if the fan are clogged with dust or lint first, open up and blast away with air in can, sounds like you need a cleaning.

 

Not much dust and not much lint. But lots and lots of cat fur! I've cleaned it thoroughly and have the game loaded up now. Will update once I have a chance to see what the temps do.

 

That would do it too!
Tell your cat to get their own laptop keep us posted.

 

Let me know how the drivers stack up. I love Tera is the game I play the most. Thinking of buying a 9150 with a 7970, but a bit worried with AMD drivers.

Thanks

What server you play on?

 

Game played beautifully for the rest of the afternoon. It did get up to 85C for a little while, but stayed under 75C for most of the time.

I haven't had any problems re: driver. I think the Tera AMD driver issue is limited to AMD processors, not GPUs.

I'm on Dragonfall. How about you?

 

Celestial Hills, I am currently 50, as an Archer.