Are all Sandy Bridge Laptops CPU's running warm?

I'll just leave this here.

Review Apple MacBook Pro 15 Early 2011 (2.0 GHz Quad-Core, Matte Screen) - Notebookcheck.net Reviews

 

City Pig,

Your link tells it how it is and really contrasts sharply with Anand's tip toeing around this issue.

I wouldn't even buy this for someone I hate.

 

1)MBP 15" of 2010 never had Quad Core to begin with
2)Apple simply cheaped out and throw in a Quad CPU without redesigning the chassis.
Stupid/Bought Reviewers would say because the design is classic but the reality is that by not redesigning the chassis, they saved cost of

-Prototyping the casing
-Redesigning manufacturing workflow

Throw in a Radeon High End GPU and you get an expensive Oven.

This is the hidden nature of Apple's Dark Side.
If they ever designed a Nuclear Reactor it would have a additional meltdown feature but but who cares? As long as it look good and cost a lot it must be good right?

 

On the contrary I would.
Get them a lousy/expensive machine that overheats.

 

I'd never buy a macbook. Firstly the white colour looks just ughh. Secondly they overheat. Thirdly i don't like Mac OS. Lastly i don't have money to waste. My G73 cost as much as a macbook but probably has 100 times more power and runs way cooler. I do like the iphone but no macbook for me.

 

I have a Question:

I also posted this in the Toshiba subforum, but trying to figure out if I need to exchange a laptop I received yesterday, for a new one.


This new Qosmio q8102X CPU idles mainly in the 40s-50s, but when playing Counter Strike:Source on MAX settings, it reaches mid 80s. My previous Qosmio q894 would maxout in the mid 70s
(I returned the q894 to buy this q8102X; specs are identical except SB chip in q8102X; i7-2630QM vs i7-740QM).

It seems to be only the CPU getting hot. The GPU [GTX 460m] still maxes out at around mid 60s [similar to my previous q894].

Still trying to find another SB Qosmio owner to compare temperatures with, so I'll continue waiting.


Any thoughts on maybe it being a bad paste job, or do the SB chips run hotter than the previous generation?

Thanks!

 

Who cares how hot the cpu's get ? As long as it doesn't trottle back in load it doesn't matter. You can reach lower fan speeds if your let the cpu get hotter, the cpu itself doesn't mind that much.

 

I just want to know if I have a "problem" laptop or not, since I'm still within the range of the return policy.

 

I don't know, im not a magician. I just know this, a hotter cpu doesn't mean the laptop is worse.

 

Well, a bad paste job is always possible. Are you running CS:Source at a higher setting on this new machine than you did on the old one? Are you getting better performance or anything compared to the old one? Basically, I'm wondering if the fact that you have a more capable processor now means that you've managed to set it to higher settings, which means it's working harder than the old one did.

 

Sorry I realize I didn't do a great job explaining the problem. All temperatures were verified using HWmonitor.

I am running the game at 945p (1680x945) resolution, which is and was the same resolution as my last Qosmio (both have 945p screens). I have everything turned up on the settings (identical to my last Qosmio; AA, multi-core support,High Detail), but I can say on the SB it runs "smoother" [maybe fps gain]. While the CPU reaches mid 80s after 15-20 minutes of playing, the GPU still only maxes out in the 60s.

However, I did forget to mention that as soon as I exit out of CS:S, the temperature IMMEDIATELY drops to 60 Celsius. So in fact, in might be that the "turbo boost 2.0" is really making an impact on my computing, since it can turbo all 4 cores at the same time.

Thanks and looking forward to input.

 

Mmm. Yes, I'd agree that it might be TurboBoost 2.0, then. I don't play CS:Source, so I don't know if it's coded for quad-core (although I doubt it), but that's probably a factor as well; the older generation, even though Turboboost could boost individual cores, didn't have nearly as aggressive a turbo-boost as Sandy Bridge does.

 

UPDATE:

I just played 30 minutes of CS:Source but with MULI-CORE support turned off. My CPU only reached a max of mid 70s (instead of mid 80s).

I guess maybe the extra heat could be coming from the improved turbo boosting.

 

What happens if you limit your fps to say 40?

 

Well, when I played Counter Strike 1.6 (10 yr old game) at MAX settings, the CPU idles in the 50s.

I actually just returned and repurchased my laptop. The CPU fan was actually making a "boating" noise, so I'm thinking that could have been part of it.
[I just thought maybe it could have been the noise of a beefier fan. But checked with another SB Qosmio owner, and said they're fan does not make that noise].

 

Just to chime in, new MBP idles around 38, and never goes above 85 under load. Play black ops everything on max except AA and get 50 fps without crazy heat. Even overclock the 6750 sometimes and still it ain't too hot. I'm happy

 

thats a 17 inch with a lot more room to cool the components

 

well better call it a thin closed 17" mbp!!
lol

 

Lol i'm suprised that the Macbook doesn't burn with the Sandy Bridge CPU's. I'm quite suprised the new Turbo-Boost seems to be causing such heating problems. Certainly Intel have got the formula wrong again. Turbo-Boost 1.0 doesn't kick in much and is pretty useless IMO. Now Turbo-Boost 2.0 kicks in a lot and is much better but causes CPU to run much warmer. Clearly Intel needs to get the formula right.

 

Intel has the formula right: less performance required? Use less power (more efficient). Maximum power required? Use all available thermal envelope (still efficient, just gives off more heat).

MBP on the other hand, has been 'wrong' since 2006.

Nothing to do with Turbo Boost. See?

See:
Google

 

15" MacBook Pro (SB) Thermal application/guide - Page 10 - MacRumors Forums

I'd say yes. When Mac users break open their laptops to reapply thermal paste, you know it's really bad. lol.

 

It comes down to being manufactured in China, the MBP's are suffering from over application of thermal paste. Check the link I posted. When reapplied properly, the temps are dropping significantly.

 

I wanted to post another update:


I exchanged my previous Qosmio q8102X for a new q8102X. The first (which reached mid 80s Celsius when gaming on ultra settings) had a bad fan that made a boating sound (interesting, BOTH the CPU and GPU fans made the noise).

The replacement runs flawlessly and has the expected silent fans. I have played the same games on the same detail settings (CS:Source, Dead Space 1, Starcraft II; highest detail on 945p screen). The temperatures run very cool; only reach low 70s after an hour of gaming [verified by HWmonitor running in background].


Wanted to post this update so people do not think the Toshiba Qosmio is not able to cool the SB chips. With your guys help, I verified I was on the right track in thinking I had a possible lemon.

Thank you all for you help ! NBR rocks!

 

I know its an old post, but look at the old HP tx2500/tx2510us. The Turion x2 ultra would sit at 90c+ doing average work. If stressed I have seen it goto 100c before.

 

been playing with my new lappy for a while and i really have not noticed the cpu temps go over 70 in both gaming, mulittasking, or hd video editing with power director.
my ambient temps are 26-29 so it isnt exactly a cool place here. the gpu gets quite warm though (mid/high 80's sometimes) but nothing a/c or a good cooler can fix.

 

I read the forums alot but I've had a hell of time getting an account to work.
Whatever.

Anyway I have an HP DV7 and I have an uncomfortably hot processor.
Not to the touch or anything. Just uncomfortable knowing its there.

I started playing Rift recently, and it runs very hot on my machine.
My computer ran cooler during the winter too, obviously.
Right now, it idles at around 50 C and load is as much as 95C

But interestingly enough it doesn;t appear to be throttling or anything. In fact it seems quite happy at that temperature.

I have an i7-2720QM and Rift uses 4 threads, the processor typically hovers around 3 GHz at an estimated 30% load. (potentially higher ignoring the idle threads).

Compared to the old i7-720QM; this processor doesn't have any problem meeting or exceeding 3 GHz even when heavily threaded, as long as the temperature is steady. It backs off on sharp increases but springs back up even when at 100%, 8 thread load.

Most of you remember the 720 would only go 133 MHz over the default 1.6 GHz when fully loaded. So its a night and day difference.

Finally, the most important factor[B/] on my machine is that even idling at 55 C, the fan doesn't kick on. Why? My computer seems to prioritize performance and silence at the expense of good thermals.

An admirable conclusion in my opinion. High idle temps without the fan engaged suggests my cooling system IS NOT overloaded. It was just programmed to be lazy.. and only kick in when absolutely necessary. It doesn't speed up slowly. It goes from idle to full blast sometimes, to head off an anticipated thermal curve, but once steady it backs off. (all the while the processor clocks however it pleases)

I don't know how much of this behavior is HP, how much is Intel, or how much isn't a mind of its own. But my only real concern is whether letting it do its own thing and run hot and quiet could lower my system life expectancy.
Should I even care? (Has a 2yr warranty)

 

the chip is physically small. the high temperature does not equal high total heat generation.

 

imho 95 is too high. even if the cpu is made to handle such heat i wouldnt want my machine operating at that temp.
you could try doing certain things that would cool it. use a notebook cooler, manually engage fans, etc. but for me the most notable cooling solution would be to prop up your notebook with a small bottlecap. that cooled down my gpu by a good 10*c (at least) on heavy use. of course it has a significant effect on cpu temps also but i nver cared to check the figures.

 

My Sager NP 8130 idles at mid 40's C. I want it to be below 40's C...

Mr. Mysterious

 

And my i5-2410M is going up to 97C when gaming, plus I'm using a cooling pad...the ambient temp is 27-30C...pfff

 

Mine's 50 at idle.
Average 80+ at load but nothing serious with regards to laptop heat.
Can't feel a thing.

 

Not to worry you, but I don't think that's healthy...

Then again it could just be me being OCD about laptops...

Even your GPU 6970M idling at 58C is not good.

Mr. Mysterious

 

It's not bad. 58C is nowhere near dangerous even long term. 85C is a little on the high side, but many laptops make the decision to turn the fan on at a higher temperature so the machine is quieter overall.

 

i dunno those temps seems awefully high for a 17inch laptop. they are still beyond the danger range though. of course it all depends on your ambient temps. but i think its still high considering i get 5-10*c lower than that and i live in a tropical country. ambient temps of 26-30*c indoor plus my laptop is a 15 inch.
you may want to check with other alienware temps. if theirs are consistently lower than yours in the same ambient you may want to consider reapplying thermal paste.

 

Did you try to repaste the CPU and GPU yourself? I was having abnormally high temperatures when I first got my Sager with i7-2720QM, but then I repasted with IC Diamond and dropped temps a good 8-10C.

 

I'm not using a laptop cooler and I only have my portable fan on my desk to cool it off.
Yeah, my unit probably need some work with the paste...
But too busy enjoying games to reapply.
Dell is top dog in warranty anyway

 

My Intel Core i7 2720QM idle around 45c while my AMD Radeon HD 6970m stays at 50c to 54c.

Playing a couple of levels on Duke Nukem Forever on Ultra with no AA and Motion Blur at 1920x1080 made the CPU go to 80c and the GPU to 85c.
It did peak at 100c at some point.

Nothing my Clevo cant handle if i had to use "Fn+1".

 

could it be that the 6970 runs a little hotter than the 485m?

 

Idk, i dont know any reliable temp recording programs that will log and check each temp sensor.
I did OC it to 820 core and 1050 memory, and dident get any graphical errors while gaming.

 

How about RealTemp 3.67 which supports Sandy Bridge? You can find the download link here.

RealTemp

Go into the Settings window and choose the Log File option. Setting the Log interval to 1 second will create lots of reliable data while you are gaming and the program is very light on CPU and memory resources.

 

Thanks for the advice.
Il check that out later.

 

I can confirm that repasting helps - down 10-15C.

 

I have the same notebook (Acer 5750G) but the i7 2630QM version (84-85º C in full with TB off) . It's easy to open the case and repaste? It has one month, thats why i'm thinking a lot to do it, for the warranty...

Thanks in advance

 

Hi all, I've just bought a Thinkpad W520 and I'm a bit concerned about the CPU temperatures as well.
At room temperature of 30'C my 2920XM idles around 60'C and easily reaches 95'C under full load.
I'd reapply thermal paste, but I'm pretty sure it'll void my warranty, despite being a good thing to do for the CPU's longevity.
I remember the good old days of overclocking my desktop, these temperatures seem insane comparably to even what was considered high back then. So whoever was OC'ing was responsible for the proper cooling.

I'm wondering, with all this Turbo Boost stuff should I trust a Sandy Bridge CPU to know what temperature is good for it? Because it's still "boosting" at 95'C.

 

repaste lenovo couldnt care less if you did some maintenance yourself, you could check the manual for that on their own page, they explain things step by step, quite easy

 

It's not the technical part that holds me off, I've actually got a new syringe of IC Diamond and I repasted my previous T61p, and T42, and my friend's T61p... But that was after their warranty preriod so I didn't care. This machine is new and expensive, it could get nasty if I repaste and then after a while my CPU says "That's still too hot for me, I quit!".

Did you actually hear about machines that were repaired under warranty after this kind of maintenance?

 

yes at work we do the low tech maintenance, we only send to lenovo for some expansive replacements

to add, they wouldnt know if you did or did repaste the thing

 

The paste is different color. But I think there's just no other way. I called Lenovo to ask what are the temperatures I shouldn't be worried about and whether they have a new revision of the 55W cooler, which puzzled the representative to the level that he just hanged up.

And seeing temperatures over 80'C is painful to my eyes.

 

well actually 80c+ is normal on laptop, I dont like when they reach the 90+c, but the T line is 100C

and you have to realize that you have a 55w tdp cpu, thus more heat