W520 Temperatures after Bios Update.

I tried using the search function for this question, but it seems like it doesn't want to give me the answers I need.

Anyway, I've read that the W520's fans weren't correctly configured in the bios to heat the laptop well, but then I also read that there was a BIOS update that changed that. Anyway:

Could anyone tell me what the usual CPU and GPU temperatures of the W520 are in idle and when under load such as rendering or more realistically a game for me.

I am considering buying this laptop for college (biomedical engineering major), and it is nearly perfect: Excellent performance, screen is great, great battery life, great keyboard and durability..etc. However, I really hate its design lol and I was worried about temperatures getting to high when playing the occasional game or doing other heavy duty work.

 

When must you buy? There's a new generation coming.

 

They're around 40-45 for me at idle or light browsing.

It will max out at 90+ if you're running full bore CPU/GPU. With fans spooled to max, I've hit 98C CPU and 78C GPU or something like that.

 

I'll probably be buying this laptop around June, so hopefully ivy bridge processors will be in these machines by then.

Colonel: Were those load temperatures when you were using 100% CPU, because I'll probably be using at most 60-80% CPU I'm guessing

 

Try repasting and also cleaning the vents from dust. Those temps are on a high side.

If you wait till June, there's a bunch of new notebooks coming

 

Those are normal temperatures for a factory W520 on full load, believe it or not. There were entire threads dedicated to this over in the official Lenovo forums.

 

I'll probably have to wait till June then. My major concerns with a notebook were performance (mainly a good integrated GPU), heat, and battery life. The W520 seemed perfect, and I was just a little worried about the heat. The HP Envy 15 is also great, but the screen is a downer. I guess when laptops start using ivy bridge and 28nm video cards, I'll have an easier time finding a perfect or near perfect laptop for college.

 

If you are buying in June, the W530 should be out by then. However, I can tell you that when you are not doing much on the W520 (web surfing, 720p/1080p video playback, IM'ing, etc.) the exterior of the laptop stays cool even if you leave it running for like 15 hours. Even when the CPU is at 98 C and the GPU is at 92 C, the palm rests are still just warm. Just to clarify, full load refers to running Linpack and Furmark at the same time, in this scenario.

 

I can't say how happy reading this has made me. My W520 is arriving in the next day or two and to hear that with web surfing, HD playback etc. That the laptop stays cool to the touch is fantastic! I've got a MacBook Pro currently, and when this thing heats up it's just uncomfortable. Glad my new laptop won't have as much of an issue with heat!