"in balanced mode doing nothing more than web browsing the FW got toasty (enough) to make my legs sweat" = dealbreaker

..and so my search for a new laptop continues.

Q

A

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=277732&page=3

 

whats is the point of this thread?

 

Before dismissing the FW for overheating, I would like to see the full review showing measurements on the bottom of the case. "Toasty" can mean anything from moderately warm to uncomfortably hot. Let's see how the actual numbers compare to other models.

 

omg its the stig! damn is top gear even on anymore?
without reading too much into this...some people dont sweat till extreme temps and some sweat just sitting in an air conditioned room...this is so subjective.

 

lol well put. but he's got a point.

 

I'm thinking if it gets hot enough to make his legs sweat its not gonna be cool to someone else...it cant differ that much.

Its a shame really, and all he was doing was web browsing...imagine doing something cpu intensive?

we obviously need a rocket scientist to figure that out

 

Just wait for the temps to come up.

As for the sweating, let me use this example. In the summer here in New York, there are plenty of people who are sweating up a pool in 68-70 F weather. Where as I barely break a sweat when the weather is well over 75-80 F.

Also consider that someone that wrote a user review for the smaller SR with the same graphics card said it was fine when he was playing with it on his bare lap. You would think the bigger FW have similar or better temps no? So again high subjective.

 

Yeah I certainly will wait for other opinions but I rather them come from objective sources like the admin here than someone who has spent their hard earned dollars on it and is going to get on the defensive about it...it seems the majority of people who actually own the product when spending their own money on it will defend it to the end even if they arent accurate.

Since I will use my laptop the majority of the time on my lap this is pretty important to me and it was disappointing to read that...but yes I definitely want to hear what others have to say.

 

Well if start your search for another pc.....stay away from hps.

 

What do you think are the main factors in what causes the heat? Is the CPU the main culprit?

I plan on installing a SSD (the new OCZ core has actually made them affordable : http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/flash_drives/ocz_core_series_sata_ii_2_5-ssd) I wonder if that would reduce the heat caused...

Also, I wonder just how big of a difference the 25 watt p8600 vs the 35 watt 9500 makes in regards to heat

 

I only buy good laptops

 

There's a reason they don't call them LAPtops anymore, because you can't really use most of them in your lap due to the heat generation from the cpu and ventilation requirements. They're now called Notebooks.

If you need to use it on your lap, find some kind of tray to go under it to allow it to ventilate properly.

 

Well i would love to give you a numerical answer, but i haven't done any physics for over 4 yrs and sort of forgot all the formulas. Does someone remember the formula?

But essentially more power means more heat. 10 watt difference can make a notable difference but I don't know it it would be very large.

 

10 watt difference in Thermal Design Power does not mean it actually uses 10 watt more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermal_Design_Power

 

The GPU before the CPU imo.

The 320GB/5400rpm drive may be a Western Digital Scorpio that has a reputation for getting hot.

 

If he was using wireless to browse the Internet, how much would the wireless card have contributed to the heat?

 

Very very little.

Update on the heat of FW:

 

watch your words

 

Well, I used the SZ on my lap quite happily - with the Chipset, and not for too long, but its been working for quite some time before.

But then it depneds on a lot of things, how you sit for one.

If you sit on either a standard chair or some reclined chair, cross over you legs (some men don't like it, I do, but then I'm tall...) and balance your laptop on one leg it gets enough air and is not to hot.
Placing it on both legs - I've never really tried before for a longer period.

But then, wouldn't a business laptop differ from a "consumer laptop" especially if it is as large as an FW? Is it actually meant for portable use, or is it more a laptop for people who have little space at home and don't want/need a desktop?

I suppose if we ask a lot of mobile users then we'll get some more differentiated answers.

PS: I generally tend to sweat very easily (25°C can be too much for me...)

 

What's a cheap and effective way of measuring external surface temps? Hell, the only thing consumer level I can think of is getting those thermometers you stick under your tongue to see if you have a fever and taping it down to the bottom of the laptop.

 

Well, you are not supposed to put your laptop on your laps anyway, it will reduce your sperm count.

 

thanks for the health warning hendra....

 

Just wondering, do we need health warnings in here?
I'm drinking a lot of tea and coffee and my blood pressure goes up to 159 whatever it is...
Am bothered? No, because the world is going downhill anyway.

And you health warning concerns the wireless functions, not the laptop per se.
So if you are bothered, just switch off the wireless.

And if we're on that track already, a wirless reciever/transmitter in a laptop is actually more powerfull (20-30cm) than the radiation of a mobile phone mast in the path of greatest strength (a few metres from the mast).
Something to that extent was on BBC Panorama some time back.

But then, what use is a laptop if you can't use it on your lap?
You don't get tables on the go - and by the way, what difference is there when you have a wooden table between you and the laptop? I think for wood its non-existant, for metal there possibly will be some radiation reduction.

So, any laptop that can't be used on a lap is reasonably useless as far as I can see...

(Unless its just designed as a foldaway home computer as the AR is)

 

I thought the person that wrote "the FW got toasty (enough) to make my legs sweat" was the worlds biggest moron but I can see a few contenders in this thread. Yea cos its sensible to use a 16.4" desktop replacement on your knees, idiot.

Turn your notebook over, see those feet at the corners? They're to keep the computer elivated, why is that important? Well see those grill like vents? Professionals and engineers call them "vents" they allow cooler air to be sucked up into the computer. The "notebook" is designed for best air flow trough the computer "cooling" the hotter components.

So.. are the rubber feet all placed on a flat surface elevating the computer? No. Is the computer taking in air? No. What is it sucking in? Lint, dust, fabric, hairs etc. Where do these go? Right into your fans and heatsink. Does this cool your computer? No... no it doesnt. What does this messed up fan and cooling do to your computer? Damages the Processor, RAM, Hard Drive, other electrical components and lowers the life of your battery.

But just FYI, sweaty legs are indeed a legitimate unit of measurement. When browsing the internet my computer runs at 1 sweaty leg however when playing Bioshock on full it runs at 5 sweaty legs. I need to replace the cooling and get it running at 3 sweaty legs though.

 

LOL, all excellent points. I guess I'm one of those morons that works with the 7.5lb notebook sitting right on my chest blocking evey vent...and sweating like a turkey at Thanksgiving. But I won't have it any other way.

 

Two sweaty thumbs up!

 

Which is another reason why the Z is even more desirable to me (no air vents underneath except for some slits under the RAM in the middle).

I think there's no point in having a laptop if you can't use it on your lap / bed / etc. Otherwise it's just an all-in-one desktop unit.

 

Hey AC, could you sum up all the reasons why you feel the Z is better than the SR and FW?

Bullet-point format would be great!

 

Good idea. I think I'll start working on that .

Edit: Here you go:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=278716
(Not complete yet though)

 

man we are geniuses. sweaty legs is the new unit of measurement.

 

I also like to use my laptop wherever and even on my lap occasionally. It's surprising how many modern machines can't cope with this because they *need* airflow underneath. I'm pretty sure my little brother knocked years off the life of his HPpaq lappy by watching DVDs in bed and blocking all the vents underneath.

I agree - no vents underneath is a more sensible design for a smaller, cooler-running ultraportable. Another vote for the Z.

 

good point