Hey guys,

I have always thought for a long while that my laptop has run waaaaay too hot (especially during 3D processing or watching a movie or something), but then it's fairly beasty, so I dunno if it's just me over-reacting or if there's legitimately something wrong with it.


These are the specs (according to dxdiag):

Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU    P8600 @ 2.40 GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.4GHz
Memory: 4 GB
Display: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 3400 Series
500 GB SATA drive
OS: Vista Home Premium

It's a Dell Studio 1537, with a 9 cell battery and 15 inch screen chucked on top of the usual stuff.

So yeah, it runs fairly warm regularly, but heats up like a motherfucker when it comes to watching movies/playing games. These are the temperatures SpeedFan gives me when it's idling (at the moment I've just got FoxIt PDF Reader, iTunes, Firefox, Bluetooth, AVG, and Switcher running). Something tells me these readings are far from good, but you tell me:



Even now it's running quite warm to the touch. As far as I can tell, there's only one fan, and it's located near the back on the bottom. When I put my hand over the vent, I'll occasionally feel a pissweak little bit of air coming out, but it's not especially cool and it certainly isn't strong. Part of my problem is that I used to use it on my bed a lot; I've read a few topics on here about how the fan'll suck up all the dirt and shit and clog up the insides and stuff. Honestly I'm not really game to open it up and clean it out.

So yeah, is my laptop fucked, or is it just because it's grunty? I've got six months' warranty left with Dell, so if it's a major issue I'll get them to come and have a look at it.

Well, they aren't exactly ideal temperatures, but you're not in the RED ZONE yet. What you should do is place it on a desk, let it idle for 15mins or so, and then see what the temperatures are. Did you take these readings from your bed? A laptop doesn't need a blanket. Also you can just buy a can of compressed air, and although this won't clean it very thoroughly, it might blow some of that dust out. Or a vacuum. Or both.

You could also run Prime95 and then get the max temperature readings from there, that will give a better indication of whether your laptop is in any real trouble.

Since I took that screenshot (26 minutes according to GW), the temperatures are now atttt

41
51
45
57
47
48

Though those last two occasionally jump up to 50 and 51 respectively. I took those readings from sitting with it on my lap on my armchair. If I go the compressed air route, is it gonna fuck with any circuitry inside?

It's not even close to being too hot. If your core temps were like 65C then it would be a problem.

Also you don't need to worry about it dying or anything. When one of the components gets too hot the laptop will probably just shut itself down before anything bad happens. But yeah show the temps with prime95 and it will give you the temps when the laptop is running at 100%.

Phew. Just making sure!

What are those little laptop coolers like, by the way? I was thinking of buying one just to muck around with. The little ones that plug into USB or whatever (I'm assuming? Don't have much knowlege on them). I dunno I know they're pretty STUPID but as long as they don't negatively effect my system it'd be nice to have a vaguely cool laptop for once instead of one's that blasting out hot air.

My old BTX Dell ran 55C+ idle on a Pentium D for 4 years and I am still using the processor in a server with no problems. The Core2s are supposedly even more tolerant than the Pentium 4/Ds. You shouldn't have any problem with what you are getting.

Acourding to Speed fan, my quad core is running between 70c and 65c... i have liquid cooling with my GPU and CPU connected, should i be worried? its not overclocked or anything.

What is the size of your radiator? 120 I assume, and yes you may want to look into upgrading your radiator then and see how the temperatures drop.

Thats going to be a problem since the radiator is apart of the case...

Check the temp in BIOS as well.

whoa you've heard of 6? at LEAST??

some of the first quad cores had mega heat problems, you may need to update your drivers/firmware w/e (i think amds ending in 50 are fine and intel has some similar convention). if that doesn't help jam some extra fans in there or maybe turn off some cores if you're able

Thing is, i've had this computer for about a year and i've had no problems except for the usual vista (which incedently have been fixed) games run fin, and no heat crashes...

Have you tried reseating the heatsinks with new thermal compound?