cooling problems - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

spikebrdr · 04-26-2007, 07:56 PM

i recently bought an Alienware Sentia 3450 laptop and although it is a great comuter ive notice that the thing gets extremly hot. the fan is constantly running and is very loud and i notice that alot of other laptops dont see to have that problem. does anyone out there have the same problem or know the best way to fix it?

Dilbert1234567 · 04-26-2007, 10:06 PM

when you pack that much power into a small space it will get hot. there is no real fix, the system is designed to get just hot enough so that the majority will not fail before the warranty runs out. the Pentium M's can be dynamically underclocked, and even the Pentium 4's can be essentially underclocked to reduce heat. i'm sure the same is true for the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor, but i don't know of any utilities that do it.

oiekeooiyw · 04-27-2007, 09:43 PM

if you use your laptop on a desk check out a laptop cooler like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834984003
I got one and the fan that used to blow hot air now blows fairly cool air when it actually comes on.

Somniferous · 04-27-2007, 09:58 PM

A hot laptop is what you get when you purchase a gaming laptop. I don't care what anyone says, laptops are not designed to run full out games; they are designed for portable business apps.

Frosstbyte · 04-27-2007, 11:39 PM

I have a Voodoo Envy with EXACTLY the same problem. Your options, unfortunately, are very very very limited.

I assume you have a gaming station with an external keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc. You should definitely buy a laptop cooler as suggested by oiekeooiyw suggested. There are a lot of different ones out there, so make sure you get one that is big enough to cover your laptop's footprint. Some of the designs may cover front, back or side ports depending on your laptop's build and placement, so be careful. Additionally, I'd recommend getting extra padding to increase the amount of air between your laptop and whatever it's resting on. I use poker chips, but I'm sure all kinds of things would work just as well.

Finally, get yourself a small-ish desk fan that you can put on your desk off to the side of your laptop. Between the desk fan and the laptop cooler, you should notice a pretty meaningful heat difference.

The bottom line-and this is what I've learned-is to never buy a gaming laptop again. If you need portability, buy a laptop, but if you want to game, get a desktop. If you need your gaming rig to be portable, get a small form model like the Falcon Northwest FragBox. I've learned a costly and painful mistake with my gaming laptop (which is currently having some nasty HD, video card and USB problems related to excessive heat) and I urge anyone who is considering the purchase of one-even one from an extremely high end manufacturer like Alienware, Voodoo or Falcon-to reevaluate and find another solution.

zizdog69 · 05-18-2007, 10:42 AM

If your fans just started running constantly, that could be a sign of debris in the cooling fins of the heat sink. If it has always done this since it was new, you might just have to deal with it.

If it is my first idea, the only way to fix that is to take the thing apart (which I don’t recommend if it is in warranty) and blow it out with a compressor or canned air. Don't blow it out with the laptop buttoned up or it will just circulate inside and cover everything else.

I live with two cats and longhaired dogs in the desert of AZ and I have to tear apart my two laptops every 6 months to remove the crap from inside. Afterwards, the fans come on much less. But those are just regular laptops, not desktop replacements like yours.

Good luck and let us know.

mirevolver · 05-18-2007, 02:16 PM

I usually have a targus chill mat under my laptop and that works wonders in keeping the heat down. http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA248U

04-26-2007, 07:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
spikebrdr Upright	cooling problems i recently bought an Alienware Sentia 3450 laptop and although it is a great comuter ive notice that the thing gets extremly hot. the fan is constantly running and is very loud and i notice that alot of other laptops dont see to have that problem. does anyone out there have the same problem or know the best way to fix it?

04-26-2007, 10:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dilbert1234567 Devils Cabana Boy Location: Central Coast CA	when you pack that much power into a small space it will get hot. there is no real fix, the system is designed to get just hot enough so that the majority will not fail before the warranty runs out. the Pentium M's can be dynamically underclocked, and even the Pentium 4's can be essentially underclocked to reduce heat. i'm sure the same is true for the Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor, but i don't know of any utilities that do it. __________________ Donate Blood! "Love is not finding the perfect person, but learning to see an imperfect person perfectly." -Sam Keen

05-18-2007, 10:42 AM	#6 (permalink)
zizdog69 Crazy Location: Arizona	If your fans just started running constantly, that could be a sign of debris in the cooling fins of the heat sink. If it has always done this since it was new, you might just have to deal with it. If it is my first idea, the only way to fix that is to take the thing apart (which I don’t recommend if it is in warranty) and blow it out with a compressor or canned air. Don't blow it out with the laptop buttoned up or it will just circulate inside and cover everything else. I live with two cats and longhaired dogs in the desert of AZ and I have to tear apart my two laptops every 6 months to remove the crap from inside. Afterwards, the fans come on much less. But those are just regular laptops, not desktop replacements like yours. Good luck and let us know. __________________ "So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life." -Peter Gibbons, Office Space

05-18-2007, 02:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
mirevolver Inspired by the mind's eye. Location: Between the darkness and the light.	I usually have a targus chill mat under my laptop and that works wonders in keeping the heat down. http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA248U __________________ Aside from my great plans to become the future dictator of the moon, I have little interest in political discussions.

04-27-2007, 09:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
oiekeooiyw Insane	if you use your laptop on a desk check out a laptop cooler like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16834984003 I got one and the fan that used to blow hot air now blows fairly cool air when it actually comes on.

04-27-2007, 09:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Somniferous Upright Location: Downriver, MI	A hot laptop is what you get when you purchase a gaming laptop. I don't care what anyone says, laptops are not designed to run full out games; they are designed for portable business apps.

04-27-2007, 11:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Frosstbyte Winter is Coming Location: The North	I have a Voodoo Envy with EXACTLY the same problem. Your options, unfortunately, are very very very limited. I assume you have a gaming station with an external keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc. You should definitely buy a laptop cooler as suggested by oiekeooiyw suggested. There are a lot of different ones out there, so make sure you get one that is big enough to cover your laptop's footprint. Some of the designs may cover front, back or side ports depending on your laptop's build and placement, so be careful. Additionally, I'd recommend getting extra padding to increase the amount of air between your laptop and whatever it's resting on. I use poker chips, but I'm sure all kinds of things would work just as well. Finally, get yourself a small-ish desk fan that you can put on your desk off to the side of your laptop. Between the desk fan and the laptop cooler, you should notice a pretty meaningful heat difference. The bottom line-and this is what I've learned-is to never buy a gaming laptop again. If you need portability, buy a laptop, but if you want to game, get a desktop. If you need your gaming rig to be portable, get a small form model like the Falcon Northwest FragBox. I've learned a costly and painful mistake with my gaming laptop (which is currently having some nasty HD, video card and USB problems related to excessive heat) and I urge anyone who is considering the purchase of one-even one from an extremely high end manufacturer like Alienware, Voodoo or Falcon-to reevaluate and find another solution.