Overheat question....

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 7:57 pm

OK so... Going into the EM 2.x beta I was well aware that my integrated graphics on my laptop aren't really supposed to be compatible. The game still ran well, but I started experiencing issues with over-heat. All my graphics settings were as low as possble. Also I turned off all the settings in Windows I was sure weren't needed.

It was suggested to me to look into getting a cooling pad and that would help.

Here's my question -

I don't know much about computers, but am I correct to assume that while a cooling pad might help reduce the over-all temperature/improve heat transfer, the actual point where the heat is being generated (the microscopic switches in the CPU/integrated graphics) will still be running incredibly hot and still risk damage?

49rTbird · Post by **49rTbird** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:05 pm

I am not sure how much it helps but I have a cooling pad (big fan) under my laptop as a safety factor. My video card and CPU does run some what cooler than with out. Both running at about 117 at this time. They get higher during game play but lower than without the pad. I mounted the pad to a piece of finished plywood and use Velcro to hold the laptop in place so I can still remove it for mobile operation when needed.

zex · Post by **zex** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 8:33 pm

Hey RC.

The problem isn't that the components in your machine are getting instantly hotter than they can stand, the problem is that over an amount of time, they get hotter and hotter until they reach a critical point. A cooling fan serves to move cooler air into the area to make your cooling system more efficient.

I recently purchased http://www.officemax.com/technology/com ... u=23389209

The intake for my laptop is on the bottom, the vents are in the back.. So a cooling pad helped in my situation. If you are running OVER the maximum operating temp for your hardware, you should probably look into other cooling methods. Make sure you are dealing with facts, and not just thinking that your hardware is too hot. Laptops do get hot, but are designed to handle a pretty significant amount of heat. You can google specifications for your particular chips and see what the heat thresholds are for them.

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:14 pm

Thanks for the tips guys. Just wanna make sure I'm not putting a Band-Aid on a bullet wound by getting a cooling pad.
I reeaaaally can't afford to replace my lappy right now.

Also Intel doesn't do a very good job at listing all the relevant specs for their products.

As far as I can tell my i-3 M330 hits critical at 90 Celcius. I tried a few temp. monitoring utilities and they all show my laptop jumping up to 75c almost instantly.

I'm gonna give a cooling pad a try when I get some extra money, but for now it looks like an extended layover at Realife station.

Is it normal to dislike shore leave?

zex · Post by **zex** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 9:30 pm

Your TDP calculation for that chip is correct, it will probably start throttling at 90 deg C.

75c wouldn't be bad if it stays at that temp - what is the highest you've seen?

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:00 pm

I've only had one shut-down but I don't want to risk another.

Then higest I've seen besides the shutdown was 82c.

zex · Post by **zex** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:06 pm

yeah.. i understand. heat makes me nervous too.

if you have intakes on the bottom of your laptop.. i'd try a cooling pad.
it's the cheapest of your options..

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:15 pm

Also make sure your laptop cooling fan is still working, It can stop working and you will not notice, they are some times so qouite, till suddenly it is to late!!....

zex · Post by **zex** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:20 pm

hehe.. my fan sounds like a cheap c1 fulcrum drive when it gets going

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:20 pm

Mine too.

Lupus · Post by **Lupus** » Tue Jan 01, 2013 10:58 pm

I have exactly the same problem, my cooling pad (Logitech, $15 AUS) really helps though, i see a decrease from around 80 to 70-75 degrees C when i turn it on. It has to be running before i load games for it to do anything, but it does work. Like Maars said though, it only works if you have intakes on the underside, lol

Austin · Post by **Austin** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 5:38 am

Could be dust too. If your confident wit your skillz, take your labby apart, as best you can and use some air in a can. I know excessive dust build up can lead to over heating. And I know it's a pain to keep labtops free of dust.

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:50 pm

Cooling pad on the way! Thanks to a favor from a close friend.

Gonna get a can of air too, and give it the works.

Thanks for the help guys.

zex · Post by **zex** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:57 pm

Good to hear RC. Good luck!

By the way - have you tried playing with the laptop unplugged? Laptops are usually configured in a way that makes them consume less power when running off the battery. Less power == less heat.

Maarschalk · Post by **Maarschalk** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 10:02 pm

From post: 154104, Topic: tid=10286, author=zex wrote:Good to hear RC. Good luck!

By the way - have you tried playing with the laptop unplugged? Laptops are usually configured in a way that makes them consume less power when running off the battery. Less power == less heat.

True, but Evochron Mercenary can be a Power Hungery App for some CPUs and GPUs.....depleting your battery quickly!...

:P

Post by **Marvin** » Wed Jan 02, 2013 11:22 pm

So true, Maars. In fact, I'm running on my battery right now and getting a pop-up mes

Rubber Chicken · Post by **Rubber Chicken** » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:43 am

OK. So I've found a built-in power management utility for my lappy. It seems I can restrict my CPU maximum performance while it's plugged in.

I think this should be equivalent to what Zex was saying about running unplugged but without having to unplug. Gonna give it a max performance limit of 80% and try a little SP action. If it works well, then that and the cooling pad that's on the way should be a good combo.

I'm guessing since I have a lower-end CPU that limiting the max too far will give poor game perfomance though.