Laptop temperature

[Bubbayoshi]

I don't know exactly how hot my laptop gets when I'm playing a game like Dragon Age 2 or GMod, but next to the vents it gets too hot to keep a maintained touch. I can keep my finger there for a few seconds before I have to pull away.
I've been looking into a cooling pad, but I just want to make sure if I bought one it could handle the weight of an Alienware M17x. My shoulder can barely manage the weight just getting to class...

Also, would vacuuming my vents help somewhat? After seeing Peggy on King of the Hill suck up the 1 key, I've been nervous about letting a vacuum anywhere near my laptop.

 

[marsmimar]

You'll probably get differing opinions but a cooling pad won't hurt and will probably help. They come in different sizes and some will accomodate 17" laptops. For example:

NotePal U3 - Cooler Master

To monitor your temps and other system info you could get something like Speccy, a free tool from Piriform (the same folks that make CCleaner.)

Speccy - System Information - Free Download

 

[WebMattR]

I've a 17" WidowPC, and very much know how you feel with the weight/heat business. I wound picking myself up this because it was on sale. It's done wonders to reduce the heat of the machine (which used to get too hot to rest my arms on) to a point where I can now game for hours.

 

[Bubbayoshi]

okay so i just bought a notepal u3 but when i plug the USB in, it makes my computer reboot.

 

[marsmimar]

It's possible the reboot was needed after the necessary U3 driver was installed on your laptop. Once the driver has been installed your computer shouldn't reboot, even if you unplug from the USB port then replug the U3. Does it continue to reboot?

 

[Bubbayoshi]

the instant its in the port

 

[Bubbayoshi]

ok so now it isn't rebooting but it also isn't doing anything, except for making my mouse's USB unnoticed

 

[marsmimar]

With the U3 and your mouse both plugged in to their USB ports, completely shut down your computer. Wait about a minute and then restart. What happens?

 

[Bubbayoshi]

alright so i shut down with both plugged in, then started back up after a quick snack. my mouse still isn't registering, and the fans aren't running, even when i turn the dial all the way up and all the way down. i also smell something that reminds me of an electric model train i had growing up

 

[marsmimar]

OK, at this point I'd say there's something not right, especially having the electric train smell. (I remember that from the transformer that provided power to the track.) Leave the mouse plugged in where it is. Unplug the U3 from the USB port and see if you regain control of the mouse. Then try plugging the mouse into the USB port you had the U3 plugged into. If the mouse still works then the USB port is probably OK and the U3 is defective. If the mouse doesn't work that would indicate that the port is not working. Then the question becomes, "Did the U3 kill the USB port or was the port already bad and it killed the U3?"

 

[Bubbayoshi]

my mouse works in all 5 usb ports, including the one that the U3 was plugged in to. i've tried the U3 in the two on the right side of my laptop, and one on the left, haven't tried it in the USB/E SATA port yet

 

[marsmimar]

I'm guessing that the U3 isn't working no matter which USB port you're using. I'd contact Cooler Master customer support rather than risking damage to your laptop. There's a Live Help link at the bottom of the page that gets you to customer support.

NotePal U3 - Cooler Master.

 

[Bubbayoshi]

alright sent an email, hopefully they can help

 

[marsmimar]

Please let us know what Cooler Master has to say so others can benefit from your experiences. FWIW, I have a U2 that I'm using with an older Dell Inspiron 1300 and a U3 I'm using with a Sony Vaio. Both have worked very well for me. I guess there's always a chance of getting a lemon.

 

[Bubbayoshi]

they said to order new fans, they'd ship them out to me

 

[NoN]

Too bad it fails right on plug...my cooler model Notepal D1 is lasting well since an entire year now. Portable and easy to clean the dust.

 

[marsmimar]

they said to order new fans, they'd ship them out to me

Hopefully their quality control will be better on the new fans. Thanks for posting back.