Looks like a good looking laptop, I want one.
Then buy one
they're not actually that expensive. I'm kicking myself for getting one *just before* they released them with sandy bridge i7's
Very nice gamers laptop.
To check the CPU core temps, play your most stressful game or run Prime95.
Be carefull with heat on a laptop, your's has a very nice cooling system, just watch the core temps.
Intel is vague, actually they omitted posting the max CPU temp (Tcase), for this CPU's recommended max core temp.
I'm conservative when it comes to CPU temps, even for a laptop I wouldn't want to be much over 60°C for more than a couple of minutes.
Heat is the number one computer component killer.
CPU - Stress Test with Prime95
Prime95 Torture test
First open Real Temp to monitor CPU temperatures, don't go over 77°C.
Open Prime95 and stop the test if it is running, in Advanced tab select 'Round off checking', in the Options tab select 'Torture Test...', in the window that opens select 'Blend', after 'Number of torture test threads to run' enter 8, then click OK to start the test.
This program will max out your CPU, max frequency and 100% useage, during the test.
It usually takes less than a minute to reach max temps.
For a laptop I would just use this program to test the max temps, run it for 1-2 minutes only.
That extra hard drive bay is just begging for a SSD, you only need a 60GB SSD for your OS and apps, then keep all data on the spinner.
I have a 40GB SSD and a HDD in my laptop, two bays.
The performance is simply amazing, battery time went from 4 hours to 7+ hours.
Yeah I've run Prime before, max temps on the CPU are 64/59/63/61 under full load and 45 idle. You say you wouldn't like 'em to go over 60, but the shutdown temp for the 720QM is 100 and it's not anywhere close really. If my temps get to 85ish I'd still think it was normal after many many hours of straight gameplay and wouldn't be too worried. If it heads over 90 though, I'd have to do something about it.
GPU is idle at 52-54, gonna repaste it soon though when I stick my other 2x4GB SODIMMs in.
My current new install is at 45GB with *most* things in there, but I'd like room to have a couple of games installed as well, just to impress with those load times
so 128 would be minimum for me. A 120Hz 3D screen would be nice too
but I can't seem to find many...oh, not to mention I don't think ATi cards have the necessary drivers or whatever 'til the 6xxx series
As an aside, what's the r/w speed from/to RAM? Do some SSDs actually have faster r/w speeds? Or is that silly? ^_^ I'd like a
C300 really, I've heard there's a few faults with them but also that there's work arounds. I'm still waiting for the SSD market to get cheaper and hopefully more reliable. As a student I don't have *that* much money.
I'm already finding myself wanting to upgrade everything, so I'd better have a well paying job at the end of this to fund my technology habits. Still, spending a year in the US (CA) in 2 years time, and it'll be about time to upgrade then...think I'll buy desktop parts over there, you guys have it easy with your cheaper electronic goods!
EDIT: My Acer Aspire One netbook which is half-way across the room atm is making more noise than this
EDIT2: Completely missed this post
This is a great bit of information for those who want to change the stock settings of components and confirms my point, you should be really careful, you have a nice laptop, there is no point pushing it too far as you could lose everything.
Mmm I'm being careful with the CPU, hence why I backed away from anything that came remotely close to BSODing me. Checked my temps, see above. GPU I'm being even more careful with, making sure it can pass ATi OverDrive's own GPU test (which backs out and stops if anything's up), then testing it running WEI, then 3DMark11. Gonna test it with Crysis/Furmark in a bit.
