I have trouble with overheating. When playing tf2 temperatures get into the 90s. I have CoreTemp configured so that tf2 is killed when I hit TjMax (which I think is 95C on the i5) but my computer occasionally still crashes completely without warning.
I have it propped up on books like so
http://i.imgur.com/xDo0Kow.jpg
I've tried undoing the bottom panel to blow the dust out but there's only one screw and it seems like it's attached with plastic anyway.
I've put USB fans by the side but they're loud and don't help much afaik.
This is my computer
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-n411z/pd
Any help is appreciated unless you say buy a desktop.
Willing to give you any additional info regarding the problem.
I have trouble with overheating. When playing tf2 temperatures get into the 90s. I have CoreTemp configured so that tf2 is killed when I hit TjMax (which I think is 95C on the i5) but my computer occasionally still crashes completely without warning.
I have it propped up on books like so [img]http://i.imgur.com/xDo0Kow.jpg[/img]
I've tried undoing the bottom panel to blow the dust out but there's only one screw and it seems like it's attached with plastic anyway.
I've put USB fans by the side but they're loud and don't help much afaik.
This is my computer
http://www.dell.com/us/p/inspiron-n411z/pd
Any help is appreciated unless you say buy a desktop.
Willing to give you any additional info regarding the problem.
Its most likely the same issue that Crespi had with his macbook pro - the insides need to be cleaned out and thermal paste should be re-applied.
http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/8399/
Its most likely the same issue that Crespi had with his macbook pro - the insides need to be cleaned out and thermal paste should be re-applied.
http://teamfortress.tv/forum/thread/8399/
My laptop is even worse than that.... :(
My laptop is even worse than that.... :(
thanks for the quick replay krakow.
here's the bottom of my computer: http://i.imgur.com/aoW7bPM.jpg (low quality)
I've already tried opening the machine to blow dust out but after unscrewing the screw in the top left nothing happened, that weirdly shaped panel was still stuck there and I couldn't force it open without it breaking. I'm no expert with computers at all so I didn't tamper with it just to be safe.
thanks for the quick replay krakow.
here's the bottom of my computer: http://i.imgur.com/aoW7bPM.jpg (low quality)
I've already tried opening the machine to blow dust out but after unscrewing the screw in the top left nothing happened, that weirdly shaped panel was still stuck there and I couldn't force it open without it breaking. I'm no expert with computers at all so I didn't tamper with it just to be safe.
I had this exact same issue with my old laptop. The only solution I found was to prop it up on two books and put a small fan to the left blowing under the laptop. Its kind of odd with the breeze on your hands and the noise of the fans but with some headphones and time you wont notice it but at least you can play tf2.
Heres a shitty diagram made in ms paint:
http://i.imgur.com/ejPUm6R.png
That fan is like an actual plug into your outlet small thing. Kind of like this: http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HNF0410A-RM-Mini-Velocity-Personal/dp/B004WT6Z36/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1369185525&sr=8-40&keywords=portable+fan
I had this exact same issue with my old laptop. The only solution I found was to prop it up on two books and put a small fan to the left blowing under the laptop. Its kind of odd with the breeze on your hands and the noise of the fans but with some headphones and time you wont notice it but at least you can play tf2.
Heres a shitty diagram made in ms paint:
[img]http://i.imgur.com/ejPUm6R.png[/img]
That fan is like an actual plug into your outlet small thing. Kind of like this: http://www.amazon.com/Holmes-HNF0410A-RM-Mini-Velocity-Personal/dp/B004WT6Z36/ref=sr_1_40?ie=UTF8&qid=1369185525&sr=8-40&keywords=portable+fan&tag=teamfortresst-20
Will this be a legitimate solution, not temporary? if so I'll find a fan and do this.
Will this be a legitimate solution, not temporary? if so I'll find a fan and do this.
ibexI'm no expert with computers at all so I didn't tamper with it just to be safe.
I highly recommend that you take some time to research your computer model, and learn how to open it up properly. With a little perseverance, and the right tools, I guarantee that you could become proficient enough to open your baby up and get a good look inside.
The suggestion to create an airflow under the laptop with a fan is good, and should be done. However, if you have dust bunnies living inside your portable, you'll never get the performance you want out of it.
Check out this picture below. This is what I found in my computer before I replaced my thermal paste. I cleaned out this dust days before the thermal paste repair, and with that alone I had a significant increase in performance. Just saying, I know it's scary diving into the unknown with electronics you don't want to ruin, but the ends justify the means.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43946806/mac4.jpg
[quote=ibex]I'm no expert with computers at all so I didn't tamper with it just to be safe.[/quote]
I highly recommend that you take some time to research your computer model, and learn how to open it up properly. With a little perseverance, and the right tools, I guarantee that you could become proficient enough to open your baby up and get a good look inside.
The suggestion to create an airflow under the laptop with a fan is good, and should be done. However, if you have dust bunnies living inside your portable, you'll never get the performance you want out of it.
Check out this picture below. This is what I found in my computer [b]before[/b] I replaced my thermal paste. I cleaned out this dust days before the thermal paste repair, and with that alone I had a significant increase in performance. Just saying, I know it's scary diving into the unknown with electronics you don't want to ruin, but the ends justify the means.
[img]https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/43946806/mac4.jpg[/img]
With my laptop I put a box fan below it. It wasn't too loud and I got used to it. Also, I opened it up and cleaned it with some compressed air and it made a HUGE difference. After a while of using that, I broke down and built my own pc.
With my laptop I put a box fan below it. It wasn't too loud and I got used to it. Also, I opened it up and cleaned it with some compressed air and it made a HUGE difference. After a while of using that, I broke down and built my own pc.
I used to play on a HP DV6 that got really hot while playing. It was still under warranty so I couldn't open it up to clean it out/put new thermal paste on.
What I ended up doing was taking an old shoebox, cutting a hole in the lid and glueing two 80mm case fans to it. Running the fans off a 9V AC adapter the CPU temp dropped by about 12 degrees C. It's worth trying if you have some old parts lying around.
I used to play on a HP DV6 that got really hot while playing. It was still under warranty so I couldn't open it up to clean it out/put new thermal paste on.
What I ended up doing was taking an old shoebox, cutting a hole in the lid and glueing two 80mm case fans to it. Running the fans off a 9V AC adapter the CPU temp dropped by about 12 degrees C. It's worth trying if you have some old parts lying around.
same issue!
got to try out the to book and the fan!
same issue!
got to try out the to book and the fan!
It would be best to open it up and clean it out, but if you won't do that, a sort-of fix is to get a cooling pad with a fan to put your laptop on.
Something like this will work - http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-Cooling-R9-NBC-4WAK-GP/dp/B002MU1ZRS/ref=pd_sim_pc_8
The dust problem will just continue to get worse though. You should probably figure out how to open up your laptop.
It would be best to open it up and clean it out, but if you won't do that, a sort-of fix is to get a cooling pad with a fan to put your laptop on.
Something like this will work - http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-Cooling-R9-NBC-4WAK-GP/dp/B002MU1ZRS/ref=pd_sim_pc_8?tag=teamfortresst-20
The dust problem will just continue to get worse though. You should probably figure out how to open up your laptop.
The absolute best solution is figure out temporary, at budget solutions for the time being. Save some money, work a few extra hours and get a desktop. It might take a while, but it'll be worth it.
The absolute best solution is figure out temporary, at budget solutions for the time being. Save some money, work a few extra hours and get a desktop. It might take a while, but it'll be worth it.
DrPloxoThe absolute best solution is figure out temporary, at budget solutions for the time being. Save some money, work a few extra hours and get a desktop. It might take a while, but it'll be worth it.
Giving the laptop a good thorough cleaning will most likely restore the performance he wants, and if that works and he's happy then he doesn't need to get a desktop.
[quote=DrPloxo]The absolute best solution is figure out temporary, at budget solutions for the time being. Save some money, work a few extra hours and get a desktop. It might take a while, but it'll be worth it.[/quote]
Giving the laptop a good thorough cleaning will most likely restore the performance he wants, and if that works and he's happy then he doesn't need to get a desktop.
well today I opened it. I only took off the bottom panel and the keyboard though. I blew some air directly into the fan and pulled out one dust bunny. somewhat better but I'm still going to try the fan. if I can find a fan I'll update
well today I opened it. I only took off the bottom panel and the keyboard though. I blew some air directly into the fan and pulled out one dust bunny. somewhat better but I'm still going to try the fan. if I can find a fan I'll update
if you're not confident with fully disassembling your laptop, contact dell support & I'm sure they will happily send you the engineering service manual for your model.
generally you must fully remove the board to access the fan and heatsink as they're almost always on the underside of the laptop. at this point it should be fairly simple to clean out the fan.
next you should replace the thermal paste on the cpu's and video card. you can buy this in most electronics stores for about €15 (for a small tube.) look up on youtube how to correctly apply it if you're unsure.
sometimes laptops have thermal pads rather than paste placed on parts. if you can be sure that the heatsink will sit flush against these parts then it's a good idea to remove them and put thermal compound there instead.
(some dell laptops only have screws securing the heatsink fully over the cpu and the other parts could not be relied upon to remain flush with the heatsink minus the added thickness of the thermal pads.)
if you're not confident with fully disassembling your laptop, contact dell support & I'm sure they will happily send you the engineering service manual for your model.
generally you must fully remove the board to access the fan and heatsink as they're almost always on the underside of the laptop. at this point it should be fairly simple to clean out the fan.
next you should replace the thermal paste on the cpu's and video card. you can buy this in most electronics stores for about €15 (for a small tube.) look up on youtube how to correctly apply it if you're unsure.
sometimes laptops have thermal pads rather than paste placed on parts. if you can be sure that the heatsink will sit flush against these parts then it's a good idea to remove them and put thermal compound there instead.
(some dell laptops only have screws securing the heatsink fully over the cpu and the other parts could not be relied upon to remain flush with the heatsink minus the added thickness of the thermal pads.)
PowerofTowerWith my laptop I put a box fan below it. It wasn't too loud and I got used to it. Also, I opened it up and cleaned it with some compressed air and it made a HUGE difference. After a while of using that, I broke down and built my own pc.
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?
[quote=PowerofTower]With my laptop I put a box fan below it. It wasn't too loud and I got used to it. Also, I opened it up and cleaned it with some compressed air and it made a HUGE difference. After a while of using that, I broke down and built my own pc.[/quote]
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?
Pacifist
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?
Have you tried taking your outer casing off your portable and cleaning it out? As in dusting it out, getting crap off of the fans and anywhere else?
Also, is your box fan blowing into or away from your laptop?
[quote=Pacifist]
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?[/quote]
Have you tried taking your outer casing off your portable and cleaning it out? As in dusting it out, getting crap off of the fans and anywhere else?
Also, is your box fan blowing [b]into[/b] or [i]away[/i] from your laptop?
@5 That is the exact same set up that I use when my computer decides that it doesn't like the heat.
@5 That is the exact same set up that I use when my computer decides that it doesn't like the heat.
i use all theese things, but on a real hot day i still get 10fps overheats
i use all theese things, but on a real hot day i still get 10fps overheats
crespiPacifist
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?
Have you tried taking your outer casing off your portable and cleaning it out? As in dusting it out, getting crap off of the fans and anywhere else?
Also, is your box fan blowing into or away from your laptop?
Into, that was probally the problem
[quote=crespi][quote=Pacifist]
I tried to put a box fan below my laptop.
After 30 mins, I realized that there was no airflow for the fan, and the fan started to overheat.
How did you set yours up?[/quote]
Have you tried taking your outer casing off your portable and cleaning it out? As in dusting it out, getting crap off of the fans and anywhere else?
Also, is your box fan blowing [b]into[/b] or [i]away[/i] from your laptop?[/quote]
Into, that was probally the problem
Try reversing the air flow. The fans in your laptop are designed to draw heat OUT of the machine. So try that.
Try reversing the air flow. The fans in your laptop are designed to draw heat OUT of the machine. So try that.
crespiTry reversing the air flow. The fans in your laptop are designed to draw heat OUT of the machine. So try that.
Yup, that's probally what I did wrong. But now the air has no where to go.
[quote=crespi]Try reversing the air flow. The fans in your laptop are designed to draw heat OUT of the machine. So try that.[/quote]
Yup, that's probally what I did wrong. But now the air has no where to go.
Build up a couple of things that the left and right edges of your laptop can be put on top of, allowing enough space between the two objects for the fan to be placed under. I do this for my laptop that I play on. I don't have a fan under it though, the purpose of the space is to simply allow the heat a place to dissipate.
Build up a couple of things that the left and right edges of your laptop can be put on top of, allowing enough space between the two objects for the fan to be placed under. I do this for my laptop that I play on. I don't have a fan under it though, the purpose of the space is to simply allow the heat a place to dissipate.
i just purchased some $10 pad that the laptop sits on with a built in fan designed for laptops. works well so far, when I touch the bottom it's actually really cool. the power source for the cooling pad is a USB to the laptop, pretty nifty.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-PLUS-Configurable/dp/B00CPZJP7M/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1375680343&sr=8-7&keywords=laptops+cooling+pad
looks very similar to what I got, except a wee bit more expensive.
i just purchased some $10 pad that the laptop sits on with a built in fan designed for laptops. works well so far, when I touch the bottom it's actually really cool. the power source for the cooling pad is a USB to the laptop, pretty nifty.
http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-NotePal-PLUS-Configurable/dp/B00CPZJP7M/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1375680343&sr=8-7&keywords=laptops+cooling+pad&tag=teamfortresst-20
looks very similar to what I got, except a wee bit more expensive.