Laptop CPU overheating (>95C). Help!

[Palas]

I have Acer v3-517g laptop bought ~13 months ago. About 2 days ago, CPU started to reach dangerous temps when on small load (for ex.: running 3ds max, clean wiewports, when I open the program, CPU temp goes >80C. after closing it goes back to 70C. While playing Arma 3 on low-mid settings SP, CPU, according to HWMonitor, reached the max 95C.

CPU: i5 3210m 2.5Ghz
GPU: nvidia 640M 2GB
RAM: 6GB DDR3
OS: Windows 7 64bit

Also, different software shows different CPU temps - Speedfan tells me CPU is ~65C while on hwmonitor or coretemp ranks 85-90C. Why is that? Which one to believe? I can hear CPU fan accelerating when the temp rises.

I've always relied on speedfan measurements before, so maybe not noticed heating problems. But why all of a sudden this started ~2-3 days ago? Maybe after a trip on the train and using laptop on a vibrating surface for 2h?

Options? I thought about replacing stock heatsink with coolermaster (came with a custom CPU cooler I bought for my PC Quad). However, this may affect warranty?

Thanks for suggestions!

 

[Jaydip]

Can you checks temps via bios?

 

[Matt1970]

Can you actually feel the heat? If your CPU is getting to 90c you should be able to feel it. That keyboard should be getting mighty warm.

 

[Virgorising]

Well this, esp in a relaltively new lappy, is sad. But also, I think not uncommon. the marketplace wants sliver thin, weighs an ounce and that inevitalby means even worse cooling than in previous times.

I rarely use my Alienware Sentia lappy anymore, but right off, I got it a nice aluminum Bytecc USB cooling pad. However inconvenient, I think the good ones make a huge difference.

I hope you get this put right!!!!

 

[Torn Mind]

Probably need a cooling pad and/or new thermal paste. Laptop heatsinks come in all shapes and sizes due to the variations in the design of the internals, so I'm not sure if your custom heatsink would work.

 

[Virgorising]

Probably need a cooling pad and/or new thermal paste. Laptop heatsinks come in all shapes and sizes due to the variations in the design of the internals, so I'm not sure if your custom heatsink would work.

Obviously, I would first go cooling pad. But U think it's possible thermal paste, even not Arctic Silver cause is too expensive for most Mfgs, could go bad in such a short time?????

 

[paul878]

You can't just install any the heatsink on a laptop!
Check and make sure the fans are spinning and that the heatsink are screw down.

 

[Ketchup]

How much higher are the temps now than they were when you bought the laptop? At what temp do the fans spin up? Is the spin up more of a constant thing now?

 

[Palas]

Hey guys,

When CPU gets >90C, it really feels hot under the laptop and on keyboard. However, having touched my PC CPU (~70C, had cooling problems), I can say the latter was far warmer, couldn't even touch with a finger.

I can't see temps on BIOS, but when I enter it, CPU fan gets fast and it feels it's getting some load.

Fan(s) spin up noticeably (hearing) after a sudden temp rise. Then they adapt to the heat and RPM reduces. I suppose that's how it works on most machines.

Thanks for the answers, and looking forward to hear more.

 

[bruceb]

Not sure if you have done this, but most laptops have options in the Power Settings for things like battery usage, ac power usage and also, fan speeds. You can set the fan to High for various power uses. Odds are, it is set fairly low when on battery to maximize battery run time.

 

[paul878]

Not sure if you have done this, but most laptops have options in the Power Settings for things like battery usage, ac power usage and also, fan speeds. You can set the fan to High for various power uses. Odds are, it is set fairly low when on battery to maximize battery run time.

Even with Power setting at Maximum performance no laptop cpu temp should reach those level.

 

[corkyg]

It is not overheating - it is incinerating! My sense is that something is wrong with your temp sensor. That is over 200 F!

 

[Palas]

I ran prime95 100% CPU load test for an hour and the temp reached 90C and stood there.

What's interesting, I had CPU reaching 100C, CPU's tjmax is 105C according to coretemp information, but no stuttering or anything happened while playing Arma 3 on 95-100C temp for ~20 minutes.

Is this normal or should I really consider sensors wrong?

 

[Virgorising]

Well, I keep watching this thread cause I find this issue so scary. I suddenly wondered what app you are using to measure yr temps? More than one? What would be the downside of using more than one?

Edit: I now see you have used two apps. Only one, it seems gives the off the hook temps. Again, re below, I would get and run every single free app which measures yr temps. The whole issue may be within the app which measures the temps at, as someone here described correctly, "incendiary.".

I use Speedfan, but I just found this freeware you might try. I know it's a longshot, but why not if it's free?
http://www.technogadge.com/real-temp-cpu-temperature-monitor/

I am also wondering what other diagnostics are available to you? It seem the proprietary ones via Acer are only available in their repair centers. (Never heard of that, but hey....) How about just pain Windows diagnostics?

I always try to do the most logical and obvious stuff first.

Edit: Just found this one....was highly recommended in some thread form somewhere re some guy who was having problems similar to yours.
http://www.alcpu.com/CoreTemp/

Another edit: strikes me, that if those temps are accurate, yr thermal paste must be drying up, no? I mean even the best could not endure those temps forever. I am now leaning toward bad/bogus readings via the one app....cause if the system isn't shutting down regularly, no way could 90C be right.
****************************************
Another edit: Tried to get a copy of yr User's Manual and Shop Manual at Acer, cause I wanted to see how it's vented, but I could not. but, why not just real time chat someone there? It seems they do offer this normal option.
http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers

Wrong; here is everything! http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers

Big brand builders of PCs and lappys, discovered a while back, if they are to survive, they need to provide decent service. Dell smartly brought all its support back to America, i.e.......the downside of outsourcing is way bigger than the upside.

At least someone there will know this individual laptop and its potential issues. I mean, why not? Sad part, the thing has to be under warranty.....and yours is three years. OK you opened it. So what? I would not offer that info going in when you do a live chat. Make this a litmus test of Acer support!!!! And report back!!!!

 

[Palas]

interesting stuff to read!

I've checked advanced BIOS today (Acer couldn't even better to provide official solutions for this, so a bios mod had to be installed manually...).

I found shutdown temp (in BIOS) to be equal to 100C. However, when gaming, hwmonitor registered max temp. of 104C for CPU. Why didn't it shutdown on that point? Does this indicate heat sensors wrong?

I also installed the latest ver. of speedfan (woops!) and it now displays the same numbers as hwmonitor or coretemp. No doubt this is an overheating crisis!

I guess reapplying heatsink is the only viable solution, as I heard cooling pads or mountable fans to the side vents aren't as effective as presented.

 

[Virgorising]

I am unclear re why you wouldn't simply do a real time chat with an Acer pundit at Acer?? After all, technically, you are under warranty! I went there to delve, you could get hooked up in no time!!! NO CHARGE. What would be the harm? After all, it's part of what you PAID FOR. Whoever you get, he or she should know this individual laptop well.

http://us.acer.com/ac/en/US/content/drivers

Instead of railing against what Acer does NOT provide....take advantage of what they DO PROVIDE. Esp, givne this is a really serious symptom.

And, while your temps (it does seem) are out of this universe, a good aluminum cooling pad makes a difference. At least raise the unit off the desk or table so your just running the system as it remains, does not do further harm.