Tech support question about laptop cooling fans

[strategery blunder]

Can heat dissapation problems cause a laptop computer to shut down?

Over the past few months, my computer has been running hotter and hotter when I play games, and sometimes the system shuts down. It only seems to happen when the keyboard gets hot to the touch, and when the bottom of the computer gets nearly as hot as the AC adapter.

I started propping up the back of the computer so that the cooling fan had a place to blow the hot exhaust. It has helped quite a bit in the random shutdowns, but now it's starting to become a problem again.

It doesn't seem to matter what game I play--if it runs for more than a couple of hours at a time and is resource-intensive, it will cause problems.

If I'm doing something that's easy on the computer, like surfing the internet(s), it doesn't seem to be a problem.

I suspect the cooling fan is wearing out and needs replacement. I've had the computer for about a year and a half. Fortunately, I have an extended warranty (3 years) if it comes to that, but I realistically can't part with my computer to get it repaired until summer.

Can anyone verify, or dispel, my suspicions?

I have a Dell Inspiron 5100 and WinXPHome, btw.

[WindRavenX]

1. Happens to me too

You have GOT to be sure there is adequate ventilation, or woo, it overheats.

[Az]

2. Yep, heat is a major problem for laptops

You may be able to get your fan replaced if its a reputible brand name. Might cost you a little bit. But its less expensive than replacing the laptop.

[Book Lover]

3. Yep, sure can

You say your *keyboard* gets hot to the touch? Geez, I have my doubts whether your machine will last 'till the summer... Do you hear your fan wheezing around at all?

[strategery blunder]

4. It runs more often than it used to, and on lower power. nt

[Dookus]

5. yes

my laptop does it when playing World of Warcraft. I have to put something under it so it's elevated off the table and the fan is exposed.

The problem is the graphics in the games really stress the processors and generate a lot of heat.

[strategery blunder]

6. I do that too

It was enough until very recently; the computer has been heating up in spite of my improved ventilation in the last couple of days. This is why I'm thinking the cooling fan needs to be replaced.

Everyone seems to agree on the problem. Meh, I'll call Dell tech support tomorrow and see what they can do. It seems pretty clear-cut what the problem is, and what the solution is. I'll be in Chicago over the weekend (I'm in a fairly remote location that isn't feasible for on-site support right now) and I'll try to get the rep in India to have a technician come to my permanant residence Sunday morning. (I paid damn good money to upgrade the warranty.)

If not, I'll just play my older, less demanding games until spring break, when I won't urgently need the computer and I can send it in for repairs. This strategy has worked before for me, with a hard drive, though that was on another computer that has since met the parts salvager.

[pinniped]

7. I have a Dell D600 P-M1.6 notebook ( xp ) and the fan usually turns on...

when editing heavily in PS, but the puter never shut down on its own. The fan may also run during CD conversion in iTunes, but never a shut down.

The fan seems to be running at normal speeds, right? Maybe something is wrong with the temperature gauge or something.

Edit: I see that your fan is running at a lower power.

[Redstone]

8. Don't know about Dells, but

Apple Powerbooks (the last couple of generations) do actually exahust heat through the keyboard.

A quick fox for you: There are several companies that make flat bases to sit your laptop on which have two to four fans in them to provide additional cooling. They run on USB bus power, which should't make a battery-life problem for you since you say you usually use the computer plugged in to AC power.

Try drbott.com and the other usual supects who make computer accessories.

Redstone

[strategery blunder]

9. I can't afford much of anything right now

I think my best bet is to take advantage of that extended warranty I bought...and I do not have a spare USB port.