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Alienware Shuts off

post #1 of 6
5/15/08 at 12:21am
Thread Starter 
I have an: Alienware 3.0 GHz HT, Nvidia 6800 Ultra, 1 GB Ram, 17" laptop.

My problem is: My laptop completely shuts off after 15 minutes. Doesn't matter if

I am not even using it. I can be installing a gmae, using a word processor, it's

guarnateed to shut off. Completely shut off. The power goes off. It also

happens when I am using an AC Adapter or Battery power. However, I don't

think it's overheatting. Or at least it doesn't appear to. I had a fan on high blast

pressed up against it and it still happended; and sometimes the laptop fan isn't

even on and it happens. I read somewhere it could be the GPU overheating? What gives? How can I fix this?


The laptop was used, and it was purchased off of eBay. So when I called

Alienware they give me the crappy

line "Your not the original purchaser of this laptop." What's up with this? How can

I fix this? It's no use to me if it shuts off within 15 minutes.
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post #2 of 6
5/15/08 at 12:23am
Thread Starter 
Also, when I received this laptop is was pretty dusty. I cleaned up the visible

stuff (I.E: Keyboard, CD Rom drive, etc). I read somewhere I might need to

take a can of air or get a vacuum and suck the air out? Somebody confirm this?

And could you explain how to, without frying your laptop. Which is something I

have done with a similar model (It was a Clevo). Hah.
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post #3 of 6
5/15/08 at 12:26am
Thread Starter 
I propped it up on about 6 to 7 books on each side of the laptop so that iwas higho ff the desk. I put a fan underneath of it. I also made sure the fans wasn't blocked.

11 to 11:30: Did not shut off. Battery was on. Propped up.
11:30 to present: Did not shut offe either. Ac Adapter plugged in.

Right now, it's running and I've done some light gaming and I've installed COD2, NBA live 07. I have no answer. Maybe it is overheating to some extent and the fan is just closer to the processor / videocard and it's keeping it cooler. Should I possibly buy a cooling pad?
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post #4 of 6
5/21/08 at 5:45pm
System is overheating either processor or video card, you may use an air duster to clean the vents, If you have the Area51 m7700, left side there is a vent for the video card, under you will see the fans for the processor and video, make sure they are also clean and back of the system you will find the vent for the processor. Give that a try and let us know.
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post #5 of 6
5/22/08 at 12:48am
You might need to re-apply thermal paste since the pads could have dried up or aren't transferring enough heat.
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post #6 of 6
5/29/08 at 10:28pm
I agree with BFisch06. Since you bought it used, you don't know what's been done to it. I'd take the heatsink for the processor and video card off, clean them, and apply some new thermal paste. Just make sure you've got pads/thermal paste that you need before taking it apart. Running it without a good interface between the cpu/gpu and heatsinks will cause overheating, and freezing/shut downs.

Here's Alienware's knowledge base article on replacing the gpu heatsink/fan with new thermal paste. They don't have one up for the cpu because that will void your warranty, but do the same thing to the cpu. While doing this, you can really clean the fans and heatsinks to get the thing to run as cool as possible. This'll add to the longevity of the laptop.

I'd recommend Arctic Silver 5. You can probably find some at a local computer store.
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