Alienware m9750 overheating problem.

Hello,

  My name is Rod and this is my first post ever in a tech forum. Looking for any help to resolve gpu heating problem. I have m9750 T7200 CPU, Single 7950 GTX gpu, 160 GB HDD, Windows MCE XP 2005. The GPU overheats over 100C. I believe the problem is the gpu fan not throtting with the heat increase. It stays at the same low rpm and isn't cooling the gpu enough when gaming. It idles low 70's when doing just about everything but gaming. I noticed the stock clock 575 MHZ downclocks to 525 MHZ at 96C, then again at 102C and 105C. I called AW about the problem but they won't help since I'm out of warranty. The gpu has already been replaced with a refurbished one I bought on Ebay. The previous one burned out. The computer would start normally, just nothing on screen. I could wait a minute, type in my password and would hear Windows go into the desktop. So replaced the gpu, but the same thing happened with the old one too. Now it's happening to the new one which works fine except for the overheating. I don't want the new gpu to fail prematurely. Now I don't think it's a gpu problem since I just put in the new one today and AC5. Also the gpu fan only turns on when the cpu fan turns on. The gpu fan doesn't ever turn on independently. So thinking process of elimination, it could only be either the gpu fan/heatsink assembly (fan motor faulty) or maybe a sensor on the mobo went bad telling the gpu fan to throttle up. I remember when the laptop was new and I would game, the gpu fan would throttle and would be very loud and could feel the heat on my leg. Sorry for the long post. Again any help would be appreciated. Oh, I'm using nvidia driver 179.13, it gives the best frame rates from drivers I've tried. I rolled back to shipped driver 97.23, same problem. 

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I tried that. When I bought the laptop, I also bought an alienware restore disk. It restored it back to factory state and same problem. I think it's a hardware problem somewhere, not necessarily something like drivers. I restored it 3 months ago. Any input is helpful.

Thanks again for replying. Yeah the bios is updated with latest flash from Alienware's driver page. Bios is American Megatrends version W8350F04. Yeah was thinking of ordering a new gpu fan/heatsink assembly from ztronics.com. It's only $13 but don't want to waste money. They offer a diagnostic service for $129. May do that but wanted to try to resolve problem on the cheap if I can. I think propping up the laptop with a cooler under it is kind of a band aid for the fix. The problem is the gpu fan not increasing rpm's when temps rise. Just spins at the slowest rpm. Thanks again, any feedback is helpful.

Thanks for the info. Tried the software but it wouldn't allow me to change fan settings. Ordered a replacement gpu fan/heat sink assembly. Will post back with results.
 

Received pulled fan/heatsink assembly from working system. Installed and no change in gpu behavior. Problem is the fan not throttling with increased gpu temps. I've read other forums stating anything over 90C is too hot. When I game, it easily reaches 95C and after prolonged sessions, gets up to 104C and the clock rates are cut in half which makes most games unplayable. Any other m9750 7950GTX users out there know how many different gpu fan speeds there are? The cpu fan throttles underload but not the gpu fan. Also the fan harness has three wires (red, black, yellow). I read somewhere if i cut the yellow wire, it would max rpm the fan. However this didn't do anything. The laptop now has a low humming sound, will reconnect yellow wire i guess. 

Spoke with an AW tech today who was actually helpful. Told him about my problem and he suggested clean install of XP. Told him I used AW Restore disk. He said a clean install is different. He said since I replaced the gpu and fan/heatsink assembly, problem is probably OS or driver corruption monitoring gpu temps to kick the fans into turbo when overheating. Backing up everything now which is taking forever. Will post back results after clean install.

Well the clean XP install didn't resolve problem.Clean install with original video driver nvidia 94.23 and gpu still overheats to over 100C. Well I've replaced 7950 GTX, gpu fan/heatsink assembly, clean windows install to no avail. It's gotta be the motherboard right? I updated bios to American Megatrends 0F04 from Alienware driver page, previous installed was 0F02. I have 0F02 image and will reflash back. Also wanted to try reflashing gpu bios, I found a .rom file for it. How do I reflash the gpu with it? Can any other m9750 users confirm the gpu fan is suppose to throttle? Doesn't it throttle indepently from the cpu fan? And have you noticed at what temp it occurs? I imagine it's suppose to max spin in the low 90C. Any help is appreciated.

Successfully rolled back to 0F02 bios. No change. Looking for help now to reflash video bios of 7950 gtx. Please help.

I'm about to give up on this issue. Will just have to accept fact a $1600 laptop can't do anything more than a $300 one can do out of fear of cooking the thing. I did notice the gpu temps drop some if the bottom cover is off. May drill some holes in it for more air flow. Using Artic Silver 5. Anybody know of anything better? Maybe that will also give me slightly better temp.