Fan on 8890 running A LOT!

Two hard drives will definitely increase the heat of the system. It will also reduce airflow somewhat.

I notice the fans are on quite a lot. Most likely due to the incredibly fast processor/motherboard. Relative to other laptops I've had, however, it's pretty quiet.

Well, lets see, you're running a fully tricked laptop with a desktop version hyperthreaded 800FSB processor at at least 2.4ghz, are you expecting the thing to air condition your house?

These things make heat, and need to stay cool. Of course the fans will run...

What version is that....?...the 8090-AC ? Id love to have that model. .Its been a while since I haven't had a computer that doesnt raise ambient temperature 2-3 degrees Celcius in my room.

Question and please do not take this as a put-down, I am just trying to help. Obviously, with a couple of hundred 8890s out there in service there are only a few with heating/fan running all the time complaints. That would tend to indicate either there is a problem with your specific machine in which case you may need to RMA it or there is a problem with how you are operating it.

So, where do you have the machine running? Is it sitting on a firm, flat, clean surface with good air flow, particularly on the bottom and right side? Or are you running it with it on your lap or sitting on the carpet or on your sheets or a pillow so the fan intakes on the bottom are blocked or the exhaust vents on the right side are blocked.

I assume you are running it in a reasonably comfortable environment that is not over 95 degrees and has some ventilation but you never know.

One of the reasons I ask is you mention the fans stopped when you left the machine for a bit but started right up again when you came back and started working again.

If its doing this while its sitting on a firm, flat, clean surface with good air flow. you most likely have a problem with your fans. It may be there is something blocking the air flow inside the case. That may be something you can fix by looking inside the case for anything that would block the air flow. You can open the case, but be careful. There are service manuals that can be downloaded from the Clevo site but I don't know if they have them up for the 8890. Maybe Adam can help there.

If its not a problem with air flow either around or inside the case, it could be whatever controls the fans is defective or set wrong. As far as I know, its not a very high tech system, just a thermistor. But it would be best to talk to Adam at PCTorque (or whomever you bought your machine from) or to Tech Service at Sager. If you go to the Sager site, you can email them with your questions. They may be able to help you further though in the end, it may be necessary to RMA the machine.

Hi.
I'm an audio producer, and my main concerns before getting a 8890 are about heat and fan noise. Do you think your 8890 is too loud?
Anyone has this same experience(overheat and fans running all the time)?
I'm planning to get one with 3.2GHz and two HDs on RAID 0, so i wonder if this would produce more heat and fans running all the time...
Best,
RC
SonicaOS
Audio Productions

RAID0

Hi conejo,

You just reminded me with your post about asking what RAID0 does for you relative to audio production. I ordered an 8890 with 2 7200 rpm drives. I plan on running Sonar XL as the main sequencer. I know this question has probably been addressed elsewhere, but since you are using it for the same application I intend to, you'd be the best to answer it.

Also, are you considering a Powerbook G4? Apparently they are quiet since they use a heatsink rather than a fan. However, they get pretty hot (not a prob if not on your lap). Also, how would they powerbook compare to the computing power of a 3.2 GHz 8890? Any ideas?

Also, regarding noise, if the 8890 turns out to be too noisy for you, is there a scheme you can come up with to isolate the noise? For example, I was thinking you could use a USB port replicator to drive your monitor and external keyboard/mouse, and then use some sound absorbing enclosure to isolate the noise and perhaps duct the warm air away from the laptop.

I would seem a shame to give up the power and portability of this laptop when a work-around might exist.

Thanks in advance!

Hi Earth
The RAID 0 results in a much better data transfer, ideal for those who use Virtual samplers and HD recording. The seeking time will be probably the same.
No, i'm not planning to get a powerbook, since i'm working on cubase sx,reason2.5,wavelab and ableton live for my electronic gigs. And i really dont think it's performance gets even closer to a 8890's, for almost the same price. youknow, several hours of 8 track recording, heavy VSTi handling (Modular System, atmosphere, Groove Agent and Trilogy) and ROMplers (Halion 2.0)
Any ideas regarding how to isolated the noise and dissipate the heat will be apreciable.
I have a RME Multiface here freezing, just waiting for my notebook's decision. I guess i'll hav e to buy an ELA PCI-PCMCIA to work on my desk till the final word.

best, and keep us informed about your machine's performances.
Rodrigo Coelho

Not to be a downer, but i cant honestly see this laptop lasting 3 years, let alone 5. I would guess, like many newer laptops, it has alower MTBF compaired to older models. With LCDs being more sensitive to damage, and components wearing out faster, , i wouldnt give much more than 3 years of good use.

And, even if it does last that long, it will be so out of date, it cant run anything anyway....

PCMCIA-PCI

Thanks for the Raid0 info...

I was just looking at a PCMCIA-PCI adapter for the same reason! I saw the Elandigitalsystems.com verion on their website. I tried emailing synchrotech for availability but no response. Do you know where to get one of these and how much they cost?

Thanks!

Mind you.. i feel this applies to ANY brand laptop, no matter what...

Ok, but you can figure out now any other laptop that will endure for 5 years?
Cos i must say that's not my way of thinking about a mobile setup. If you get the powerful mobile setup on the market, and this setup solves all your recordings, plugins and VSTis, why fear for what will come next? Ok, there will be 64 bit processing and other stuff, but this configuration will still rule on 3 years, simply by the fact that it will do the job you're doing today... horsepower lasts.
Otherwise, we'll never get any of the breakthrough systems that will appear in the next years... don't you think so?
My next buy will be a notebook to be my mobile DAW... and long (i hope) after that, maybe i'll get a 64 bit AMD desktop. i really cont see this beast, the 8890, getting completely obsolet in 3 years.
best,
rc

ELAN PCI-PCMCIA

go to http://www.synchrotech.com/products/card-rw_06.html
U$ 95
I friend of mine tell me it works like a breeze with his 24 track digiface on nuendo.
Luck,
RC

Upgradeability....

One of the bases of my decision to buy the 8890 was the fact that it is highly likely to be upgradable as is now the case with the 888x models. So, three years down the road, for about $800 bucks, you could potentially upgrade to the latest technology!

Power now does not mean power then.
64bit will be the standard. Thanks to AMD, we are right there, about to cross over.

You say the setup suits you fine now, and it may for some time. But standards change, especially in audio. IN the computer world, no horseporwer lasts.

No, i dont think we will see any system that will be good for more than a few years, to be honest. And, as much as i will love my 5680, i know it will be quite lacking in 2 years, and i prolly wont be able to do much gaming on it. past 4 years, it will only be good for word, since windows will be 64 bit, graphics will be ALOT better, etc.