Question

My new notebook computer feels much hotter than I think it should be on the left side, which is not around the battery. It also smells a bit of burning electronics, which was more noticeable when I first got it, so perhaps it is now “burnt in”, so to speak.

These are the temperature results that SpeedFan produced:

HDD = stands for the hard drive temperature, and CPU = stands for the processor’s temperature, in degrees Celsius.

At startup, HDD = 22, CPU = 28. After 30 minutes of doing nothing but log in, HDD = 43, CPU = 56. After 10 minutes of a virus scan, HDD = 47, CPU = 67. After about 20 more minutes of the virus scan when it is complete, HDD = 53, CPU = 56. After 40 minutes being idle, HDD = 53, CPU = 58. The machine is only a month old. I’d like to know what the normal operating temperature is for a notebook computer. My desktop PC, which has two case fans that pull air in and push it out, never goes above 45 degrees.

Answer

The most common components in a notebook that produce a lot of heat are the battery, the hard drive, and the processor. Being the key component, the processor is usually the best cooled. From your description, I would say that the hard drive is producing the heat that you feel through the case.

Each manufacturer sets the acceptable maximum temperatures for a PC’s or a laptop’s components. Usually, hard-drive vendors warn against temperatures over about 50 degrees C, so your readings in the low 50’s suggest overheating. The only way to know for sure is to check either the vendor’s or the hard drive manufacturer’s technical specifications.

You can find out the make and model of the hard drive (or any of the other components) by using a utility such as the Belarc Advisor. It creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look for it under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Alternatively, you can examine the hard drive itself, which will be labelled. You can usually access the hard drive in a notebook by opening a covered compartment on the bottom or the side of the case. You may have to remove a couple of screws to get to it, but you almost certainly won’t have to take the whole computer apart, because notebook hard drives are one of the few components that can be upgraded, and so access is made a simple matter.

Alternatively, the notebook’s manufacturer or the the processor’s manufacturer should be able to provide you with the correct operating temperatures. Intel and AMD usually specify maximum temperatures of around 70 degrees C. Therefore, your temperatures are probably close to the maximum, but nevertheless may still be below being dangerously high.

Note that the maximum temperature that a component can run at is not the same as the recommended temperature, which is much lower. Anyhow, with electronic components, the cooler, the better. A component may not fail immediately running at a high temperature, but sustained use at high temperatures will almost certainly shorten the component’s lifespan

Using a LapDesk ensures a good flow of air all around the machine.

Targus Notebook Portable LapDesk™ -

http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA243U

On a new notebook that is properly cooled, the processor should run at a maximum temperature of about 45 to 47 degrees C when running its most demanding tasks, with the hard drive running at about 35 degrees C.

Search this forum for more information on overheating in laptops.

www.portableuniverse.co.uk