Why does my Dell XPS get so hot?

I have a Dell XPS M1530. I think it is a great computer and all, but sometimes the processor get really hot, like too hot to touch. I seriously doubt anybody will have any specific answer for me, but I would really like to know if this happens to other people.

I am not new to computer either. I know how they work, so answers like "you need to defragment" or things like that wont help me.

I've opened the task manager a few times to see what is using all of my processor, and there is never any application using more than a couple of percent, but when I check the usage it sometimes peaks at 100% and stays there for a few seconds. This of course freezes my computer.

I've done virus checks and system cleanup before too.

I would just really like to know if this is common to this type of computer, or if I have something wrong specific to mine that I could have fixed.

?2009-03-06T16:56:16Z

Favorite Answer

Laptops these days get really hot, it's unavoidable... There are, as the other poster says, remedies like a laptop cooler, which is a device that goes under your laptop like a book, that has vents and cooling fans to dissipate heat away from the laptop (and you!).

These can plug into a USB slot to be powered or plug into the wall, and like the poster says, they are not expensive. Check out Google Products Search to see what I mean :)

Hope that helps

frime2009-03-06T17:08:30Z

how long do you have this laptop? how hot was it getting earlier?

before getting a cooling pad you should search for the reason it heats up that much. i had the same problem and it shows that there was a lot of dust behind the vents that prevents from a continuous air flow. another reason might be the thermal grease between the cpu and the heat pipe. if this layer of grease is pretty thick and became hard it acts like a thermal resistor what prevents the heat flow from the cpu to the heat pipe and the fan.

either you can check this yourself or let it check by professionals.

Sam2009-03-06T17:16:19Z

Common causes of overheating are

1. No air flow due to blockage of vents (caused by using laptop on lap or bredspread and not flat hard surface).

2. Dusty or clogged vents and dusty or clogged fan blades from using in dusty area...normal area so to speak.

3. Heavy graphics useage, as in games.

So make sure laptop is well ventalated, and make sure vents are free of dust as well as the fan.

And a laptop cooler won't hurt none. They have fans ppowered by your USB port(s).

?2016-12-24T22:55:45Z

Jocy is powerful.. if it is not any longer that, it is video card or maybe difficult disk failure created this project.. if no longer those type of then it is motherboard project. I had all 3 one after the different..

Daron T2009-03-06T16:50:43Z

get a cooling pad 20 bucks