HP Pavilion DV7 1030el overheating

[kiwiro]

Specs:

Processor : Intel Core 2 P8400 @ 2.26 GHz

RAM: 4GB

GPU: nVidia 9650m GT

HDD: 2x 250GB

OS: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit

I've been using this laptop for over 2 years now. First of all, installing all the bloatware hp provides with total care and advisors will keep my system at 1.4gb of RAM in idle. The first thing I noticed was that the fan was always on and usually running at about 50% speed. Actually I know only 3 noise levels: silent, loud and very loud. I managed to turn it off only by using the power saving mode and by disabling all the Windows visual enhancements.

SpeedFan data in idle:

CPU @ 45-50 C

HDD @ 40 C

GPU @ 60 C

If i try to play something with the computer flat on the table

CPU: 60-65 C

GPU 80-85 C

HDD: 50 C

This is a high performance system, and it usually works just fine but i gotta tell you... IT IS EXTREMELY NOISY AND HOT most of the time. Cleaning the cooler on a regular basis doesn't change anything. It's the same on Vista, Windows 7 32 and 64 bit.

[Knute]

How are you cleaning it?

Many times a laptop overheating is directly related to the cooling of the processor. The main culprit is the fan. The fan sucks in air from the bottom and blows it out the side. It will also suck in hair, dust, and other debris. That stuff often gets trapped by the heat sink and over time builds up in a layer which chokes off the cool air going to the processor making the fan work harder.



Check this out:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01657439&tmp_track_link=ot_faqs/top_issues/en_u...



What I recommend is getting some canned air and blowing out the vents in the side and bottom of the laptop. If after doing this you still have problems with over-heating, and your laptop is in warranty, you can take your laptop to a HP Authorized Service Center and ask them to clean the fan and heatsink. You can check your warranty here:

http://www13.itrc.hp.com/service/ewarranty/warrantyResults.do?admit=109447627+1286541891570+28353475



If it is out of warranty, consider searching for the maintenance manual for your specific model, in the manual there are schematics for taking apart the laptop. Cleaning the fan is much easier that removing a motherboard, so don't feel to intimidated by the idea. Also you can remove the heatsink and then remove the thermal grease and apply a new layer which also helps alleviate heat related issues.

[kiwiro]

The problem is not dust, as this happened since the first day I've bought it. I cleaned the cooler with canned air a couple of times and the temperatures are lower by approximately 5 degrees C in the CPU but only by couple degrees lower in the GPU. I think this is an architectural fault. Some 17" dells have coolers on both sides of the mainboard and this is the best solution for laptops this size because obviously its harder to ventilate components that are farther away with only 1 cooler.

Your advice is good, but canned air doesn't solve the problem and taking the computer apart is time consuming. Also this shouldn't have been a problem in the first place.

[patmul39]

This is a common issue, definitely with DV7. HP have not provided a fix or support. In short, DO NOT BUY HP products as theor support is CR*P

[cs472533]

You are so right,  There is no support, the machine is virtually unusuable, and at just north of 1 year old, it is about to become the most expensive doorstop I've ever had.  Never an HP product again.  I really have to consider a change to Apple at this point.  At least when their stuff isn't working you can speak to someone who can help.  They care if your happy with the purchase or not.  I wish all of you with a dv7 the best of luck!  Buyer beware!