I am having serious heating issues with my HP Envy 17 model # 17-1011NR

[chanceusc]

Hello,

I am having serious heating issues with my 17" i7 Envy laptop. It is currently sitting propped up to maximize airflow with minimal applications running (firefox + background services) and I am scorching at 77deg Celcius!

When I am performing more extrenious work such as when I am developing or rendering images for work, I am often alerted that I need to check the temp when my glass desk becomes unbearable. Upon checking it at that point and I find it sitting at mid 80s! The worst part is, I don't even use this laptop for more than maybe an hour or two at a time b/c I have a beast of a desktop.

Before a user comes along and tosses the "its a desktop replacement" at me, save it. You don't build a device and then market it as "thin and lightweight" and "mobile" if its intended purpose is to sit on a desk. Nevermind the damage this sucker would inflect upon my skin if i used it for more than an hour.

On top of that, my battery life is a joke. Up to 5.75 hours HP? Really? Is that with the screen turned off and the processor at 10%? I get 45 minutes tops.

Oh, and the fact that I get static on certain shades of grey is just fantastic.

[PaJeff]

Chanceusc,

Like you, I'm having a constant heating issue on the left-side palm area of the computer.

Firstly, the easy answer... the battery life IS a joke, but I WILL use the "its a desktop replacement" reply for that. Unfortunately, with a 17 inch screen, and backlit keys, 2 hard drives and a small battery... that's the price you pay. FYI, change your power options to "power saver" and it will probably at least double your battery life (with decreased performance however). Turn the brightness down on your screen a little, and that should help too.

Anyway, that's the battery response... on to the heating. From my research, it appears to be the graphics card which overheats. I was able to fix the problem slightly. The problem occured for me when I am playing a computer game (World of Warcraft). By default, the frames per second in the game is set to a level of 60 fps... by adjusting the game settings down to 50 fps... I was able to still get decent game performance, and my palm still gets very warm, but it isn't unbearable like it was at one point. I used to have to wear a long sleeve shirt because it would actually hurt if my wrist/arm was resting on the hot spot. Since you aren't gaming, I'm not sure how to convert my "solution" into a practical terms for you. Somehow you have to cut down on the work that your graphics card is doing.

As always, notebook computers should never be actually set on your lap (I know, an oxymoron when they market them as "laptops"). The under side of your computer should never be touching fabric... it needs to remain on a hard surface to ensure proper ventilation. I don't like to use mine on a desk, so I actually found a nice notebook tray that I can use in bed or on the couch.

One last thing... it never hurts to ensure that you have the latest BIOS update from HP's support site, and also, make sure you have the latest graphics card drivers. That should ensure that your fans are running at the proper speeds at the proper times.

I think it stinks that HP would sell a very expensive computer which they market as a graphics performance monster... and you can't keep your wrist on the computer when you are running extreme graphics, otherwise you will get 1st degree burns. Trust me, I'm as frustrated as you are... all you can do is return it, or attempt to fix it.

Hope this helps, at least a little.

[Liquix]

Like you both I've had the same problems. The absolute failure to test this machine's cooling capability is evident, who really would have thought it'd be okay with this cooling design? 

[soshified]

im haaving the same battery problems! hp envy 14, says 6.5 hours. i got 1 hour tops!

[dgusta]

You're not alone.  I also bought an Envy 17 that actually hits an internal temperature of 190F before shutting down.  The fan always runs, the extended life battery lasts about 45 minutes, and the left side of the palmrest gets so hot you can't touch it.  There's also that sharp edge in the front of the palmrest to contend with.  I think they probably solved the problem with the current model, but i think ALL of the first generation Envy 17's have these problems.

I actually sent my laptop in for repair in the beginning of February, and i'm still fighting with them to fix it.  The case manager told me they were going to buy it back from me - but that was over two weeks ago and haven't heard from her since.  I"ve called her six times; each time leaving a message, but none have been returned.  I have no idea when or even if this case (CPL# 7502266136) will be resolved.

For the fun of it, i followed a link at hp.com that gets you to a "Write the CEO" form that supposedly allows you to correspond directly with Meg Whitman.  I received an autoresponse email the next day that my case was being "esclated to the executive customer team".  That was nine days ago.  

The once proud HP has become a culture of incompetence.  Shop elsewhere.

[dgusta]

Again, for heck of it, I forwarded detail of my case (CPL# 7502266136) to "Investor's relations" as I'm not sure where else to turn.  I wrote another email to my "case manager" and left her yet another message to call me - with no success.

I bought the laptop with with a "2-year care pack".  This was supposed to give a higher level of service, and I'll admit that when you call; they do follow a great script (trying to make you feel that you're a valued customer) but nothing happens - no one follows up.  They must have shipped with laptop with a "2-year we-don't-care pack".

I'm a reasonable guy, but this case is going on two months old.  Caveat emptor.