GPU heat issues

[fragbox]

This problem only applies in windows 7, I'm using the 64 bit version. My GPU is overheating and causing my 2008 15 inch MBP to shut down while in windows 7. I have my nvidia drivers up to date and bootcamp 3.1. The overheating issue manifests as my screen going black and the computer no longer being on. It only has happened when playing the following:

Team fortress 2
Day of Defeat Source
Arcanum (old game, uses sprites)
Singularity

It does not happen with the following games:
Warcraft III The Frozen Throne
Mount and Blade

This is very peculiar to me, especially because when I would play Fallout 3 my computer would get hot enough to burn me, but it never would power off due to overheating.

I've looked around and can not find a way to manage my GPU fan or solve this problem.

[pigoo3]

Just curious...what sort of temps are you getting before your MBP shuts down?

Thanks

[fragbox]

Each CPU core is at around 102 C and the GPU is at 105 C.

[pigoo3]

Each CPU core is at around 102 C and the GPU is at 105 C.

Yes those temps are pretty warm...and maybe the highest temps I've seen (which probably explains why your Mac is shutting off). The highest temps I have seen previously have been in the 90°C+ range.

Like you said..this problem only occurs when you're running Windows 7...and you're probably pushing the CPU & GPU to it's limits playing the games you mentioned.

Things you could try to reduce the temp:

1. Don't use the laptop on your lap. The heat from your body & the reduced ventilation will make your laptop run hotter.

2. Place your laptop on a hard-flat surface with good ventilation to help reduce it's temp while computing.

3. You could place a fan close to your computer. Extra cooling air passing by your laptop may help.

4. Believe it or not...the temperature of the room you are in can play a part in how hot your computer gets. A 90°F room without air-conditioning will make your laptop run hotter that an 80°F air-conditioned room...or even a 65°F room in the Wintertime. So use your computer in the coolest room in your home.

5. Lastly. For Macintosh computers there's a program called "SMC Fan Control". It tells you the temp of your Mac, the speed of your Mac's internal cooling fans, and allows you to adjust your fan speed. But...I'm going to guess with your Mac running as hot as it is...your fans are probably already running at their maximum speed.

Also...I'm not sure if you're running Windows 7 via Bootcamp or via Parallels/VMware Fusion. If you're using Parallels/VMware Fusion....then you can use "SMC Fan Control":

Download smcFanControl for Mac - Control Intel Mac fans to make it run cooler. MacUpdate Mac Software Downloads

...but if you are using Windows 7 via Bootcamp...you may need to find a program similar to SMC Fan Control for Windows computers.

I hope that this helps,

- Nick

[fragbox]

The hardware can run the software. Some of the games which currently overheat ran fine when I bootcamped in to windows xp. Does smc fan control not work with bootcamp? None of fan control software I'm abate of will detect any of the fans in the mbp. Are you aware of any Windows drivers for these fans? I have already headed most of your suggestions.

The issue of overheating is not an old problem. Software I had no trouble running maybe half a year ago now overheat my mbp.

[pigoo3]

The hardware can run the software. Some of the games which currently overheat ran fine when I bootcamped in to windows xp.

Maybe switching from XP to Windows 7 may have made a difference. Also...when you had XP installed maybe the weather was cooler & that may have helped your laptop run cooler.

Does smc fan control not work with bootcamp? None of fan control software I'm abate of will detect any of the fans in the mbp. Are you aware of any Windows drivers for these fans? I have already headed most of your suggestions.

Sorry I am not a "Windows Person"...so I am not aware of any specific programs. Try searching with Google...that's exactly what I would do if I had the same problem.

The issue of overheating is not an old problem. Software I had no trouble running maybe half a year ago now overheat my mbp.

Well this may have been due to your running XP previously, maybe due to cooler conditions in your home, and lastly...maybe your computer is dirty inside...and needs to be cleaned.

Hope this helps,

- Nick

[chscag]

To add to the excellent advice given by Nick....

It's very possible that your fans are dirty or clogged. Or maybe not running the way they should. As Nick pointed out those temps are very high - we're talking about boiling water!

As far as I know, there are no compatible motherboard monitor type programs that run in Windows which will recognize and properly report all the sensors that are in your machine. I've tried them all to no avail.

Use SMC fan control or iStat menus in OS X to see if your fans are running the way they should. If they're not, you may have to open up your machine and do a good cleaning. If you plan on doing that, there are lots of tutorials on You-Tube and else where which show you how.

Regards.

[pigoo3]

As far as I know, there are no compatible motherboard monitor type programs that run in Windows which will recognize and properly report all the sensors that are in your machine. I've tried them all to no avail.

This would seem to be very unfortunate!

You would think that if Macintosh computers represent like 5-10% of the installed base of all computers...and we have two great programs like SMC Fan Control and iStat...that there would be 10-20 good similar programs for Windows users!!

- Nick

[chscag]

Yeah, I know. I've tried everything from Motherboard Monitor (which is the most popular for Win machines) to several off the wall programs that claimed to be able to monitor any Intel chipset board. No joy.

The only program that I found which will work "somewhat" to control temps and give a CPU readout is "rmclock". It's a flaky program though. It'll load in the system tray which is nice but doesn't always work right. When I had XP running it worked most of the time, but with Win 7, it's just not dependable.

So... my advice is: When in Windows 7, you have to fly "by the seat of your pants" no autopilot available.

Regards.

[fragbox]

I cleaned out the guts of my MBP and things are going swimmingly.

[pigoo3]

I cleaned out the guts of my MBP and things are going swimmingly.

Does that mean that you disassembled your MBP...and it was really dirty?

If so, and you were getting temps of 102-105°C...what sort of temps are you getting now?

And what did the inside of your MBP look like before cleaning it?

Thanks,

- Nick