How hot can run a notebook in 1.1?

[jlcarneiro]

Hello, guys!

I'm preparing my 1.1 folder to transfer my 1.0.5 career savefile (or create a new one, let's see how it unfolds) but my tests so far are making me worried: on 1.0.5 my notebook ran quite hot (about 68 or 70 degrees Celsius), on 1.1 it got up to 76-78 degrees Celsius.

I understand other players also got higher temperatures and that it's due to the load on the other core... But, is it safe? I mean, at what temperature level should I be concerned?

I have a Intel Core i5-3337U (I understand it's not that up-to-date) with a nVidia GeForce GT730M and it runs around 52-53ºC when not playing... Do I need to add any other data?

I'm reporting this here to get some advice and to let the devs know how hot things can get on the "older end" of the bell curve...

Mods, I didn't find a better area for this since it's still a question and not real support. Please, feel free to move it if it's incorrectly located...

Edited April 24, 2016 by jlcarneiro

[DrMarlboro]

Sounds a little hot to me, but both the cpu and gpu are rated for around 100c max temp. Should be fine, but you could always (and maybe should) invest in one of those cooling stands for notebooks. Hear they work wonders. 

 

Edit: although... even though the chips themselves are fine, the motherboard they are integrated with may be less temp resistant. What notebook do you have? 

Edited April 24, 2016 by DrMarlboro

[Waxing_Kibbous]

1.1 definitely uses more CPU than 1.05, I've been checking the system monitor when running both. Even in basic idle scenes like the KSC view there is a bit more load, and the VAB CPU usage is really high.

[jlcarneiro]

@DrMarlboro, I have a Dell Inspiron 15. It's definitely not a game notebook...

@Devs, any help here?

Edited April 24, 2016 by jlcarneiro

[JAFO]

Simplest way to be sure your notebook stays happy; get a laptop cooling pad. Good ones can be had for $10-20. Mine runs around 15-20°C cooler with it fitted. It also has flip-out legs at the back, like a desktop PC keyboard, making for a much more convenient angle for typing.

Edited April 24, 2016 by JAFO

[regex]

+1 on the fanplate; I don't game on my laptop without one.  Actually burned out the GPU on my old laptop before I learned my lesson.

Edited April 25, 2016 by regex

[Vectura]

Hehehe, you call 78 celcius hot? Before I got my cooling pad my laptop often claimed the CPU got up to 110 celcius on occasion. Hot!

[soulsource]

I've had a store-bought PC constantly reach 95°C CPU temperature. When I tried to replace the heatsink I figured that the person who assembled it forgot to peel off the plastic foil that protects the thermal pad of the heatsink from dust before mounting, so that there was a pretty good thermal insulation between CPU and heatsink...

But back on topic: Modern mobile CPUs and GPUs have a so called thermal budget they will not exceed. Instead they will reduce clock rate in such a case. On the other hand the laptop manufacturers should design the cooling system of the laptop in such a way, that it can accommodate the thermal budget of the CPU/GPU. This means, that if your laptop isn't broken by design it shouldn't be possible to damage it by overheating as long as you don't block the ventilation slots and there is no dust inside. Even in such a case your CPU/GPU should still be save, as they have thermal sensors included that should also cause them to reduce clock rate in case dangerous temperatures are being detected. Again, this doesn't help on broken by design laptops, where instead of the CPU/GPU parts the mainboard, or even the laptop case might be damaged. A friend of me had a [brand censored] laptop once, where the back cover was literally melting when playing games - so he had to get an external cooling stand to make the "gaming" laptop usable.

[eddiew]

70's nothing... My desktop (overclocked to buggery, water cooled) hits 80 under high load, and mobile parts are rated with higher heat tolerance

Plus all modern CPUs and GPUs throttle if they're getting dangerously hot now. The fps will bomb out long before the hardware damages itself.

(Using more CPU is not a bad thing if it's being used to deliver better framerates!)

[luizopiloto]

Is KSP too hot now?
my CPU run all cores at 90~100% when I fly crafts inside atmosphere... Luckily it have a big cooler and stays around 50°C...

Edited April 25, 2016 by luizopiloto

[David104]

I had the same heat problem with my laptop. Bought a cooling pad and now everything is ok. Although a good one for 10 -20 bugs is a myth I think....well, maybe on the cooling side but you should keep in mind that these pads can get really loud! Especially when the fans are designed too small. I paid 45 EUR for mine and was definitely worth it...the first time I connected it I couldnt even tell if it was running or not cause I couldnt hear a thing.

Thats the beast: http://www.zalman.com/global/product/Product_Read.php?Idx=399

[Choctofliatrio2.0]

Set your computer in a vat of liquid nitrogen. That would solve your problem quick.

[kccda]

No wonder my macbook is so hot LOL

[Sandworm]

All notebooks run hot virtually all the time.  None have "adequate" cooling for continuous high load.  They are designed under the assumption that loads will be intermittent, with the thermal mass of the cooling system acting as a buffer.  The only time they ever cool down is when the CPU is shut down to save power.  That isn't ever going to happen while playing KSP.  Now that KSP is accessing more cores, laptops that previously were ok will start to cook.

But as other have said, the CPU will protect itself.  Be more worried about the batteries catching fire.  Frankly, laptops aren't meant for games.  It's like trying to streetrace a Jeep.  Sure, some fancy garage may be selling "racing" Jeeps but the form factor a very tricky place from which to start.

Edited April 25, 2016 by Sandworm

[Vanamonde]

This thread has been moved to the off-topic sub, since it's about computers rather than the game itself.