HP Envy 17 heat issues

Question

Hi everyone! At the beginning of this year I bought a HP Envy 17 both for school and gaming, so far I've been pretty happy with it. However, the day before yesterday I bought Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon, a game that my laptop should be able to handle pretty well. But when playing the game, the CPU reaches temperatures of 90-93C and the GPU seems to run steady at 91C. That's extremely hot, since I've been able to run Battlefield 3 and Crysis 3 running in the low 80C without issue.
Of course when I experienced this my first action was to clean up dust and debris from the vents (There was very little), but that didn't do anything major. Then I started lowering that settings of the game quite a bit, I went from high settings to low/medium settings as well as switching from DX11 to DX9, this didn't help either though. Then my last attempt was to close everything but the programs required to run the game, didn't help either.
So now I turn to you, the HP forum, for help. I figured if anyone knows how to fix it, it's you guys.
Here's my dxdiag:
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.120830-0333)
           Language: Danish (Regional Setting: Danish)
System Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard
       System Model: HP ENVY 17 Notebook PC
               BIOS: Default System BIOS
          Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU       Q 720  @ 1.60GHz (8 CPUs), ~1.6GHz
             Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8126MB RAM
          Page File: 2786MB used, 13463MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\Windows
    DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
   User DPI Setting: Using System DPI
 System DPI Setting: 120 DPI (125 percent)
    DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
     DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 64bit Unicode
GPU:
          Card name: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850
       Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
          Chip type: ATI display adapter (0x68A1)
           DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
         Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_68A1&SUBSYS_144D103C&REV_00
     Display Memory: 4071 MB
   Dedicated Memory: 1011 MB
      Shared Memory: 3059 MB
       Current Mode: 1920 x 1080 (32 bit) (60Hz)
       Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
      Monitor Model: unknown
         Monitor Id: AUO159D
        Native Mode: 1920 x 1080(p) (60.064Hz)
        Output Type: Internal
        Driver Name: atiu9p64.dll,aticfx64.dll,aticfx64.dll,atiu9pag,aticfx32,aticfx32,atiumd64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atidxx64.dll,atiumdag,atidxx32,atidxx32,atiumdva,atiumd6a.cap,atitmm64.dll
Driver File Version: 8.14.0001.6099 (English)
     Driver Version: 8.712.0.0
        DDI Version: 11
       Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
  Driver Attributes: Final Retail
   Driver Date/Size: 3/3/2010 07:06:36, 28160 bytes
        WHQL Logo'd: Yes
    WHQL Date Stamp:
  Device Identifier: {D7B71EE2-2BE1-11CF-5F64-4C34A1C2C535}
          Vendor ID: 0x1002
          Device ID: 0x68A1
          SubSys ID: 0x144D103C
        Revision ID: 0x0000
 Driver Strong Name: oem6.inf:ATI.Mfg.NTamd64.6.1:ati2mtag_Manhattan:8.712.0.0ci\ven_1002&dev_68a1&subsys_144d103c
     Rank Of Driver: 00E60001
        Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_A ModeMPEG2_C
   Deinterlace Caps: {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,UYVY) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x32315659) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {3C5323C1-6FB7-44F5-9081-056BF2EE449D}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {552C0DAD-CCBC-420B-83C8-74943CF9F1A6}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,2) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {6E8329FF-B642-418B-BCF0-BCB6591E255F}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,1) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                     {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalStretch
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC1,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC2,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC3,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(IMC4,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S340,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
                     {5A54A0C9-C7EC-4BD9-8EDE-F3C75DC4393B}: Format(In/Out)=(S342,UNKNOWN) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=
       D3D9 Overlay: Not Supported
            DXVA-HD: Not Supported
       DDraw Status: Enabled
         D3D Status: Enabled
         AGP Status: Enabled
I hope you guys can help me, because I'm at a loss. Thanks!
This question was solved.
View Solution.

Answer 1

Master,
So it sounds like you know what you are doing.
I have to ask the obvious:
Are you already running a cooler under that notebook?   This works when the system is doing its best and all else is equal.
Commentary:
Should you have to run a cooler under a notebook for which you paid a bunch of money and you do not feel like it should be necessary?  Personal option and opinion.  I do not debate this particular issue with anyone.  I run a fancy cooler under a hot running dv7t Quad.  Works quite well, in fact.
If you are open to the idea, you can buy a cooler with lights, switches for on / off, fan speed control... you can opt to plug in your cooler to a powered hub so you do not have to run it directly off the notebook -- you do need to remember to turn the cooler on / off when it is connected this way -- you can stick a Hercules X-stand under the notebook between the cooler and the notebook for even more air circulation, and this way you don't even have to run the cooler as often since the notebook runs better with more air under it.
Just Google / search for any price range.  The better coolers will run you between $40 and $70 or so US.  You can get a cheap one that works for $20 US.   The Hercules X-stand is sold at Amazon.com and maybe some other places.  ??
====================================================================================
Your system is not running slow.. nonetheless, you might scan the following:
Fan Runs Constantly, the PC Notebook Operates Slower than Expected and Generates Heat
====================================================================================
If you have not already done so, you can try this setting.  Granted it is really for "performance" and NOT for heat generation.  Anything that is not spinning cycles is saving you heat, so in that sense, it is saving you both resource and heat:
In Visual Settings Tab:
To turn OFF every Aero display enhancement:
Select "Adjust for best Performance" > OK
To turn OFF some display enhancements:
Select "Custom"
And CHECK - UNCHECK those features you desire to use > OK
====================================================================================
Good Luck!
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