Temperature Issues with Acer Gaming Laptop Bought in Sydney

Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 00:00
Last edited 24/04/2018 - 11:36 by 2 other users

Hi guys, 2 weeks ago I bought a gaming laptop from Scorptec in Sydney, after 2 days having it I realised it has some termal issues and tried to contact one of the guys in the Technical Department at Scorptec, they told me that the CPU reaching 98 degrees max and the gpu 88 degrees max is pretty standard for this kind of processor(i7-7700k, 1060 Pc-version).

A few days later I joined a closed group on Facebook where all the owners of this "Acer Predator 300" could post questions and stuff line that and after comparing my temps with theirs and the FPS they get in games I was…wtf?

So I decided to bring it back to Scorptec for an inspection 5 days ago but they don't seem very helpful (they tried contacting Acer asking if the temperatures are normal) but seems like Acer is: Yeah this kind of temperatures are normal for this kind of laptop. So yeah no help from them.

Is there a way for me to return the laptop and getting my money back or at least the option to get store credit even though "everything seems fine with the laptop" ?

Sorry for the long post, hope you guys can help me. Thanks.

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Comments

  • wombok2 on 24/04/2018 - 00:14

    I had a Dell Inspiron Gaming laptop with a 7700HQ and GTX1050 and it was completely normal for the CPU to spike up to 99c on one or two cores.

    You'll notice a lot of users with 7700HQ have the same problem, Intel says its normal as long as it doesn't go over 100c.

    Unfortunately I don't think you can get a refund.

  • [Deactivated] on 24/04/2018 - 00:22
    -1

    my old macbook pro retina would get upto 108*C when i was doing renders, its fine.

    • AustriaBargain on 25/04/2018 - 23:30

      And when playing intensive games like Civ V. All that heat has to go somewhere even on a slim laptop made of metal, so you get a loud fan as well. Can't wait until we get passively cooled MacBooks Pros (like the new retina MacBook).

  • garetz on 24/04/2018 - 02:10

    Is it crashing or shutting down unexpectedly ?

    get a notebook cooler.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 09:56

      Did crash once and feels slow even when browsing the web or checking something on youtube.

      • StarvingOat on 26/04/2018 - 01:12

        The temps seem a bit high coming out of the factory. My Alienware R3 had similar temps under load. I opened it after purchasing and repasted the CPU and GPU thermal compounds. I used a Noctua NT-H1 Thermal Compound. The temps dropped from 90+ degrees to around 70 degrees. You can easily see a 20 degree drop after repasting.

        I did not undervolt my laptop cause I need the performance. It also has a 7700k but a 1070 gpu.

        If you feel comfortable opening it and doing a repasting, feel free to go ahead. It's quite easy with tons of guides on youtube.

        Also, even if you RMA it, the same factory will put the same cheap compound on it so nothing is gonna happen. As for returning it to Scorptec, they won't take it. It may be possible that the owners of those Acer laptops in the forums did some tweaking on their own as well.

        As for a notebook cooler, it will not make much of a difference for temps inside the laptop, this has already been discussed at Tomshardware and LinusTechTips. It only decreases the superficial surface temp by 2-5 degrees.

        Good luck and experiment with an open mind.

  • CyberMurning on 24/04/2018 - 02:52

    How come something can be a 100 degree in temperature is it like boiling point?

    • zonra on 24/04/2018 - 04:07
      +5

      is it like boiling point?

      of water, yes.
      Not of stuff that makes up a laptop.

  • airal3rt on 24/04/2018 - 04:50
    +5

    You bought one toasty boi

  • whooah1979 on 24/04/2018 - 05:59

    some termal issues

    Do you get artefacts or the bsod when this happens?

  • Cartman2530 on 24/04/2018 - 06:17
    +1

    +1 to laptop cooler.

    With all that high powered hardware in there its not going to run as cool as a big PC case with plenty of airflow, idle and load temps are going to be heaps higher.

    You aren't running anything overclocked are you?

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 09:57

      The cooler doesnt help that much, that is what i have read. I didn't overclock a thing.

      • Cartman2530 on 24/04/2018 - 14:59
        +1

        Better off waiting for winter then, use the laptop as a heater to heat your house! Laptop will be cooler, house will be warmer. Win win!

    • Mrbean007 on 24/04/2018 - 10:03
      +1

      Laptop cooler is just a gimmick
      Paid $40 for a thermal take put it back in the
      box absolutely rubbish.

  • ShadowCrimson on 24/04/2018 - 08:17

    I'd recommend a laptop cooler as others have said. IS that Fahrenheit or Celsius temps.

    My msi laptop gets quite hot when playing games or anything that is graphic intensive. Laptop cooler helps.

    Unless the machine is giving any Bsods or freezing, or just causing any toruble at all then I wouldn't worry about it. Only when it is giving problems I'd say to worry.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:06

      Celsiua ofc. A cooler doesnt help that much

      • ShadowCrimson on 24/04/2018 - 11:22
        +1

        A cooler does help - mine drops 10C with it on and the cooler raises the notebook also. Might not help for you but it can. The temps are high but not that uncommon and pretty normal for a gaming laptop. Mine reach that high sometimes. But as soon as I stop gaming it drops right back down.

        You haven't really said if you are getting errors or blue screening/crashing - just that you appear to be worried about the temps? If you are getting that I'd mention that to Scorptec as that is an issue they can look into. Just saying temps are high I understand them not really doing anything. If you can still game fine its ok. Don't worry about it.

        As others have said you can reapply thermal paste but you said you don't want to break warranty which I can understand but it is an option.

        • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 11:30

          I had one complete shuttdown idk if the high temperatures fault or the undervolting. I get a really poor experience while playing PUBG on medium 40-55 FPS on high 5 less and on ultra unplayable. Even on low it's like 55-65 fps.

        • ShadowCrimson on 24/04/2018 - 11:42

          @Barbacana: I'd suggest making sure your Windows OS is all updated and check you have the latest graphics driver. Sounds like the laptop is running as can be expected and the temps are normal.

        • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 11:48

          @ShadowCrimson:
          Gpu drivers are up to date, how is it normal though of the keyboard gets so warm that your fingers hurt..Need to buy an external one to game ?

        • ShadowCrimson on 24/04/2018 - 12:09
          +1

          @Barbacana: The keyboard shouldn't get so hot that is feels like it is burning your fingers. Mine gets a little hot as some heat escapes that way. Not much else can be done except everything else that has been suggested

          Raising laptop - not leaving flat on desk.
          Repasting
          undervolt the cpu
          Thermal cooling pad.

          All I can suggest if you still aren't happy and don't want to go playing around inside the guts is to contact Scorptec again and say the actually keyboard is getting hot. Get them to do some benchmarking.

          Unless they can agree there is a problem they won't really do a refund.

          Not sure on Sydney store staff but I know people here and deal with a lot for work and personal (friend works in store) and are good with any issues.

        • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 12:34

          @ShadowCrimson: The keyboard does get hot on this unit, its a 'feature'

          Source

        • ShadowCrimson on 24/04/2018 - 14:03

          @JimmyF: At work so was replying while free. Can't look up model etc.
          Not sure if being sarcastic though - a laptop does get hot but shouldn't get to the point of peeling the skin of your fingers for exapmle. Of all the laptops I've every dealt with personal or work never had it that hot.

          It does sound like the OP is just worrying about what is essentially normal but can't say for sure without seeing the actually symptoms in person.

        • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 16:52

          @ShadowCrimson: Not being sarcastic. This is a BEAST notebook, its got high spec'd parts in it… it runs hot, the reviews say it runs hot, the reviews pointed a heat camera at it and it runs hot.

          for example this review, https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Predator-Helios-300-7700H…

          Have a read over the "Temperature" section, they claim temps like the OP was seeing. They also claim the OUTSIDE of the unit was 59c at one point when stress testing it.

          Its a case of OP didn't do the research not feels 'burnt' and wants a change of mind. It seems that acer has come to the party with a refund.

        • ShadowCrimson on 26/04/2018 - 08:22
          +1

          @JimmyF:
          I understand. I wasn't having a go or anything. ITs hard to get the message you are trying to portray over the internet. I know the temps get high etc. I work in it and a gamer. I was just saying it shouldn't burn you like the op appeared to be saying but yes - just saying wrong terms etc.

          I know it was nothing wrong with laptop but users are hard to deal with :P Wasn't saying you were wrong - just trying to understand from OP as a user like i have to each day.

          It does seem like Acer/Scorptech did do refund in end so that's the end of it.

        • JimmyF on 26/04/2018 - 09:04

          @ShadowCrimson: No worries… All is good, and seems like the OP got a 'change of mind' store credit, so everyone was happy I guess. Lets hope the next one the OP buys, they do some research on it!

  • No Username on 24/04/2018 - 08:18

    Seems normal. My Alienware reaches 80-90 When doing CAD rendering or gaming. If you want to lower your temp you can do a repaste on the GPU and CPU with liquid metal.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:10

      Don't want to open the thing up and lose warranty after 2 weeks in..

      • [Deactivated] on 26/04/2018 - 08:26

        If scorptec aren't playing ball go directly through Acer warranty.

  • mskeggs on 24/04/2018 - 08:33
    +3

    I joined a closed group on facebook where all the owners of this "Acer Predator 300" could post questions and stuff line that and after comparing my temps with theirs and the FPS they get in games I was…wtf?

    This seems to be the key line in your post, but I don't think it contains enough information for readers to understand what you are saying.
    Do you meant other users of an identical machine were getting much cooler temps or much higher frame rates?

    • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 09:41

      I was thinking the same thing…. So what had the other people been saying!?

      But based on some review links posted here, these temps the OP is seeing isn't out of the normal.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:04

      They pretty much get at least 10-15 degrees less, most of then undervolt the cpu, so I tried to do the same but then I have heard some crackling noises coming from the laptop so I reseted the values again after.

      I wanted tp play some PUBG and on medium settings I got 40-55 fps with high temperatures that didn't seem normal for a 1060.

      And my keyboard feels really hot to the fingers where after 1 hour of gaming it woild be unpleasent to type or play anything on it.
      I've read that the termal Paste isnt the best and by reapplying you would get better temperatures result but I don't want to lose my warranty after 2 weeks in by doing that.

      • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 12:34

        And my keyboard feels really hot to the fingers

        Well YES… again reported in the reviews, here is a heat map, showing 60c in that area

        Source

      • Cartman2530 on 24/04/2018 - 15:10

        The real thing that would change matters is the ambient air temp. If they are playing in a room thats 16 degrees C you will get much lower temps than playing in a room that 26 deg C. That could be the 10-15 degree difference you are seeing. Wait until winter or test in a room with really good aircon.

  • Cheeper on 24/04/2018 - 08:36

    It also helps when the laptop is raised when in use? Not sitting on a bed or tablecloth blocking intake vents?
    Sounds like it is normal op temps for a gaming machine?

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:07
      +1

      Regular desk. Doesnt help when it is raised, no tablecloth in the way either.

  • Hellfire on 24/04/2018 - 09:28
    +2

    Seems pretty similar to what reviews are saying about the laptop:

    https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Predator-Helios-300-7700H…

    If you are seeing a significant drop in performance due to the temperatures then it might be worth trying to take further but probably not just because they are high.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:09

      Well I did take it further by taking it back where i bought it, but can't do much more now sadly.

  • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 09:40
    +2

    OP if Acer is saying the temps are normal, then you have no case for return, other than a change of mind.

    Plus your issue seems to be reflected in the reviews, like the one Hellfire posted which was https://www.notebookcheck.net/Acer-Predator-Helios-300-7700H…

    Have a read over the "Temperature" section, they claim temps like you're seeing. They claim the OUTSIDE of the unit was 59c!

    It just seems this beast is a hot beast… Nothing more, nothing less.

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 10:08

      Yeah still doesn't feel normal to me, I can expect the thing to just break as soon as the warranty is over with those kind of temperatures…

      • JimmyF on 24/04/2018 - 12:32
        +1

        Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell how long it lasts. Sadly its a case of you should have done some research into the item before buying.

        By law, Scorptec has no valid reason to accept a return, this is clearly a "change of mind" return, the temps are within normal ranges by the maker, intel and reviewers have reported on these higher than normal temps in many reviews. Regardless if you feel they are 'high' or not.

        • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 13:12
          +1

          So, I got a nice info from Acer / Scorptec they will give me full value store credit since the laptop was indeed faulty I guess.

        • angelkulit025 on 24/04/2018 - 13:26
          +1

          @Barbacana: faulty? a lot of people here says that it is the normal temperature for your device. I think Scorptec is just really being nice to you.

        • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 13:39
          -5

          @angelkulit025:
          How come is it normal that I get 15+ higher temperatures than the other owners of the same laptop? And can't even play PUBG on medium settings since I average at 45-50 fps with a 1060 desktop GPU.I mean come on…

        • [Deactivated] on 26/04/2018 - 08:37
          +1

          @Barbacana: It's widely known that pubg is an unoptimised game so that fps isn't shocking to me. You said yourself most others undervolt on the forum you are using as reference. Also the majority of that heat will come from gpu not cpu.

          It's normal for that model, you said that yourself. You just bought something without doing enough research. Acer is known for having lowest price for the specs provided not reliability or build quality.

  • dcep on 24/04/2018 - 13:18

    turn on air-cond

    • Barbacana on 24/04/2018 - 13:40

      22 degrees inside, should be fine without A/C as well.

  • Tech5 on 25/04/2018 - 21:41

    Temps are normal. Get something to raise the back end slightly so it has circulation.

    You answered your own question of how they have 10-15deg less, literally in the next sentence of the same post. They underclock their CPU.

    I've had 2 acer predators in the past and a gaming dell inspiron. Temperatures where it is almost uncomfortable to touch with fingers in certain areas is very normal

    • Barbacana on 25/04/2018 - 23:28
      +1

      I got my money back, acer acknowledged that the temperatures are way to high. Undervolting didn't help to bring the temperatures down.

  • m0nkeycheese on 25/04/2018 - 23:01
    +1

    Do this, it will help
    https://youtu.be/QBNP5I2y668

    • StarvingOat on 26/04/2018 - 01:16

      That was a nice one. Sadly it takes a few days of testing to find the minimum voltage, gotta stress test them all for hours.

      I did my repasting cause of this video.

  • MagicOZ on 26/04/2018 - 00:43

    My laptop that isn't even design with the mind of gaming is working fine after 6 years of overheating every time I play games (86-98 C for the CPU). On paper that will reduce the life of your CPU/GPU, but is not like you going to use the same laptop for more that 5-10 years.

  • NeoBeum on 26/04/2018 - 06:10

    I surprised people buy Acer
    A crappy electronic rig

  • MathNerd on 26/04/2018 - 07:21

    Yes.

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