m17, cpu running at 85-100c during gaming normal

Hi @Danny92

Check this:

https://dell.to/2YxEENP

• When under heavy load the average temperature for the Alienware M15 and M17 should be less than or equal to (≤) 100 ℃

So, temperatures are among the expected average.

I had the same problem here with my Alienware M17 running between 90-100C during normal gaming. Purchased two Opolar Laptop Coolers to dissipate heat out fast and problem solved.

Running below 70C at all times now.

Try going into the control panel and set the max cpu speed to 80% and set the cooling to active for both.

OR

Spend $70 on some external fan blowers that suck air out of the laptop:

https://www.amazon.com/Temperature-Auto-Temp-Detection-2600-5000RPM-Nintendo/dp/B01NACVLWM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=opolar+fan+laptop&qid=1595705873&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzOE9XWUFHN0xQMDNUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzQyMzE3MlowN05BVk40MTQ1QSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMTI2NjcyMktUQkpGNk5DQjZXRyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

where did you put the opolar cooler?

Dell will say it's within manufacturer specifications but running a CPU at 100deg for prolonged periods will reduce its life and then you're up for a new board if/when it does decide to fail. Do everything you can to get it lower, repaste, cooling pads, undervolt, etc.

Back before the thin/light craze, CPU's would barely ever get past 80 degs unless overclocked. Now they put fully clocked desktop CPU's in laptop chassis' that can't handle the power.