m15 R3, keyboard becomes too hot while gaming!

Tell me your temps and I can assure you 90c is the peak of what it’s supposed to be at.

if it reaches 100c then it’s actually pretty dangerous as the computers metal could start heating up and then cause the thermal paste to dry up and kill the cpu and GPU.

If you wanna fix it, it’s going to have to have 

• New Thermal Pads (Preferably 1.5-2.0mm ones).
• New Thermal Paste and I mean Server grade stuff.
• A cooling pad.

https://www.amazon.com/AIYUNNI-100x100x2mm-Efficient-Conductivity-Temperature/dp/B086W23YC1/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1H9Y1O7WQIOLS&dchild=1&keywords=100x100+thermal+pad&qid=1597240464&s=electronics&sprefix=100x100+thermal+%2Celectronics%2C167&sr=1-3

https://www.amazon.com/MorningDawn-Performance-Thermal-Paste-Metallic/dp/B071K7R5PF/ref=sr_1_23?dchild=1&keywords=Server%2Bgrade%2Bthermal%2Bpaste&qid=1597240546&s=electronics&sr=1-23&th=1

https://www.amazon.com/TopMate-TM-3-12-15-6-2500RPM-Designed/dp/B01J18006K/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=M15+R3+cooling+pad&qid=1597240633&s=electronics&sr=1-7-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWFFQNkEyUFc4QTQ4JmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNTQ3NzA0MjlRTFE2Q1BDQUVFTSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzQ4NTgxMk5QMVNNSkVDSVBSQiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

Before I click that 'accept as solution', wait. This is somewhat confusing.

At first I thought the 'Thermal' options in Alienware Command Center (Quiet, Balanced, Performance, and Full) are only about fan speeds. I understood the laptop fans work faster in order of Full > Performance > Balanced > Quiet. About the another 'Cool', I read an article on Internet that it actually lowers the overall heat by limiting CPU & GPU performance.

But was I correct? Or those 'thermal' options actually directly modify CPU & GPU performance itself (like kind of overclocking)? In a way it might makes sense because ACC already provides its own overclocking options.

I'm a newbie to this Alienware product, so now I don't know what setting to choose for my game.

So you setting it to cool will basically under clock the GPU and CPU to make them become cool again and is not recommended for use while gaming because of the under clocking and making it cool again.

Basically full speed can alter clock speeds by making the computer turbo to its max.

I use the ACPI control in windows and set my CPU to high preformance as it maxes out the clock speed since I have a good ol 15 R1

Then is this normal that I become not able to touch my keyboard (cuz it's too hot) some minutes later after I start my game when using 'Thermal Performance' or 'Thermal Full Speed'?

Or do I have to get mine fixed or replaced? I worry what if my new laptop is defective.

Set your CPU to high preformance mode but go to advanced power features and set the max and minimum of the cpus clock speed. I’d do 80 but then since your keyboard is that hot I’d recommend setting the max to 50 for the maximum and 5 for the minimum.

Then I’d set the fans to full speed and then plug the laptop in.

Whatever thermal option I choose, I eventually see the CPU temperature hits 100 degree C.

But after I search and read this article, now I think hitting 100 degree C on my model itself is not a problem:

https://www.dell.com/support/article/en-us/sln309951/resolving-a-high-temperature-or-overheating-issue-on-alienware-notebooks-purchased-after-2016?lang=en

And for your reference, I'll never again open my laptop and do something like thermal paste or whatever, because I purchased this my new Alienware after I had broken my previous laptop while doing the thermal-pasting days ago. 

Also I still have difficulty in playing games for too hot keyboard. Is my heatsink okay or it needs to be replaced?

* Anyway I feel thankful for all your answers. 

Alright,

But just watch your temps and make sure it doesn’t overheat and shutdown.

id recommend getting an external keyboard if the heats too much and just set the computer in power saving mode and set the fan speed to cool.

It is good that you make a personal recommendation for me and I do appreciate your care, but it just cannot be an official answer to this issue.

Anyway today I got my laptop replaced at the store but now I've been struggling with its own update issue for around four hours.. becoming exhausted and frustrated.

Tell me what the update issue is related to.

Like windows or hardware updates?

To answer your question, it was solely about the Alienware apps' updates. But finally I failed and gave it up. 

I got the second laptop refunded and instead purchased another brand's new one. 

I still believe the Alienware must be a good brand, but it needs to pay more attention to its own updates to be more reliable.

Alrighty then,

Have a great time on your new laptop.

Make sure to keep a check on the thermals too.

Alienware have a design issue, the keyboard is not thermally insulated enough, and the 70c is common on high end GFX and CPU's . Your fingers will feel like they are on fire! total flaw in the laptops! aviod if you dont use an external keyboard! I returned mine and got an asus.