I've got a Lenovo LOQ running an Intel i7-13650HX and a 5070 GPU. While gaming, I'm noticing my CPU temperatures hovering around 85-87 degrees Celsius, occasionally spiking into the 90s. I'm using both balance and performance modes, but I've also noticed that the fans don't seem to reach maximum speed. When I tried custom fan settings, a warning popped up saying that messing with them could void my warranty. So I'm really concerned about whether these temperatures are acceptable and if they could damage my components. Are these temps normal for a gaming laptop?
3 Answers
Those temps are pretty much fine. If your laptop couldn't handle the heat, it would just shut off to protect itself. That safety feature is called thermal throttling. The warning about manual fan control is basically a heads-up that if you override things, you won’t be covered under warranty if something goes wrong. Cranking fan speeds up should be safe, just keep in mind it will make more noise.
I’ve got a similar setup with an Asus ROG and an i7 — my temps sit around 95°C often. Just remember that laptops aren’t designed for the same airflow as desktops, so high temperatures are to be expected. Your GPU will automatically throttle if it gets too hot, so it should manage itself pretty well.
Yikes, that sounds intense! I haven't experienced throttling yet but I'm mostly just worried about future problems.
Intel CPUs do tend to run hot, especially in laptops where space is tight. Hitting around 90°C isn’t too alarming — it’s just a bit warm. Just so you know, thermal throttling kicks in at around 100°C to protect your CPU, so you’re close but not in danger yet. Your fans may just not be running at full speed to keep noise down, and that's part of the design. Just be cautious if you tweak those settings because it might mess with your warranty.
I get it! I’m an overthinker too. It’s good to decide whether to tweak settings or not, especially if you’re concerned about longevity. These CPUs can handle higher temps, but it’s definitely normal to worry about the long-term wear.
Thanks for clarifying! I was worried about damaging my components long-term. I think I’ll hold off on changing settings just to keep the warranty intact.