Alienware M11x TOO HOT TO TOUCH! Help!

Be sure to not block the airways and have the powesupply on the floor not on a carpet but if you have done all that ofc send it in for repair something must be wrong

It sounds like you need a new power adapter. If the indicator light isn't working properly, and the cable is coming out, that can be dangerous. The heat is probably normal. Laptops, especially gaming laptops, get really warm. I'd suggest getting a laptop cooler.

No blocked airways, power supply not on carpet, something is wrong. What could it be?

Its sure something wrong with it i have a alienware m17x  it gets hot if i play like wow or battlefield bad company 2 but it does not get so hot that i feel pain if i touch it. So maybe you should contact dell about it and get a new one. Btw what do you play on your alienware?

Thank you, both. Is there any particular laptop cooler that works well? I tried to find one but they either seem to have bad to so-so reviews or they are too big & bulky. (Again, please forgive my ignorance when it comes to part names) It looks like the black sheath of the cord (section with adapter plug) has come out of the part that connects to the adapter brick (the cord has no cuts, not tattered), it looks like the wires are still intact. The bottom of the laptop can get too hot to touch, my Compaq never did that but it didn't have near what my Alienware has in it either. What makes the gaming laptops run so hot?

You must NEVER run the M11x on your lap- although its called a laptop!  As it has a separate graphics card it needs an airflow round and underneath the notebook!  Put it on a flat surface!  Do not tell Dell that you have been doing that!

Just tell them you have a faulty power supply and they will send you a new one.

No worries, I haven't actually done it. I use a lapdesk, or I wouldn't be able to see the small screen. The fact is I do have a faulty power supply but I don't know why...

I would suggest getting any laptop cooler, as bulky as they can get, they work great. Get any cooler that has good reviews AND that will fit your laptop. Just make sure it's one that uses fans to cool. Those seem the best. Also, I would contact Dell to get a replacement power adapter. Then you'll be alright.

Dell will be here in a few days to replace the power adapter, the motherboard and the entire screen assembly (whatever it's called). I hope this fixes it, I would be lost without it..

Don't take chances if under warranty have the power supply replaced. Here are some very helpfull laptop Tip's and things I done when I was into gaming laptops pretty heavy a few years back.

Laptop Legs are awsome and only cost a few bucks they fold in and out and have 2 different levels for height that allows better airflow to the bottom. I always glued mine  permenent and use 3 M Weatherstrip Adhesive..... every time I got a new laptop I ordered a pair of Laptop Legs .Infact I have a set on my M 1710 right now. I use 3M Weatherstrip Adhesive to apply them permanent you will find that the 3 M weatherstrip Adhesive if you don't know about it already you can and will use for many things good stuff !  IMPORTANT Make sure if you do glue them that you do not block any screws or component covers. I drilled a hole if I wanted to put it in a certin spot that had a screw there.

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=laptop+legs&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-Address&prmd=ivns&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1920&bih=867&wrapid=tlif130957890787210&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=16278280279348100141&sa=X&ei=pZYOToeXIIP10gHokP2SDg&ved=0CG4Q8wIwAA#

IMPORTANT! The fans & Heatsinks should be blown out with canned air to keep the dust buildup down. If you do this regular for both the Heatsinks & Fans it will keep dust buildup down.....  if too much dust builds up over time and it gets too bad then the laptop has to be takin apart and the fans & heatsinks have to be cleaned  (useing the caned air on a regular basis can prevent the posibility of haveing to take the laptop apart in the future ) When useing the canned air on the fans use a papperclip or somthing similar to stick in the vent  to hold the fan still and prevent it from spinning when blasting with the canned air also always power down prior too!

A laptop cooler that has a adjustable fan on the bottom is a good investment. I like the ones with the adjustable fan so the fan can be placed where it is most needed on the bottom . The Laptop legs are great when on the go and you don't want to or you don't have  room to carry a laptop cooler around. I am not familiar with your laptop but most pull air in from the bottom fans and then the exhaust is on the rear of the laptop in most cases with dedicated GPU's the CPU heatsink is on one side in the rear and the GPU heatsink on the other side in the rear and most have fan's on the bottom for each.

Don't under estimate the Canned air , Laptop Legs & a cooler they will help keep those  temps down. I used the canned air once a week to prevent dust build-up...I don't use my M 1710 to much theese days but gurantee if I took it apart their would be pretty much dust free.

Best Wishes jeffcmfrt66

I have just had my motherboard replaced on my M11x, the techician was great, just make sure its the correct motherboard ( same processor ) and make sure everything is working before he leaves!