My new Acer Predator Helios 18 (14900hx and 4090) thermal throttles and reached 113°C !!!

Hybective

I purchased this laptop new from Best Buy and have until January 14th 2025 to return it. I run HW Info to check if anything concerning should appear. When playing most games my CPU package will always reach a maximum of 105°C, it is elevated 3 inches for optimal airflow. I need to understand if this a normal thing for the laptop or should I just return it and not risk my CPU killing this laptop?

It reached 113°C playing Silent Hill remake at max setting in turbo mode elevated. With stuttering.

StevenGen

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/716419/my-new-acer-predator-helios-18-14900hx-and-4090-thermal-throttles-and-reached-113-c

If your PH18-72 reaches 113C temps it must not be for a very long period of time as and if it does, the laptop will shut down. The PH18-72 laptop is designed at EC Shut Down: Trigger = 110C temp. Also be aware that the 13th and 14th Gen Intel cpu's have the ‘Vmin shift instability’ issues that was the root cause of issues with these cpu's, which can occur under four circumstances, so that could also be a problem with your laptop.

The problem stems from a clock tree circuit in the IA core that is prone to failure under high voltage and temperature, causing a shift in the clock duty cycle and leading to system instability and overheating. So be aware of this factor with your 14th Gen Intel cpu and I don't know if Acer last PH18-72 bios version 1.10 titled "Updates EC version" fixes this problem.

I suggest that you update the bios to the PH18-72 last bios version 1.10 and make sure that you have the latest Win-11 24H2 OS build 26100.2454 installed and any optional driver updates like a firmware that windows update might also have for your laptop, as doing all this could have a fix for the "Vmin shift instability" cpu Intel issues and will make sure that your PH18-72 will operate properly.

If and after you have done all the above and the laptop still overheats and reaches 113C plus temps, I would take this laptop back to Best Buy and either get them to change the laptop for another PH18-72 or they will send the laptop to Acer Tech Support who will probably check/change the mainboard and rectify the overheating problems. I suggest that you do this asap as if this laptops warranty expires you will be up for huge costs if a new mainboard is required to be changed. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

Acer tested PH18-72 temps in the max Turbo mode

• CPU TCC Offset Trigger: 100C
• CPU ProcHOT Trigger on = 110C, Trigger off = 108C, Need De-bounce 3 times
• OS Shut Down: Trigger = 110C; Need De-bounce 30times
• EC Shut Down: Trigger = 110C; Need De-bounce 30times
• H/W Shut Down Sensor: Trigger = 95.5C

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Ugly

Don't use turbo mode...performance should be enough.

Dont elevate the laptop...I think the position of the feet and mould of the bottom panel is designed for optimum airflow. I noticed that when I lift my predator laptop from the desk the temps go up