Overheating Problem

MDL

I'm trying to record myself playing crash bandicoot 3 on the PS3 so i can upload it to youtube.

I don't have capture cards and tech like that, so i'm using a webcam at the moment.
The video quality is suffering a little bit, but the audio clarity is sort of balancing it out.

I've successfully recorded the first part, but the problem happened when i was recording the second part.

The laptop randomly shut itself down while i was still recording. I felt the side of the laptop and it was very hot.
My webcam control panel was the only program running and my laptop is sitting on a COOLING PAD. What the hell caused it to overheat?
What am i expected to do? Am i wrong to expect the co-operation of one simple function?

If anyone has some tips or tricks for keeping laptops cool, then i'd much appreciate hearing them.
This laptop drives me crazy sometimes because i don't know how to please it.
No matter how small the task, it seems to think that you're trying to break its back.

Sakonosolo

Download a program to see exactly how hot it's getting. I suggest HWMonitor. Also if you can, try seeing if you can blow any dust out of it as that's what usually causes laptops to run hot. It'll be a pain if you don't know how to open it up though.

Demonicpoodle

This is just a general comment on heat: I can play all kinds of video games on this laptop, have 40 Internet tabs open, and it won't overheat.

Yet recording from a webcam can overheat it in 5 minutes if I have other stuff going. I save what I'm doing on a webcam after I produce every single new bit of material. It just seems to be pretty intensive for some reason. The only way I can record is if I do a full restart with no other programs running. And I have a decent "gaming" laptop (though it's honestly not great for that, but I don't have the funds to buy a proper gaming rig).

MDL

So the problem lies with the webcam?
That would certainly explain why running a simple recording session was suddenly too much to handle.

Like you, i can do everything else just fine. Ever since i bought the cooling pad, the self-shut down has never happened no matter what i do.

And yet, the webcam running alone caused the laptop to overheat.
I wonder why such a small, innocuous device can cause so much stress inside the laptop.

Cymelion

What program are you using to record it?

If its the set standard try using another one - also its likely that it is trying to record high quality try altering the quality levels.

MDL

It's a self-contained program that came with the webcam. "Microsoft LifeCam".
yeah, maybe you're right about the quality thing, but i think my problem is solved now anyways.

I no longer need to use the camera, because i'm in the process of obtaining a capture card.
Now i'll hopefully be able to record things properly.

Cymelion

Hopefully yeah - It's weird what things will overheat computers - I could play some games with max settings - but if I put on Dead Island it would melt my graphics card turns out I had to adjust vsync.

cooldud

Every couple of months, open your laptop and clean it's fans. And clean everything thoroughly once every year. If you cannot do it pay someone to do it for you. Any maintenance place worth it's salt will do it for you.
Heating issues = dirty laptop more often than not.