Laptop assistance needed

[DWBass]

Please see pics below. The open area I have shown seems to get pretty hot. What is that area and why does it get so hot? My laptop tends to overheat and shut down. I thought it was the battery but the battery is cool to the touch and as I was feeling around, noticed this area was pretty hot. The fan seems to be functioning properly. Is that a part of the power supply? It is directly behind the power connctor.

[Selta]

Heatsink for either the CPU or GPU.

[mmbongo]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Heatsink for either the CPU or GPU.

+1. That area should be blistering hot.

[Eric Perry]

Yup.

[DWBass]

Then I'm guessing it's the CPU itself overheating and causing shutdowns?

[Selta]

Could be. There should be a fan somewhere accessible in there - check to make sure that it's on, and not full of dust etc.

[DWBass]

Originally Posted by Ray Salamon

Could be. There should be a fan somewhere accessible in there - check to make sure that it's on, and not full of dust etc.

Fan is operating and is clear of dust. Just blew it out again just for safe measure. I also noticed the very bottom of the display get's pretty warm as well.

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

Make sure air can get under the computer easily. You might want to get one of those laptop cooler gadgets that you set your computer on, and it allows more airflow underneath and probably even has a fan to improve convection.