If your Dell Latitude E6540 with an AMD Radeon HD 8790M is experiencing crashes and overheating, here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:
Clean the Laptop:
Dust buildup can cause overheating. Open the laptop and carefully clean the fans and vents to improve airflow.
Reapply Thermal Paste:
If the laptop is old, the thermal paste between the CPU/GPU and heatsink may have degraded. Reapplying thermal paste can help improve cooling.
Check for Software Issues:
Make sure your operating system and all drivers (especially for the GPU) are up to date. Sometimes outdated drivers can cause instability.
Use a Cooling Pad:
An external cooling pad can help lower temperatures by improving airflow around the laptop.
Monitor Temperatures:
Use software like HWMonitor or MSI Afterburner to keep an eye on your temperatures and fan speeds.
Adjust Power Settings:
Set your laptop to a power-saving mode, which can reduce heat generation by lowering performance.
Limit GPU Usage:
Since you mentioned disabling the GPU driver, consider only using the integrated graphics for less demanding tasks.
Replace the GPU:
If possible, consider replacing the GPU or getting a new laptop if the overheating persists and affects usability.
Check for Malware:
Sometimes, malware can cause excessive CPU usage and overheating. Run a full antivirus scan to rule this out.