Alienware M17X R4 How to improve 1070 GPU Temps?

I recently installed a 1070 3.0b standard form on my M17X R4. In call of duty modern warfare 2019 I get GPU temps upwards of 80C with my Max being 90C In which I just close out of the game. Besides. That, I have fans at full blast. I know I can put the 5 pipe heatsink, but will that really make a difference? If anyone does have it how did your temps drop?

Anyhow, does anyone have any tips on lowering temperatures through software?

 

In the 17 r1 myax temp with a cooling pad was 54c, without pad it was 60c.

This was with 5 pipe cooler.

 

That's with a 1070?

Sounds like the best way to bring down my temps quick and efficiently

 

I also used max fan speed to keep temperatures low.

 

Yup. I have max fans right now and still getting super high temps. It's not the fans fault, but rather the heatsinks fault though. I also think my GPU pad placement is good with every pad making contact with the heatsink. So that shouldn't be the root cause.

 

It shouldnt be needed though, as the 980m and 1070 have similar TDP's, the 1070 should be running at 115w unless you have it running more power, which the R4 is capable of...

 

No I don't which Is what I find weird. Its thrtmal throttling like crazy

 

So this is my current thermal pad setup. Ik it looks horrible and there's too much thermal paste. But bare with me.

Edit: I found no forum about this upgrade stating thermal pad thickness nor placement. So I just bought 1mm .5mm and 2mm pads to see which ones would fit best and put them on.

 

I had to dremel out my stock heat sink at first. I do not see any adjustments on yours. Makes me think that it is not really flat to the GPU. I bought the 5 pipe heat sink and had to loosen all the bracket screws at first to get it to flatten out, then tighten them then tighten the "tension prong" ones.

 

I think you need to remove some thermal paste and see how the die sits against the heatsink. The paste is designed to fill up microscopic areas on the die that aren't making good contact with the heatsink. The paste itself isn't great for heat transfer. Since you've installed the card and there is still a thick layer of paste on the die and the heatsink, it looks to me like the die isn't making a good connection.
Basically, the more paste that sits between the two components, the worse the heat transfer will be.
Here is the thermal pad layout for the M18x. Yeah, it's not same heatsink but it should be very similar. Also check what GPU fan you have. There were a few different ones released with vastly different CFM's. I think the M17x R4 came with the better fan but you never know. You can check by looking at the Dell Part# on the fan or there could also be a CFM rating on the fan.

 

What adjustments did you do to the stock heatsink? I did have to bend all 4 prongs down because it was putting in my opinion alot of pressure on the the core to the point where it would probably break it. And I will definitely remove the excess thermal paste and see how my thermals are doing.

With my current setup, the core of the card is a bit raised, hence the 2mm pads on both sides of the vram If I were to put 1mm pads, the vrams wouldn't make any contact at all since the core is raised.

 

So, A little update. I took away a bit of of excess thermal paste, And In a FurMark 15 Minute test with GPU burner setting enabled, it dropped my temp from 80C max to 76C max. Tomorrow I'm going to test modern warfare which I don't expect a huge decrease in temp.

 

Good luck man. Mine runs in the low 70's and I'd love to get it in the 60's but I don't think it's possible for me with the stock heatsink.