Frustration with the repaste

Which version is it? Someone in the M15x forum just put a Dell 6970m in his system and it seems to have a different vbios on it, see here... can you compare the version to yours? I'm using a Clevo version atm, can't check.

 

Nope, different than #596. Same as #600

 

hmm dell never posted a new vbios afaik, but i have the same as miguilos.

 

Then you probably have this version, which is the standard M17x r3 vbios... hmmm. I'm have no idea atm.

Edit: @Inap: Thanks, yeah, in this case the other version is probably the M18x vbios... The one migualo has is in fact a copy of your vbios

 

oh hahaha nice.

maybe try reflashing your vbios, could be currupted, highly unlikely but worth a shot.

 

I ordered 1.0 mm pads. I will give it a shot next week when it comes.
I am pretty damn sure that dell uses 1.0 mm instead of 0.5 mm.
Dont kno if thats the cause for my throttling tho. Ive read wrong size of thermal pads can cause problems on other forums. I can only experiment and pray for now.
But thanks alot for the help.

 

Depends on the heatsink. I know that for example the M15x comes with 1mm pads, but 0.5mm will result in better contact between the GPU die and the heatsink... Dells solution is not necessarily the best.

Your temps aren't terribly hot... it's weird.

 

yeah i doubt that the pads are the problem too. i'm just stumped.

 

Not really, I only replaced the pads on VRM. There are some other blue pads that I didnt touch and they seem to be even thicker(1.5mm - 3mm). That means the contact is even worse since the pads are not evenly touching the GPU. I removed my current heatsink once actually, I dont really see indent on the pads like the stock ones when I replaced them. That could be a problem.

 

The vram clocks down to standard 3d clocks, I doubt that they're doing this because they get too hot... The core is seriously downclocking, but the temp is ok...

But anyway, make sure the pads are really making contact with the vram modules. The other, thicker pads are probably on the DC/DC converters and maybe on the coils...

 

all the other pads didn't really make a difference in my case, i took them all off, but seem people leaving them on too with .5mm pads.

 

I should have done the same thing.

 

Problem seems to be fixed with 1.0mm!!!
I think people should be warned about this tutorial!!!!
DO NOT USE 0.5mm PAD:
YouTube - ‪Alienware M17X R3 Re-pasting Guide and 6970 re-pasting guide - Newegg Promo Code‬‏
Using wrong pads can cause serious damage on your GPU

 

actually your the first to ever report problems with .5mm pads. many including myself never had a problem.

 

Well, somehow it just doesn't seem right replacing pads with a smaller one. You use pads so that they smush onto the parts for the most thermal transfer. It's not like thermal paste where you only want a thin layer.

 

The problem is that thicker pads tend to make the heatsink sit further away from the core and never making proper contact leaving you with higher temps and having to use more paste.

Some people have good luck with thin pads and in iNaps case no pads other then the Memory ones .

Since its not an exact science then yeah everyone is going to have different results on everything from temps to how much paste and thinnner thicker pads etc etc..

 

The problem with 0.5mm is that if u only replace the ones(green ones) on VRM, its not making contact because of other pads(blue ones) are thicker.
And I am not alone. TraptPatriot had the same problem.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/588831-horrible-fps-dips-please-help.html

 

And thats the opposite way, I only replaced the ones on VRM, inap replaced everything.

 

That's not really an issue unless you get some really tough pads. Most pads are designed to be smushed.

 

well i'm just glad your problems are fixed. there can be slight differences in the gap, so for some .5mm works great, while others 1mm pads will work better.

 

Thanks, I am so glad too.
I just wanna make people aware, because I think NO ONE(including me) should ever have this horrible horrible experience due to misinformation. Hope this problem will not happen again in the future for other users.

 

i wouldn't call it misinformation, when i recommend pads, i always tell people to get both sizes because the gap can differ from laptop to laptop.

 

You dont really want to have "smush" the card as i have seen more then my fair share of damaged boards from smushing them down ala to much pressure equal cracked PCB's and cores. It happens, it can happen and i have seen it happen .

 

I have throttling problems with stock thermal paste. when I OC to 780/1000 my temps can go as high as 90C and after awhile it'll start throttling down to 400/900.

on stock clocks my temps slide closely to 87C. I've yet to see any throttling but should I be worried? should I apply new paste?

 

yeah thats a bit high for stock clocks. i run an oc at 800/1100 and my max temps are around 80.