M17x R3 6990m temps?

I recently picked up a good deal on a reburbed m17x R3 w/ 6990m. Today it was delivered, and I'm going through the motions of making sure it's a sound system.

Earlier today, before I went to work, I played metro 2033 just to see how it gamed with a very demanding game, and my temps were reaching 100c, even with the fan at 100%. I brought the laptop to work to play around with. While here I installed some programs, and furmark. I just ran furmark for like 10 minutes on the burn-in test, and the gpu temp stayed below 80c, but when I monitored with GPU-Z, GPU_Temp_3 was reading 99c, while #2 was 89 max, and #1 was 80 max. I canceled furmark since I don't want anything in my system running at 100c.

So does this mean some thermal pads are messed up if GPU_temps 1-3 are running that high?

Also, if someone can gimme an idea what their system gets with a 6990m, all stock, no laptop cooler under it, and just laying on a flat surface, it would be greatly appreciated

 

wow, I just took off the back panel to check out how everything looked behind it. And all 4 screws for the GPU heatsink were totally loose. I could uncrew the screws with my hands.

I just snugged them all up, about to run furmark again to see how much it improved!

 

Did you check the paste and pads?

 

weird, they didn't improve at all.

GPU temp = 86c
GPU#1 = 85
GPU#2 = 91
GPU#3 = 98

I guess I gotta redo the thermal paste and pads. Or return it

 

Nah, not yet. I'm still at work. Have no paste here. Not sure I want to void my warrenty yet. have 20 days left to decide if it's a keeper. But it's kinda catch 22.... won't know if I can fix it, unless i void it, making it not possible to return (if they inspect it).

edit: I guess I can just do it, and if I need to return it and it comes up that it looks like it was tampered with, I'll just deny it was from me. It's apparent they have no QC on the refurbs.... my gpu heatsink was about to fall off lol

Anyone got a link for where to get thermal pads (correct thickness, ect)? edit2: found some http://www.frozencpu.com/search.htm...d=JXvc6k9m&searchspec=Fujipoly&go.x=5&go.y=13

 

repasting voids the warranty?? (sorry for threadjacking I just had to ask...)

 

I have no idea really. Just saw some video of a guy redoing his, and he saved the original pads incase he needed to send it back.

 

just did a little research and repasting does not void the warranty...apparently aw techs can't tell the difference in pastes.

 

Well I just pulled mine apart to check it out. Someone definitely had the cooler off before (the screws didn't just losen by their own). It still has the stock paste, which has been re-used a couple times by the looks of it.

Has anyone pulled apart their 6990m on the 17x r3 and know if these are the stock pads? Looks kinda weird that there are a few different types of thermal pads used. And the tiny strip on the back seems weird.

Here's some cellphone pics:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AMg/oNEgMt55q2g/s1152/IMG_20110908_210915.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AM8/TarUkgnyqvA/s1152/IMG_20110908_210937.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AM4/eVGdw-D1o3g/s1152/IMG_20110908_210946.jpg
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-...AM0/kjixaFYFeWw/s1152/IMG_20110908_210959.jpg
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-...AMw/Z5Rk1iuDjE8/s1152/IMG_20110908_211013.jpg
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-...AMo/GxHCY-GUTEA/s1152/IMG_20110908_211021.jpg

here's the sloppy measurements of took of the thermal pads incase anyone wants to replace them (that is if they are the original and correct ones)
1mm - 58mm x 18mm (2), misc pieces
2mm - 7mm x 7mm (1)
4mm - 18mm x 9mm (3)

I'm probably just gonna buy a sheet of 1mm thermal pads, and then stack them in spots that need more thickness.

edit: actually the pads look exactly like the ones in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITj5XV7XimU&feature=player_embedded

 

Just redid the thermal paste with some Noctua NT-H1 I had from my desktop heatsink. Seems to have fixed all my issues

 

what are your temps now?

 

Click the picture. they are listed in GPU-Z to the right.

Right now I am trying to see if it's possible to lower my GPU voltage. I just dumped the stock bios, and edited it with RBE. Debating if I am gonna flash it or not. Gotta do some more research

the odd thing was RBE said my bios has been edited with RBE in the past.

 

keep us posted, I recently my r3 from oultet 2 days ago also with hd 6990m. Today I ran DA2 demo for about half an hour on max settings + some AF and AA with this being my max temp:

2011-09-09 01:10:11 ,
GPU Core Clock [MHz] 715.0
GPU Memory Clock [MHz] 900.0 ,
GPU temp: 80.0
fan speed: 30
GPU load: 100
fan RPM: 300
GPU Temp. #1 [°C] 80.0
GPU Temp. #2 [°C] 85.0
GPU Temp. #3 [°C] 88.5
VDDC [V] 1.100

Im sort of getting back into this laptop(y) thing after some time so are these good temperatures? To be quite frank I would repaste it, but Im very much afraid as I have never done such thing and I dont want to break this laptop 2 days after the actual purchase by doing something really stupid.

 

Well here's the results of my first bios edit. In the notepad in the picture i listed stock voltages, and what I set them too for now. Gonna go lower tomorrow probably.



edit: half way through I put 2 dvd cases under each side of the laptop. it dropped the overall temps around 4 degrees. In my previous picture, you can see a dip as well, that was when i placed some flash drives under the rear feet of the laptop. not exactly apples to apples, but an improvement none the less.

edit: I can play metro 2033 without overheating now. Doesn't go past 72c on the gpu, and 75c on the vregs. That is with the laptop laying flap on my coffee table. when i got it, my gpu would hit 100c and my vregs would hit 100c too. I guess actually having the heatsink fastened to the gpu helps, along with some new thermal paste

 

Well, I repasted CPU and GPU with NT-H1 about 2hrs ago.

Using OCCT in infinite mode and HWmonitor, it looks like max and average temps for both dropped 10 degrees. I went from CPU 92max/88avg to 82max/77avg and GPU 94max/82avg to 79max/76avg.

Using GPU-Z, I set all of the options to average in the drop-down menu. It shows GPU 70.8 GPU1 70.8 GPU2 70.6 GPU3 76. I am using OCCT in the infinite mode to stress the GPU.

What accounts for these differences? 76c seems high. Unfortunately NT-H1 says to put a 3-5mm dot and twist the heat sink to spread it. Obviously I am not able to twist so I put a 4mm dot and just pressed hard and wiggled the heat sinks some. I did notice what looked like a dot of solder on the GPU heatsink. I thought it was dried thermal compound but it wasn't coming off so i lightly scratched with my fingernail and sure enough there is a 1mm or so dot of grey-ish metal on top of the copper box. What the heck is that all about?

When BF3 comes out I plan to overclock if i need, in order to play at the highest possible settings. Should I repaste using a different method to see if i can get lower? If i am running at 70.8 I seem to alreay be low. If i am running at 76 i seem to be high. Thanks in advance.

 

If you are below 80C under load on the GPU there is no need to worry. From what I've seen, stock temps under load can vary from high 70's to 90C+. After repaste/repad, mid 70's is typical. The best I've seen are just under 70C under load. Mine is around 71-72C. Overclocking all the way to 820/1200 doesn't significantly raise temps (maybe 2C).

 

Hmm I just did a repaste of my 6990m, before I was getting around 81-83°C whilst gaming, now I am getting around 82-84°C
This is all with 740/1000


Sorry to hijack this thread, just wanted to ask:
I repasted using Arctic Silver 5. Did I just do a crap job, does this paste need more time to cure, or does it just suck and do you think I should go with another paste?

 

1c difference??? That could be the temperature in the room.

Paste needs a little time before you get the best results. Play for a day or so, then check again. AS5 is good stuff IMO.
P.

 

Yeh I thought so, probably the reason why people recommend pastes such as IC Diamond 7 is because it cures after like 2 hours. AS5 takes a lot longer to cure..

But if it were to stay at those temps, would it be fine? According to MSI Afterburner, it did manage to hit 84°C a few times, and 85°C on a few occasions (but never constant, but it also never ever hit 84/85 with the stock paste at any time).

 

I think it'll come down as the paste cures and I woudn't worry till I saw 90's.

You'll be looking to upgrade well before you've seen that one out

P.

 

That seems high still. Wait a bit and if it doesn't improve replace the thermal pads and repaste again. That should get you 3-5C at least, just from the pads, and it's possible somethign is uneven on the heatsink or paste from your first attempt.

 

Any of you guys up to doing a youtube video of how you repaste and repad your 6990m?

 

Use this guide:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m17x/561599-m17x-r3-cpu-gpu-re-pasting-guide-w-pics.html

It has good pictures of the whole process. Only difference is he had a nVidia GPU, but the concept is the same.

If you want a video, search for m17x repaste on youtube; there are a few up there.

 

I wish I never repasted now! I was gaming again today, it went up to 88 degrees constant! I will try and tighten the heatsink.

 

very briefly i've seen temps hit 71 C, but it stabilizes at 65 under FULL LOAD Furmark at 1920x1080

 

I've tried tightening the heatsink, it still climbs to now about 87 constant.
I think one of the sticky thermal pads got a little bit of dirt on it though during repasting.

Argh I can't believe this. I am so annoyed right now.

EDIT
It manages to get to 87 constant whilst playing Crysis 2 single player. It could just be the level, I don't know but with 3D Mark 11 it averages in the high 70's, managing to hit 81 for a very little while, which is normal. Maybe its just the game?

EDIT2
I put it down to stock clocks (715/900), I am getting about 81-82 average now with Crysis 2. That seems better.

 

I wouldn't mess with the heatsink at all. You don't want to overtighten or mess up the thermal compound that is in there now. You'd be better off doing a repaste/repad.

 

I have already tightened it, not by too much though.
With the stock clocks it seems a bit better now, averaging 81/82.
3D Mark 11 got on average 81/82 with 740/1000 so it should be even lower now.

I will continue to monitor the GPU, and if it gets any worse I will use IC Diamond 7. I will also change the pads, too. I don't know what I did wrong, I used a very thin layer of AS5, I used a ruler (instead of a credit card) to make sure it covered everything, I didn't move the heatsink assembly about once it touched the GPU, and the screw holes aligned perfectly.
Maybe its just the game causing it to get very hot, but after putting on stock voltages it seems a bit better.

 

I'd actually recommend Arctic MX-4 over the ICD7. They seem to produce comparable temps from what I've seen, and I've heard the ICD7 is very thick and more difficult to work with.

The guide I followed recommended using a the "grain of rice" method of putting a small dot of compound in the center of the GPU and lettign the heatsink spread it. It worked well for me.

 

Thanks, I'll go with MX-4.
Can you recommend me any pads? I think i got a tiny amount of dirt on one of them (actually my elbow touched it), maybe its affecting the temperatures but I'd like to know what I'd replace them with.

 

Read the guide in the link I posted earlier in this thread. It tells you everything you need. Although I will add that you might want to buy some 1 mm or 1.5 mm pads to go along with the .5 mm pads, or you can stack the .5 mm pads where you need thickness like I did.

 

Good news, I repasted still using my Arctic Silver 5, this time I used the same method as you (put blob in middle and let heatsink spread it out).

It worked great, now I average in the high 70's, when it gets intense it averages about 82 degrees. This is with 740/1000 overclock settings & playing Crysis 2.

3D Mark 11 averages mid 70's, never exceeding 80 either.

 

I should probably state that my 6990m is undervolted.....from 1.1V to 0.96V, which helped cut down on temps a lot.

 

excellent!