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    M17xr4 i73720qm

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Wetpretzel2, Aug 17, 2017.

  1. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi guys everytime i put my cpu to "turbo boost" i would see temps as high as 105°C or a complete thermal shutdown within seconds of stress test. I have since repasted the cpu (and gpu because i was already in the back of it so why not) i have seen temps now go as high as 104°C and some throttling issues dropping from the (turbo) 3.4ghz all the way fown to 1.3ghz during stess testing (prime 95) while is is set at stock 2.6ghz it never really goes above say 85°C on the odd core..

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    Wetpretzel2, Aug 17, 2017
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  2. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    I have issues with heat as well. What I did was use XTU (Intel Extreme Tuning Utility) to take all multipliers down to 34 except one core that I put at 40. This gave me better frame rates and less heat. I have not found a way to undervolt this CPU as I don't think there is one. Lowering the clocks helped me a bunch as I was hitting upper 80's in Mechwarrior Online. Now it rarely goes over 75c.

    @Wetpretzel2 I dug a little deeper over the weekend. I discovered that the thermal pads that cover the VRMs (or chokes, not sure) were way too thick. This was causing the heatsink to not fully seat as the pads were severely compressed. I replaced those pads with 0.5mm thick pads and even with the multipliers are 40,39, 38, 38 the CPU never hits 80c while gaming.
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2017
    deadsmiley, Aug 17, 2017
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  3. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Interesting i will look into it. I am finding though during gameplay i use 100% on all cores. So is it even possible to upgrade cpu?

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    Wetpretzel2, Sep 21, 2017
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  4. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Yes, CPUs can be swapped in the M17x R4. I had an i7-3940XM in it at one time. Sold that CPU because I wasn't going to keep this laptop and that ended up changing. :D
     
    deadsmiley, Sep 21, 2017
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  5. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    What cpu will fit and be good enough? Like bf1 is hard on cpu

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    Wetpretzel2, Sep 21, 2017
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  6. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    I don't have issues with 3720QM and BF1 so I don't know what to say.
     
    deadsmiley, Sep 26, 2017
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  7. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Neither do i really. I get between 35-50fps with the gtx675m (upgrading to the gtx1060) depending on map and weather but i always use 100% on all cores and temps go through the roof with turbo boost on. As high as 103 now

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    Wetpretzel2, Oct 23, 2017
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  8. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Do you use xtu with that cpu turbo on or off?

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    Wetpretzel2, Oct 24, 2017
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  9. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Yes, I use XTU and I set the Turbo as high is I could get it on each core. I forget the specifics, but the CPU does not overheat.
     
    deadsmiley, Oct 26, 2017
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  10. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have had to set mine on 3Ghz (constant) just to maintain safe temps. Yesterday i was playing destiny 2 pretty much all day and got a peak temp of 88°C

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    Wetpretzel2, Oct 26, 2017
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  11. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Something is horribly wrong with your cooling and I have no idea what it could be.
     
    deadsmiley, Oct 27, 2017
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  12. Wetpretzel2

    Wetpretzel2 Notebook Enthusiast

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    All sorted now i would say... i had some **** cooler master paste on. Just did a repaste using artic silver 5.. cpu temps are down 20° under load and gpu temp stays about 10° cooler.. cpu temp under stress test is:87-90°/30min stress test. Gpu 66-71°/ 30minute stress test *furmark

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    Wetpretzel2, Oct 27, 2017
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  13. deadsmiley

    deadsmiley Notebook Deity

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    Ok, this makes sense. Glad you have it sorted out.
     
    deadsmiley, Oct 27, 2017
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