Overheating despite replacing thermal paste and pads

I have an M17x with a single Mobility Radeon HD 4870. The GPU keeps overheating, getting as hot as 110 degrees celcius before the laptop turns itself off.

I figured the stock thermal paste and pads were bad, so I replaced them with Shin-Etsu G751 thermal paste and 1.0 mm EK Thermal Pads, following the guide posted at this forum.

I applied some thermal paste on the memory chips as well before replacing the heatsink.

After doing all this there is no noticable difference. My GPU idles at 92 degrees celcius and when running anything that puts even minor load on my GPU, temps rise to 110 and shutdown is imminent.

The fans and vents are clear of dust.

Room temperature is around 22 degrees celcius.

I'm at wits end, why on earth is my GPU getting so hot?

Edit: I want to add that I am using Windows 7 64-bit. The laptop worked fine until a few weeks ago. I tried updating drivers (running v8.762.0.0). I'm also using a laptop cooler. Fan speed in GPU-Z is at 30% until it hits about 100 degrees celcius, which makes the fans go at 100% speed. However, I'm not sure the speed monitor in GPU-Z is completely accurate.

 

I think you have something wrong with the GPU. Are you sure that your heatsink is definately making contact with the GPU? It sounds like a heat transfer issue. Fans running? If nothing else, I would call dell, and lt them know, and they should dispatch a tech to replace the GPU. Did you use thermal paste and thermal pads together? That could be a problem, generally I stick with pads on the memory, and paste on the die.

 

Yes, I used both thermal paste and pads on memory chips.

 

In combination? Meaning both applied to the memory? If so, then this will present a problem. Stick with one or the other. One thing I would like to see with all of the 'thermal guides' posted, a clear warning to new owners. Not saying you are in this group but reapplying thermal compound can be tricky if its your first time out. It is very easy to botch the application and if using conductive thermal compound, damage can result.

If you are seeing temps in this range with a single 4870 you might want to open the system back up and check the application of thermal compound. Sounds to me as if the application may need to be redone. Stick with pads on the memory and compound on the GPU.

 

If the HS is making a full contact and there's no epic fail with thermal paste/pads application, you should call Dell and get the GPU replaced. I had a similar problem with my 4870's and they were replaced.

 

I will remove the paste from the memory chips and use only the pad.

I'll let you know how things go. Thanks for your input!

 

Still they overheat, though it takes a bit longer. I'll call Dell and ask for the GPU to be replaced.

Edit: Idle temps now down to 82 degrees.

 

Are you using the old pads still that have thermal paste on them? If so, then I would replace the pads, assuming you have some more left over, that are paste free and give that a shot. Definately don't use both. n00b mistake, but hey, thats how we all learn some things right? I know it's true for me. Anyhow, if you could explain step for step, how and what you did, that would help. Let us know what you used to clean the paste off. It should be an alcohol based solvent. Things like an alcohol pad work well, I like to use hand sanitizer as it doesn't "run" when applied, and helps break down the paste. did you cover them completely? Did you put a tiny amount and then spread it? Ideally when it comes to paste, what you want, is an extremely thing layer. The reason for the paste is to fill microscopic imperfections in the heatsink/mem/die mating. So the amount of a rice grain, spread over the gpu die/mem chip is enough, so long as it's all coated in a really thin layer. In the case of thermal paste more is not merrier.

What type of paste/pads are you using? if your pads are still gobbed in thermal paste, you may want to remove them, place them in a ziplock to keep dirt off them, and try just using thermal paste if you have no more new thermal pad left to apply. Personally I perfer no thermal paste on the mem chips, but thats just me.

 

Here's a step-by-step of what I did:

1. Removed the card from the laptop.
2. Removed the heatsink.
3. Removed the pads that had thermal paste on them after my 1st attempt, tossed those.
4. Cleaned the memory chips, GPU and heatsink with alcohol pads, removing the thermal paste.
5. Put new pads on the heatsink where the memory chips go.
6. Applied new thermal paste to the GPU.
7. Attached the heatsink and assembled the computer.

Perhaps I used too much thermal paste. I use Shin-Etsu G751 thermal paste and 1.0 mm thick EK Thermal Pads. I probably used more like two rice grains worth of paste on the GPU. Still have paste left, more than enough for a 3rd attempt.

Thanks for your help!

Edit: Oh, and I covered the entire GPU before I put the heatsink on. Should I rather let the heatsink spread the paste when screwed on? And when I say GPU I mean the little chip thingamagingy, though I guess it is called a die? Now idling at 78 degrees, making progress!

 

If you used two rice grain sizes that is too much. Just do a vertical line down the length of the chip and put the hs back on screwing it down in a crisscross cross pattern.

 

If you can, post a pic of the end result prior to placing the heatsink back on. Will help to see...

 

I'll do that! Be right back.

 

Batboy has the right idea, I was just thinking that too. Personally, I'm using 0.5mm pads on the GPU mem, but i don't think 1mm pads would be too thick. Have you ensured that your fans are operating properly? Also, it's personal preferance, but before I put the heatsink on, I like to know that I have a thin layer of thermal paste over the entire die, rather then letting the heatsink spread, because that can leave small spaces uncovered. One of the main arguements against my method, is that it can create tiny air bubbles which in return increase heat, so gotta apply thin, but I've personally never had an issue, and I've done it that way for ever applicaton I've done, which has been a lot, even on the M17x alone.

 

I don't think the fan is the cause of my problem. I can hear it increase speed 3-4 times as the temperature rises.

I tried Mkelliny's suggestion, here's the photo:



Still the same, though.

 

Time to call Alienware as it seems to be a defective GPU.

 

You are sure you checked the fans and verified they are all working and free of obstruction (dust bunnies, unobstructed free airflow, etc), correct? If so, call support.

 

Try removing the heat sink and seeing if the whole GPU die is covered. Also maybe try a small amount of paste on each mem chip, then on the GPU die by spreading. I'm thinking your die may not be making good contact with the heatsink thus killing heat transfer. I know it's frustrating, but maybe worth a shot. Give support a call and the should dispatch a tech with a new GPU.

 

BatBoy: yes, absolutely sure.

DR650SE: I'll take a look at the GPU die.

Thanks again!

 

No prob, hope it works out because it's a great system (when it works) and support is generally pretty good.

 

I have the exact same problem with my old M9750, Playing games it now gets to 100 degrees + and i've checked everything i can think of.

 

^^ Second that. I'm almost positive that the GPU die isn't making a good contact with HS. Maybe 1mm pads are too thick and they create a gap. Do you have thinner pads to try? If not, you could use more paste on the die.

 

try this..
1: get a glove.
2: open cover to show gpu heat sink
3: with real temp or gpuz open. lightly push down on each of the four corners of the heat sink. (or arond the 4 corners of where the gpu die would be) all while watching the temp. if it goes down on one of the corners, then you will have the culprit.

 

An update:

I called Dell on Sunday, the technician came the next day and replaced two fans and the graphics card.

New idle temp: ~40 degrees celcius
New full load temp: ~65 degrees celcius

Thank you Dell!

Oh, and he also said only Dell certified technicians can replace the thermal paste and cooling pads on the graphics card without voiding your warranty, but it was no big deal. So in case someone else having trouble is reading this and is considering doing it themselves, call Dell first. I didn't know.

 

didn't you see in the guide there are couple of warnings regarding voiding warranty. never mind glad you're all good now.

 

CHanging thermal pads and Paste does not void the warranty Several Dell reps have said this Dell-Bill, Dell-Chris M, just to name a few. I trust them over any onsite technician. The mod however will void the warranty.