*PICS* Cooling Mods Done! TX-4 and Clip Mod!

Okay all you Chiefs out there,

3rd day running Shin Etsu now. Since TX-4 hasn't arrived yet.

I am running a whole heap of things however no gaming.
Running 5 Firefox windows with many tabs within, watching blu ray movies, putting songs on friends Ipod (about 50 cds to copy over), a few IE's open as well + numerous other tasks running. Oh and of course a whole heap of DLs.
These are the temps so far in my pic.

Will be interested to see the temps later on with TX-4 next time.

Cheers.

Perhaps HamsomeRob or anyone else can post up their sensor temp page up as well and we can have a look oles!!! Thanks.

 

What do you guys think of my portable audio
I just made a thread.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...-ultimate-portable-audio-solution-gamers.html

 

Awesome stuff once again Chiefs. Love looking at your threads with all those large pics oles!!!

Cheers.

 

Rob, I've got you on AIM now, let mw know what happens

Reborn, I was playing HL2 Episode 2 last night and the cpu temps kept at a stable 48oC throughout the session. I guess the whole work is done by the gpu.

-cheers

 

Oh nice interestings ey. Yeh I guess that temp would also be linked to all 3 of our fans spinning together so the CPU is kept cool at the same time as well. Nice temps though. WOW 48. Thats amazing.

Cheers.

 

Quick question to those with the 5870's. Do your fans always stay at like 4rpm (HWINFO) enen when idling. My fans are never off (cpu / gpu) unless when I just turn the machine on and that's only like for 20 seconds max.

Hndsomerob, any news from the heatsink company?

 

Heya chiefs.

Yeh I noticed that last time about my fans on the R2 as well. My fans are 0rpm also when I first cold start them up for a few mins. Then the fans will eventually kick in to the standard 1900rpm speed. Pretty much just run there the whole time now. Unless when I game like just before on Medal of Honor Tier 1 the fans hit 3300rpm max.

Cheers.

 

You have crossfire cards... Just give them your slave card for now and have them do the work on that heatsink then if there is a difference send in the rest.

How much do they charge for the heatsinks?

 

I have no idea the price yet. They need both heatsinks for research and development. I need my computer intact and in Crossfire. Depending on how many they make depends on a price. I'm going to start looking for extra heatsinks. If anybody has sone let me know

They rather not be responsible for a whole computer. You want to ship me your heatsink? Hit me up on AIM!

 

Ok guys, Handsomerob and I talked and here's the deal:

The only way we'll be interested in any custom-made heatsinks (ATI HD 5870) is if the company takes the full laptop and tests their stuff, proving that the product is a viable upgrade from the current mods we can do ourselves.

For this though, we need to know how many of you guys would be interested in buying one or two of these HS's if they indeed rock and how much do you think they should cost. Bear in mind these will be custom, all-copper heatsinks that will be made to ensure the highest possible thermal dissipation from an air-cooled heatsink for your hd 5870's in your m17x (a very specific product).

Now whether these heatsinks would work for other cards is something I can't answer, but it is a possibility.

Ok folks, who said ME?!!

-cheers

 

Realizing that the mods here are for the 5870, is there anything that those of us with 4870 CF systems can do? I recall reading somewhere that the 4870 heatsink was different enough that the clip mod could not be used. But, has anyone just done a better paste job?

 

Hey there chiefs.


Yep so far all I've done is just a better paste job experimenting with different pastes like AS5, Shin Etsu and soon Tuniq TX-4. Each time the results go better. Mind you after I learned a few things about how to paste properly and not to put too little or too much So my temps are awesome atm. I also changed the pads on the GPUs.

So I would definitely recommend you change out the pads and paste especially the paste on the GPUs and CPU if you want to get better cooling or lower FAN rpm noise. I have posted up some pics of my temps further back on this thread and will do again soon when have more temp results.

I must say though whilst playing medal of honor for like an hour last night that the fans never kicked into super high gear. It was awesome to game with such low fan noise as compared to last time.

Oh yeh I haven't done any clip mods or retention or put paste on my mem chips. Just the normal thermal paste on GPU/CPU dies and changed the pads where ever there were pads.

Cheers.

 

Don't you have 5870's though? At least that is what your sig says...

Is it recommended, then, for 4870's to just change the paste and pads?

Where are people getting the pads and which ones? (link, please). I've never bought pads (thermal) before!

 

Yeh I would highly recommend you give the paste and pads a shot chiefs. They are heaps better than the stock dell cooling pastes and pads they use. Also you can check your temps in HWiNFO32. Maybe post up a pic or something and we can have a look at your temps. You could do some before and after pics

Yeh I have the 5870s and I've done a whole paste pad job on the R1 with different CPUs and the 260s. Awesome temps now.
I've also done paste jobs on a few other notebooks around the house lol. Working great GUNs now oles. Especially on the older model notebooks with their annoying fans and woeful cooling.

I'll get you the links. 2 secs chiefs.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...x_100_x_10_-_Thermal_Conductivity_60_WmK.html

For the 4870s you need the 1.0mm thermal pads.

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/1...l_Grease_-_30g.html?tl=g8c127s690&id=EMbLqbQn

I've also order the TX-4 which quite a few people recommend and are having awesome results as compared to stock thermal paste and AS5. So I'll be doing a re-pasting job on like 4 notebooks when they finally arrive.

Cheers.

 

Thanks Reborn...I read Mfractal did the retention clip mod on his 4870.

Have you attempted that on your 4870 or what is your opinion?

Thanks, too, for the links. I'll order the pad and some paste. I currently have MX-3, which I was happy with when I did my first M17xR2 with the 5870 and clip mod...you think TX-4 is better?

 

No worries chiefs.

I haven't had a chance to use TX-4 yet. Its on its way to me as we speak. They don't sell anything but AS5 around my parts unfortunately. So I've had to order online and pay the shipping fees which end up costing more than the product most of the time. I've so far recieved my Shin Etsu and tried that. Compared to AS5 it has slightly lower idle temps and much lower load temps. So that is fantastic.

With TX-4 quite a few members here have been recommending it to myself and others as they have seen tip top sick sick subwoofer Awesome results lol. I've read some reviews and seen quite a few clips as well that show great results. Its also quite a new paste release over the former TX-3 so yeh I would give it a go. I've never had the chance to try MX-3. How were the temps last time with them on your R2 with 5870s? Anything like my temp pics a few pages back?

I'm hopping to go even lower with TX-4 as others have.

About the retention clip mods and other stuff. I haven't tried them and probably won't be doing them. I'm just happy enough with doing the pastes and pads. Changing my pads and checking for proper heatsink contact on the CPU side of things has also lowered my CPU temps a great deal and stopped the erractic CPU fan from going up and down with the rpms all the time. Now they are more constant and run at the lower rpms.

I would give the pastes and pads a go 1st. Then if you like yeh why not give the other cooling mods a go.

Cheers.

 

Crazy if you ask me. Weight and cost of copper = just not efficient. I'd suggest copper base & heatpipe with ALUMINUM fins. That will cool just as good and keep the weight and cost down.

 

Agreed. All copper will not give much of an improvement, just cost a few hundred dollars

Look up the Thermalright Ultra 120 Extreme cooler for a comparison. Compare the all copper model to the regular model - like a 1c difference for over twice the weight and cost.

What needs to be revised is the area of the fins, the design of the heatpipe, and the contact between the heatpipe/heatplate and the gpu die

 

Scook and Anodize, thanks for that info. Sounds like what you guys are saying makes sense. Maybe the guys at the heatsink company just wanted to take an eye out of each one of us! Or maybe I understood wrong. In any case, I haven't seen enough exitement from the crowd to jump on the phone and call this company. I guess everyone's happy with the paste and pads.

 

Yea I agree Ricky. It's not worth all the trouble and time for new heatsinks. I had the idea of getting new heatsinks made before I did the cooling mods. Now that the mods are done I'm happy with my temps. I'm overclocked to 880/1100 @ 1.12v and my temp never gets above 79C in Furmark w/Xtreme burning mode and 8XAA for 15 minutes burn time. It's the CPU temp that's needs attention. I'm repasting my CPU tomorrow. I'm going to try washers on the screws on top of the CPU heatsink for more pressure

 

For those of you who are interested
These tools work great for our laptops. All plastic and wood so no scratching the Alienware!
Links and pics!
Jonard Alignment Tool Kit, 5-Pc
GC Waldom 7" Alignment Tool


L

 

I use the lexan knife from my camping mess kit lol

 

Ok i finally did a repaste on my CPU.
If you guys remember in my OP I used two 1.0mm thermal pads together (2.0mm) on the CPU heatsink for the Mosfets. I also didn't put alot of TX4 on either in my OP.

This time I used just a 1.0mm thermal pad and more TX4 than before.
Here are some pics!
Putting the thermal paste next to a lightbulb for 20 minutes really really helps. I highly suggest it!! I even used a blow-dryer right before applying!




I used a razor blade to spread the paste!





Premium Fugipoly Pads from FrozenCpu.com (1.0mm)



wPrime 1024M run after repaste
Before it was around 88-90C
Now it never went above 82C

My Multiplier is at 25 and BIOS is bone stock.

Notice how low my 5870's are idling
Clip mod and TX-4 FTW


Here is my final test.
10 minutes in Prime95
I upped the TDP/TDC to 80/70 and put 3% BIOS overclock with 75Mv
Before the Repaste i was at 97-99C and thats without the 3% and 75Mv added!
So it looks overall I dropped about 10C

 

Awesome stuff chiefs. Great pics once again oles. Ever think about becoming a photographer Great idling temps. SUPERB!!!

I'll be doing the same as soon as the TX-4 finally arrives. oles

Cheers.

 

Photographer i wish. This is my iPhone 4 lol
Finally arrives?? You've been waiting for TX-4 forever. Where you live? You must live in one of those 1 mile sink holes in South America or something.
lmao

 

Got my TX-4 and thermal pad sheet today.

I ran a couple of quick tests before just to get a differential.

For graphics, I ran The Lost Watch II 3D screen saver with settings on high, for 10 minutes, while running HWiNFO32 sensors screen.

My 4870's temp readings after 10 minutes of running the 3D screensaver were (#0) 68/69/75/69C and (#1) 69/69.5/76.5/69.5C.

I also ran PRIME95 for 5 minutes and 920XM max temps were 88/83/88/83.

After application of TX-4 and new pads on the GPU's and TX-4 on the CPU, my temps were (3D screen saver for 10 minutes) (#0) 65/65/68.5/66C and (#1) 69/69/73/67. Not that great a decrease. Or, not as much as I expected. I did NOT do the clip mod.

PRIME95 ran for 6 minutes, and CPU max temps were 81/81/81/80. Much better temps and all are almost the same, unlike the core temps with the Dell goop.

All in all, although the temps went down a bit, I'm not that impressed with TX-4. When I used MX-3 on my previous MX17R2, the temp drops were at least as great as with TX-4.

At least all my temps went DOWN though! I wouldn't want to have to take it all apart again!

 

Nice! Our temps are about the same. With no throttlestop and no overclock in the BIOS my temps are at about 80-81C
Sometimes one of the threads in Prime95 stops working but that's probably because of the 25 multiplier and TDP/TDC settings I use

 

I forgot to mention I am using the 5% OC in the BIOS (always). So, I guess, my temps should include that (which makes them even better!).

I also ran Furmark (Dual GPU mode) in 640x480 Stability for about 15 minutes and my GPU temps were about the same as when I ran the 3D Screensaver test,
actually about 1-2C cooler. I did notice, though, that in Furmark 640x480 windowed mode, I was only getting around 75fps. Doesn't that seem low for dual 4870's?

 

are u guys using some kind of notebook cooler together with your M17x? because without it, the temps would be about 10C higher.

 

no not really it depends on the paste you use did you use TX-4 alex?

 

Yes i always use my NZXT Cryo LX cooler. My M17X never gets turned on without it
Without the cooler the temps are 8-10C hotter.

Lancorp
im running Prime95 right now as i type this to you(20 minutes) and im at 5% +75Mv Vcore in the BIOS and my TDP is at 80 and TDC is at 65
My load temp is 86-88C. Your temps are a bit lower than mine. My laptop wasnt stable at the DEFAULT vCore. everytime i ran Prime95 one of the worker threads would pop up with an error. Is your vCore at Default or +75Mv??

 

My vCore is default. I've never had to raise it for anything.

Also, my temps are WITHOUT a notebook cooler. I don't even own one...

And, the room that I was testing in had an ambient temp of 73-74F.

 

All u did was a repaste? With TX4?
What size pad did you use on the CPU heatsink. Your temps are great!!

 

Pad on the CPU? You mean the pad that covers those electronic gizmos? I did not change that one. I changed only the pads on the GPU's. I changed the paste (only) on the CPU.

But, in comparison, my temps are only 3-7 degrees cooler (and only on 2 cores) over the Dell junk paste. I think almost any "enthusiast paste" would have given me that much. My original temps shows a big gap in the temps between the cores (2 cores much lower than the other 2), which I think is due to the original paste being uneven or misapplied. With the new paste, the 2 cores that were low (83) are still low (80-81) but now the other two (88) are also low (81).

I think 80C is about right for anyone with a 920XM and a repaste job, isn't it (running PRIME95)?

 

im using AC MX-3, which from the specs has a higher thermal conductivity compared to TX-4. it's 8.2 vs 6.4 if im not mistaken, so MX-3 should be a lot better isnt it?

that's what i thought. there has to be a cooler otherwise those temps u are getting are really too low for a 920XM. it's about 8-10C cooler than mine, of course im not using a cooler at the moment. but im getting one soon, cooler master notepal u3 as soon as it arrives in UK. thanks for confirming that mate.

that's about right, without throttlestop or OC.

 

Are you referring to my temps or to Handsomerobs?

 

Handsomerobs temps. he is using a cooler

 

So, his temps are same (or a bit higher) than mine, and he uses a cooler and I don't. Odd. And you agree that 80C-ish is about right for a 920XM running PRIME?

 

i do agree that your temps are a bit too good to be true. dont get me wrong, probably you have a better made quality heatsink or something. but i've had 3 brand new M17x and they all behave more or less the same in terms of cooling after i applied MX-3. and from my experience, heatsink build quality does make a difference too (about 5C). yeah, 80C-ish is just about right for a everything stock (apart from thermal compound change) 920XM. 940 is just slightly higher, 2-3C.

 

@handsome rob: When you are using throttle stop look into checking the first 3 options "clock mod" "chipset clock mod" and "set multiplier" then increase your TDP/TDC till you are able to have your multipliers set at what you want. Your tests are showing the multiplier only hitting 20x-22x and stock should be 24x but i am not sure if you are setting all your cores to 24x or what but you can increase the performance even higher and make your 920xm into a 940xm or even a 960xm =p (no such thing)


http://forum.notebookreview.com/att...lier-manipulation-xm-processors-27-stable.jpg

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/520311-multiplier-manipulation-xm-processors.html

 

I had the same issue with TS. My multipliers would only peak at 21-22, using prime95. That was with both power limits set pretty high. My multiplier setting, even when checked, only goes as high as 16. It will lower, but won't raise.

Any ideas?

 

there is no way of increasing that any higher. you have hit the thermal limit of M17x cooling capability. unless u can find ways to cool your cpu further down otherwise we are all stuck at that multiplier (20-22) max. 16x is the base multiplier of 920XM. it wont affect the max multiplier limit. u can control your multiplier limit by right clicking on TS and select ratio limits.

 

There are always ways to cool the cpu further

 

I am sure the m17x can hit the high multipliers and cooling is not an issue. as long as you have the paste and pads changed out that should help you a long was and even a decent cooler or simply raising the back of the laptop or making sure the fans are not blocked will let you hit high multipliers.

Read through this it is the post of the top benchmarks and most everyone is having to use higher TDP/TDC i had mine set to 95/80

http://forum.notebookreview.com/6417224-post3386.html


For now i would stop trying to hit multipliers over 24x and focus on the basics. Set you multi to 24x all across and make sure the first three options are checked.

"clock mod" "chipset clock mod" and "set multiplier"

i believe stock tdp/tdc is 62/62 or something like that. you will want to slowly increase both but more TDP and see how your wprime bench reacts. Run the short wprime bench 32m. See what you are able to hit for multiplier and say you are on 62/62 bump it up to 70/65 and see the difference and then try 75/65 and then 80/70. Now TDC should be lower for sure and do not go too high it is more TDP that you need. BE-CAREFUL i repeat BE-CAREFUL you do not need to skyrocket to make your multi hit find the bare minimum and then back it down a little and see if the multi will stick. I have gone as high as 97/85 some members will go 105/100 max but i have not need to go that high to make it stick and that is high but if you know what you are doing and using adequate cooling it is fine. Stick with 90/75 as a max for now and once you get the hang of it you can go to 95/77 or use your sound judgment. IF YOU KILL YOUR CHIP DON'T COME LOOKING FOR ME BLAME YOUR SELF!!!!!

EDIT: Scook i am to lazy to swap out the 920xm right now working with dell on some system issues so no need to mod anything till we get it all worked out. Are you able to run decent multipliers and TDP/TDC on daily usage without a chest freezer lol. I just want to know how bad the cooling is on the m17x versus m15x. I can hit 26x all across on 93/77 on daily usage on the m15x and all i did was replace paste with mx-3 and thermal throttling is not an issue i have like 11-13 degrees till thermal

 

I have a QX9300 lol....no tpc/tdc non-sense for me, just raw beautiful voltage (1.5V to be exact - to bench at 4.16 GHz )

I can bench outside the chest freezer, just not at as high of a voltage/cpu overclock. I can probably get away with 1.25-1.35V on the cpu. Have not committed any time to finding the ambient room temp max overclock....since I DO have a chest freezer and all.....haha

As long as I am under 105c, I have nothing to worry about as far as throttling due to temps (although at such a temp the OC will be lower of course)

 

AAAHHHH!!!!....now you are going to make me rip out the 920xm out of the m15x and swap into the m17x just for a couple weeks till i get my replacement m17x......BRB

 

That is right....I did those monster benches with a Core 2 quad hehe

 

got the swap complete but while i was in there threw in SSD and a 4gb stick of ram and waiting for windows 7 to complete installing and then will begin benching the cpu. I just use some MX-3 and nothing extra so it will be interesting to see how high i can take the 920xm with all the little tweaks in BIOS and TS....4.0Ghz here i come!!!!!

 

Be sure to post your results In the benchmark thread.

 

My 920XM with default BIOS settings and Throttlestop turned off comes up with an error in Prime95 in worker thread number 4. When I add the +75 in the BIOS Prime 95 runs just fine. I guess my chip needs a little extra juice to be stable. I run my laptop with the 5% OC option enabled and I'm finally trying to learn how to use ThrottleStop. You you suggesting I should always have those 3 things ticked in throttlestop?

My multiplier is at 25 and TDP is @ 80 and TDC @ 70

Temps are getting to hot!!!!
At what temp does the 920XM start to Throttle??
Is it 95C?
If im doing something wrong or if you guys have any suggestions, please let me know. Im new to Throttlestop!

Multiplier set to 24
+75Mv in BIOS
5% OC in BIOS
TDP/TDC- 90/75
wPrime 1024M finished in 262 seconds