THE "Ultimate Cooling Mod" To End All Cooling Mods

A book.

Thats right, a book.

After spending an hour or so yesterday afternoon perusing laptop coolers and reviews and recommendations I realized that all I really wanted to do was prop the back end of the R2 up. My paperback copy of "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond" which is roughly an inch and a half thick does this job admirably.

If you too are looking for a cooler, look no further, just make sure you place whatever youre using in the small piece of real estate between the intake vent on the bottom and the back as to avoid obstructing airflow.

The results!

Crysis 2 after an hour without book mod: CPU: 86 C, GPU's: 75 and 79 C. Ambient temp: ~65 F, Idle CPU temp: 42 C

Crysis 2 after an hour and half with book mod: CPU: 73 C, GPU's 73 and 77 C, same ambient temp, Idle temp: 39C.

Crysis 2 settings: 1920x1200, advanced graphics all "Very High".

3D Mark Vantage before book mod: Max CPU temp: 97 C, Max GPU temps: 75 and 78 C. Ambient temp ~65F Throttlestop settings: x27,27,26,25 TDP/TDC 95/85

3D Mark Vantage after book mod: Max CPU Temp: 89 C, Max GPU Temps: 70 and 72, ambient temp ~62F. Throttlestop settings: x27,27,26,26 TDP/TDC 100/85. P18389 http://3dmark.com/3dmv/3249525

Wprime 155 1024M before book mod: 259 seconds. Max CPU Temp: 97C. Ambient Temp: ~65F.

Wprime 155 1024M after book mod: In progress, will update.

 

I always knew that using a book under would improve my cooling but I thought it wouldn't be enough of a drop in temps to be worth it. Thanks for giving me a reason to try it. I knocked 5°C of my average GPU temps during FurMark! +1

 

Update:

Wprime 155 1024M with throttlestop settings of x27,27,26,26 TDP/TDC 100/85 resulted in BSOD around the 40% completion mark. Temp was around 85 C when it quit. I think this is a voltage issue.

I dropped the multiplier to 27,27,26,25 but kept the TDP/TDC where it is and it ran it in 240.29 seconds with a maximum temp of 96C (95,96,90,86).

It stayed at 25x in the FID column ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE RUN.

Previously with TDP/TDC 95/85 it would make it maybe 40% and then start to dial back to the low 24's in FID. A run with these settings and the book mod yesterday produced a max temp of 94C, and without the book mod with a roughly similar ambient temperature 97C.

I might do another 3DMark Vantage run with the reduced 4 core multiplier to see if thats the magic number.

I cant believe how much cooler temps the R2 is getting with this! Ive heard people mention propping up their R2 here and there, I shouldve tried this sooner, and its just in time now that I am overclocking. It also puts the R2 at a nice ergonomic angle.

 

My $190 notebook cooler: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LyW2dlw5L._SS500_.jpg. High quality. Durable. Heavy-duty. Yes, it's HEAVY lolz. Fits in my backpack. Can be held with one hand. Wireless. 2inches high. Narrower than notebook lengthwise (hotdog style), so fans can be exposed on both sides.

...You know you're jelly

EDIT: Oh! The company released a new version if you're interested in this awesome notebook cooler: http://www.amazon.com/Calculus-Earl...=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308289397&sr=1-1

 

dookie's cooler doubles as a weapon if someone tries to steal your laptop.

 

This actually works so well. When I ran FurMark at 825/1150 before my temps sat around 88-89C. I tried again with a book underneath and my max temp was 82C while it sits around 78C with the fans blasting.

 

Radio Shack sells little rubber 'feet'. I have four of those in place of where the normal ones are. They're about 1/2" thick. They're adhesive on one side, so they're permanently attached.

 

Dookie...you almost had me, if it weren't for the "wireless -bit" i'd click and find out...yes i did click and find out this ultra fantastic cooler

 

post some pics dude

 

I forgot to mention that I also use an unopened 12-pack of 1 3/8" x 1 7/8" Staples brand stickies (postits) to hold the front end up (the end thats pointing towards me). Keep in mind that I'm in a very poor ventilated room with zero wind except my $20 Windmachine ( Walmart.com: Lasko 20" Wind Machine Indoor Pivoting Floor Fan: Heating, Cooling, & Air Quality) blowing upwards at me on low, which would be the same if I had it on high due to the lack of outside air It works though, which I'm very happy about.

So I guess the total cost of my cooling solution is roughly $200 MSRP

Pic enclosed for embarrassment

 

Nice nice. ^^ I like the postit touch. I'm working on a slightly more hardcore mod for the M15x just for the fun of it really, gonna run my north of $200 as well methinks.

 

But does your "cooler" include a stack of postits?

 

Awesome!

 

I wonder though guys, if there's a way to drill/slot the base panel for some ventilation down there? I'd be willing if there's a clean way to do it (I don't have any tools besides drills and kitchen knives and maybe a q-tip and a lighter lolz).

 

Where exactly are you looking to drill/slot the base panel?

 

If I could, I'd add holes where the ram is, and prolly take off the nameplate cuz that's the hottest spot on our lappies (and the ram's right there, isnt it?).

 

Well I'm sure you could cut holes there but I don't think it would do much. As for the nameplate, go ahead and remove it and see if there is cooler there. It will take literally 10secs to remove or put back back on if you have a warranty issue.

 

The $100 dollars of cooling accessories is right next to me. I haven't used any yet. Like what you've found, I use a book or my DS to prop the back up and this is enough hahaha

I do plan on performing the cooling mods but I'm not press for it. I rarely use the computer on my lap.

 

Same here, I don't use it on my lap at all unless I am on IGP which eliminates almost all of the heat issues for me at least. I actually have it on my lap right now on IGP and in high performance mode and the bottom is just barely warm and nowhere near hot.

 

There is some sense to this whole book thing. If they would make a cooler that would simply elevate the laptop, have a smooth surface on the bottom (to rest on legs), and no cheapie USB fan appendages, then they would have something. 95% of the ones I looked at try to push the whole fans/USB thing. My favorite was the old NS-3000 nexus I had for a laptop a while back.

 

This and this. I have the GUPS and they work wonders.

 

lol <- 10 char

 

ahahaha, feet.

 

Reviving this thread for newcomers.

PS, R3's cooling system should be great for everything (unless you're doing massive benchmarking, which then you might need a room fan or a ticket to Antarctica. JK about needing to fly to the South Pole. You should be fine with a textbook underneath

 

Another alternative is to put the laptop in a freezer and connect it to an external moniter and peripherals.

 

lol! I think Alienware would truly be exotic and otherworldly if it incorporated a water cooling system that was lightweight and leak-proof into its design...But then again, our rigs arent made on other worlds theyre made by Dell.......Dude....

 

What I use to elevate my laptop is a marker centered under the back M17x r1 btw, temps lower about 10c when it's lifted up and I can take it everywhere with me no troubles. My fan cooler only drops the temps about 12c so it isn't worth the trouble of hauling it around. Now if I use my custom cooler then the temps drops 18c+

 

I had to laugh when I read this..... I have that exact book at home on the shelf. lol

 

This is what I use and it works GREAT. The best part is it folds up very nicely and it fits well in my laptop bag.

Amazon.com: Hercules X-Stand Ergonomic Portable Natural Airflow Cooling Stand For all 12-17" Laptop / Notebook Computers: Electronics

 

I actually have a notebook cooler but since applying a new applicant of Diamond and propping it upward I haven't had the need to turn it on, my R2 is performing just fine as is.

 

book mod = 65 max temp after an hour of BF3

 

I use a really old Blockbuster video VHS case

 

just tested my ergostand... it reduces 4 deg C off the AMD card, with the fan running at full speed.

Hwinfo was used to verify my test results.

 

2x2L Pepsi or Coke bottle caps worked wonders on each back corner for my
m1730 and now my new m18x.

OR

Permanent Solution. Although I haven't tried these.

 

Amazing!

I'm using an old manual to prop up just the rear of the laptop about 4 cm.
Very stable on desk.
According to HWiNFO64 my temps have dropped between 5 C and 10 C degrees and even my GPU temps are down about 3 C degrees.

 

Do you tape them, or just put your computer on top? Also, how do you keep it from sliding around? I only use an old Calculus textbook, and it does wonders, but I wouldnt mind switching to another method cuz the center of the laptop needs clearance as well.

 

I used to carry 4 modified plastic bottle caps in my bag for my Dell e1705 7900gs. Worked wonders for me as well. Played hundreds of hours of Oblivion on that machine.

My simple mod. I put rubber from bike tire patch kit on bottom, and dipped tops in plastic dip I use on my hand tools. Never experienced problems with slippage.

 

I use two flat "Vitimin Water" bottle caps. No issues with slippage...but i'm always running on a flat surface...for anyone not familiar with these simple mods: the idea is raise the back of the laptop so the bottom fan intakes have unobstructed access to air. The two bottle caps i use drops my temps 5-10c

 

Anyone tested doing this on top of a correctly matched cooler (fans matches up to vents on bottom of cooler) vs just raising the computer without a cooler?

 

I did. I raised my R2's rear up about 3/4 of an inch with wooden blocks last spring. Then later this summer I got the Cooler Master U3. The temps with the U3 were 2C-4C cooler than with just the wooden blocks. I got my temps a total of 8C-10C lower by removing the stock fans on the U3 and replacing them with faster 12V case fans. Works pretty good. My temps don't rise above 60C unless my CPU usage hits past 35%. Running my video transcoding at 100% CPU, my temps go to between 70C-78C or at least that's how high Core Temp tells me they go.

 

I put my laptop above my mini refrigerator, which also have a book between them, it's always nearly silent even during gaming lol
Might wonder though why the heck I'm using a refrigerator as a table? i got no room for a table It's an old habit when i used for my xbox 360 before (Since that thing dies when it get hot)

 

I've had my The Orange Box box under my m17x r4 since day 1. Its one of those double size computer game cases, so its perfect. i get great airflow and my fans run half as much as they do without it.

 

I have 3 xbox 360 game cases taped together and the back ledge sits on them. Just a small part of it below the power cord on the edge where there are no vents.

 

Haha, nice to see people are still coming up with "innovative ideas"