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    Thermal Pads

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Cobra99, Sep 9, 2010.

  1. Cobra99

    Cobra99 Notebook Consultant

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    I am doing the cooling mod for the GPU and using 0.5 MM for the ram, but I need to know the thickness of the pads by the cpu. is it 1.0 mm?. I ordered both and cannot find the post or thread.

    thanks,

    Cobra99
     
  2. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    I odered half sheet of .5mm and replaced all the thermal pads in the notebook with it. I still had a lot left over. At least I think it was a half sheet. Might have been more.
     
  3. Mazdaspeed_6

    Mazdaspeed_6 Notebook Evangelist

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    i believe the thermal pads by the CPU are 1.0. I used .5 and saw better results.
     
  4. cleverpseudonym

    cleverpseudonym PG RATED

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  5. mfractal

    mfractal T|I

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    for the 4870's RAM one should use 1mm, for 5870's RAM either a thick thermal paste or a 0.5mm pads. The one by the CPU is indeed 1mm.
     
  6. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

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    the moffset CPU thermal pads are 2.0mm, not 1.0mm. If you use 1.0mm and .5mm pads you will not make contact with the moffsets which is why the processor will run cooler. I used 2 1.0mm pads to make good contact, but didn't use my feeler gauge to see if it was acutally 1.5mm, if it is, I didn't notice any increased deflection from the extra material by using 2.0mm worth of pads.
     
  7. Cobra99

    Cobra99 Notebook Consultant

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    When I do the change(still waiting on my FrozenCPU order) I will Mic the pad by the CPU(hell I might even use plastigage). If I have to double up (1mm x2 or 1mm +0.5mm) since I ordered both. What sensor is for the moffsets?

    Thanks,
    Cobra99
     
  8. Lozz

    Lozz Top Overpriced Dell

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    There is no moffset sensor afaik, however my CPU temps have gone up a decent 3-5C, so either it's doing it's job or 2.0mm is the wrong size and it's causing the HSF to not be level. Not really willing to take apart this system gain since I have an exchange on the way, but I would go 1.5MM first and see if it's making contact. You should be able to eye ball it by tilting the computer to eye level and see if it's generally getting there.