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    Re-pasting my AW M15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Indiran, Jan 27, 2012.

  1. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    First of all, thanks to Inap for his guide and the PMs which helped me for the re-paste. So here are some pictures of them. Btw, im not sure of the success as it is still new but glad it came on. I was surprised to see so much dust on the GPU side and not the fan is according to my friend "Blasting like a jet plane's". Tested both fans by using the manual control. The CPU fan is not that strong so i think its the dust. ^^

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    The dust is so thick it doesnt allow air to pass through. This is inside the fins not the grills, so its recommended to remove them in order to clean efficiently. Unfortunately, i was unable to remove the CPU fan, is it possible?
    Uploaded with ImageShack.us
     
  2. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    Used thermal paste is Arctic Silver 5

    Current idle temps:
    CPU:48+-2 Celsius
    GPU:49+-3 Celsius

    On Load temps:
    CPU:60+-5 Celsius
    GPU:80+-5 Celsius
     
  3. Frostbane

    Frostbane Notebook Enthusiast

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    I just repasted it several days ago and what I found on my temperature was minimal (I think that is due to my monthly cleaning on my m15x :p). The paste was like harden clay, took quite sometime to force the stock paste out. Strangely, before I repaste my temperature for my GPU was below 80C on full load and after I repaste it the temperature went up 2C higher resulting in 82C. I think I need to repaste it. There are alot of users who did it said that Arctic Silver 5 takes approximately 2 weeks to settle and perform at its highest potential. Its been 5 days since I repasted and I'll look forward to see if the AS5 is what they said it is :)
     
  4. bojsa

    bojsa Notebook Enthusiast

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    what software do you use for monitoring GPU temps?
     
  5. KumquatWrath

    KumquatWrath Notebook Evangelist

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    You can use HWMonitor or HWinfo I believe. Sapphire TriXX works too, as well as allowing fan control and GPU overclocking.
     
  6. IrateMike

    IrateMike Notebook Geek

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    The CPU fan has to be removed in conjunction with the heatsink.
    By the way, not meaning to be rude, but you used way too much paste - especially on the CPU side.
     
  7. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    Probably rite, my 1st time on a laptop. Got carried away becoz i used to repaste bigger CPUs like the K64. So probably is, but am happy with the temps.

    Btw, yes i use HWinfo software to monitor, coz they record the lowest temp your lappy go and the highest your lappy go.

    And its darn true its very hard to remove the old paste and it was even harder to detach the GPU side (the paste stuck the heat sink and GPU).

    As for frostbane, its just 1 week + now and it seems the paste starting to settle. It is way more cooler now and the palm rest and the keyboard area are not getting hot anymore. They are just lukewarm when playing on full. Just the way when it first came.

    Edit: Plus on top of that, i was surprised that the laptop parts can be accessed so easily. Im an IT technician myself and i had open many laptops but this is the easiest, and im glad to find that they designed the chassis to flow static charges to the laptop body if you take a closer look. But still it is recommended that you use a antistatic wrist wrap.
     
  8. bojsa

    bojsa Notebook Enthusiast

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    I asked, because i use hwmonitor too, and have way lower temps on GPU than you. I used Arctic's MX-4 thermal paste, and the GPU tops at 62 degrees celsius which is a lot cooler than what you get, and i measured it after few hours of gaming...

    btw from what i can see we have a similar config (Core i7 + Radeon HD5850)...
     
  9. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    could be the curing, or air bubbles in the paste, still have some extra, might re-try if i feel appropriate near future. Thanks for the info.
     
  10. bojsa

    bojsa Notebook Enthusiast

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    no problem, just keep your eyes on the temps, it will probably settle after a few days :)