The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    260m GTX in the Area-51 m15x

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Matrolz, Nov 26, 2009.

  1. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Hi guys,


    I finally received my 260m GTX card, took a while. There's a long way from J&R Tech to Denmark.

    Okay, so I installed the card and it was a perfect fit at first sight.

    When I turn on my laptop with the card in the GPU fan throttles to full power and 30 sec later the laptop turns off.
    Clearly, the card is overheating. I took it apart again and it seams the cooling paste on the heatsink isn't making contact with the GPU. Here's a pic:


    [​IMG]


    Two possible solutions I could think of
    - I could shorten the pins marked with red. I would rather not do that tho.
    - or I was thinking about the copper-mod that some ppl do, wouldn't this fill the space between the two parts?


    Any good Idea's? Thanks!
    Im off, will be back in a few hours.
    Regards Matrolz
     
    Matrolz, Nov 26, 2009
    #1
  2. ZackB

    ZackB Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    131
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Did you order the cooling fan with it as well?

    NM, missed that part.
     
    ZackB, Nov 26, 2009
    #2
  3. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Okay I have read a little about the copper mod, and it seams ppl only do it if there isn't any copper on their heatsink. There is however copper on my heatsink. my plan wasn't to make the GPU run cooler, I just need to fill the gab.

    I would rather not modify the GPU or heatsink if I can get around it :p..
    any1?
     
    Matrolz, Nov 27, 2009
    #3
  4. electrosoft

    electrosoft Perpetualist Matrixist

    Reputations:
    2,771
    Messages:
    4,117
    Likes Received:
    3,979
    Trophy Points:
    331
    You will need to mod the rear mounting bracket for a flush fit. What does the Heatsink assembly look like to get an idea.
     
    electrosoft, Nov 27, 2009
    #4
  5. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I might be able to sand the heatsink. I think that would be the best thing to
    do too. I'm gonna upload a pic tomorrow when I get home.
    Thanks for helping me out :)
     
    Matrolz, Nov 27, 2009
    #5
  6. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Here's a pic of the heatsink. As you can see, where the 4 screws go the metal is bend out. Do you think I'll be able to sand them down?

    [​IMG]
     
    Matrolz, Nov 28, 2009
    #6
  7. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    okay. I worked it out. Thanks anyway

    awesome graphics!!
     
    Matrolz, Nov 30, 2009
    #7
  8. Avengement

    Avengement Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    294
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Good thread!
     
    Avengement, Nov 30, 2009
    #8
  9. mr_fro2000

    mr_fro2000 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    4
    Messages:
    204
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    out of curiosity, is that the stock (8800m gtx or 9800m gt) heatsink, or did the heatsink come w/ the GPU u purchased?

    also, ultimately, how did you get it to work? did you sand down the screw nubs on the heatsink?
     
    mr_fro2000, Dec 2, 2009
    #9
  10. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

    Reputations:
    3,973
    Messages:
    13,930
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    you should do a copper mod but get a EXTREMELY pure peice
     
    The_Moo™, Dec 2, 2009
    #10
  11. Matrolz

    Matrolz Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    31
    Messages:
    61
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I bought the laptop with the 8600M GT which comes with the weakest heatsink. I bought the 8800m gtx heatsink from alienware UK for 14.58 Euro incl shipping.

    I got it to work by sanding the heatsink. There are a few ppl asking so I think I'm gonna make a new thread about how to do it, with pics etc.

    I'll see if I have time for it when I get home from school :)

    //Matrolz
     
    Matrolz, Dec 3, 2009
    #11