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    A few specific copper mod/thermal paste questions...

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by TheRob, Jan 1, 2010.

  1. TheRob

    TheRob Notebook Enthusiast

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    I'm doing the copper mod and replacing the GPU heatsink thermal paste this weekend and I have a few questions.

    1. Is the thermal pad on the northbridge removed before putting the thermal paste-copper-thermal paste sandwich in there or is it in ADDITION to the thermal pad?

    2. Are the thermal pads on the GPUs left in place and the new thermal paste placed under them on top of the GPU, or is the thermal pad completely removed and replaced by the thermal paste?

    3. I'm having an overheating problem on one GPU and it might be due to the tape still being on the heatsink. When I remove the tape if it's there, does thermal paste go on those things, too, or just on the GPU "core" itself?

    Thanks,
    -Rob
     
    TheRob, Jan 1, 2010
    #1
  2. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    if you are installing new paste or pad you have to remove the old pad. If the thermal paste has instuctions follow them. Question what thermal paste are you going to use.

    if the one gpu that running Hot and there tape on top of it while leaving the thermal pad on put back the gpu back in retest the system and see if you still have overheating. It could be something else.

    Remember unplug and take battery out. before open the system.
     
    AtolSammeek, Jan 1, 2010
    #2
  3. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    If you are going to do the whole system cpu, gpu Northbrige and such. just do a search on notebookreview and they have a few step by step guide on replacing thermal compounds.
     
    AtolSammeek, Jan 1, 2010
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  4. DR650SE

    DR650SE The Whiskey Barracuda

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    There is some good thermal paste suggestions here
     
    DR650SE, Jan 1, 2010
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  5. AtolSammeek

    AtolSammeek Tokay Gecko

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    Good post DR650SE.
     
    AtolSammeek, Jan 1, 2010
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  6. __-_-_-__

    __-_-_-__ God

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    using thermal past with a thermal pad is a very easy way to damage a notebook.
    also if you are a noob, please consider a NON CONDUCTIVE thermal paste. it can avoid many troubles.
     
    __-_-_-__, Jan 1, 2010
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  7. TheRob

    TheRob Notebook Enthusiast

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    Allllright, so I took the GPU heat exchanger off to find...SURPRISE!...tape over the main GPU's thermal paste. So, I cleaned and repasted both with OCZ freeze and the temps are now 79 max when playing the game, usually around like 65 or so. Much better! Getting that paste evenly spread is much harder to do than I thought. I don't even know if I used enough, but it seems to be working alright for now.

    Thanks for the suggestions and help!

    -Rob
     
    TheRob, Jan 1, 2010
    #7