Effective G60JX Cooling (My Results)

Hi,

Just got my G60JX roughly 2 weeks ago. I (like many other G series owners) noticed some absurd temps. My initial temps while gaming were pretty high, 88-90C on the GPU. When it would get cold at night, my laptop was an effective space-heater.

However, I ordered a Zalman NC2000 laptop cooling pad. Total cost was $51 shipped, brand new, from Amazon. This arrived 2 days ago, and it's been incredibly effective. In addition to that, I used RW Everything to force the Embedded Controller to max out the fans at 100%. I've been logging temps with ThrottleStop so I'll provide some examples.

BEFORE (Idle)
DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD CHIPM PWR_mW TEMP GPU
04/07/11 16:39:17 14.87 3.1 100.0 100.0 0 38 43
04/07/11 16:39:18 15.14 3.2 100.0 100.0 0 39 43
04/07/11 16:39:19 14.25 5.4 100.0 100.0 0 40 43
04/07/11 16:39:20 15.14 2.9 100.0 100.0 0 39 43

(Before) Load (Gaming with Crysis 2)
DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD CHIPM PWR_mW TEMP GPU
04/07/11 02:33:45 19.00 71.6 100.0 100.0 0 69 87
04/07/11 02:33:46 19.00 69.6 100.0 100.0 0 69 88
04/07/11 02:33:47 19.00 69.5 100.0 100.0 0 69 87

As you can see, my CPU temps were hovering around 70C and my GPU temps were skyhigh at 88c (sometimes peaking at 90-91c).

Here's my results using the Zalman cooling pad @ 100% + 100% fan speed forced via RW Everything for idle and load:

AFTER

Idle
DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD CHIPM PWR_mW TEMP GPU
04/09/11 19:39:54 13.84 6.5 100.0 100.0 0 33 33
04/09/11 19:39:55 14.54 5.5 100.0 100.0 0 33 33
04/09/11 19:39:56 12.65 5.2 100.0 100.0 0 31 33
04/09/11 19:39:57 14.43 7.4 100.0 100.0 0 33 33

Load (Gaming with Crysis 2)
DATE TIME MULTI C0% CKMOD CHIPM PWR_mW TEMP GPU
04/10/11 14:17:00 19.00 75.5 100.0 100.0 1727 59 74
04/10/11 14:17:01 19.00 78.3 100.0 100.0 1727 61 73
04/10/11 14:17:02 19.00 79.9 100.0 100.0 1727 60 73
04/10/11 14:17:03 19.00 71.8 100.0 100.0 1727 59 73

As you can see, thanks to the cooling pad + 100% fan trick, my temps have dropped dramatically, 7-8c for the CPU on idle, 10c for the GPU on idle, and most impressively, 9-10c for the CPU on load, and 14-15c for the GPU on load.

Just thought I'd offer these results and my methods to anyone that wants to reduce their temps dramatically.

Note: I am running JJB's SSD tweaks, and I am also running with my cores unparked, so my temps are possibly even higher than they would be if I let my cores park (which I find induces microstuttering) and wasn't running JJB's tweaks. My CPU is overclocked so that it's hitting 2.8 Ghz on TurboBoost under load, and my 360M GTS is overclocked to 620/1650/2030 (stock is 550/1323/1800). I will be increasing the GPU overclocks since I believe it can go further.

Additionally, I have not repasted, nor I have bought a G60VX back cover and cut out the screen to force more air into the GPU. I'd expect an additional 4-6c drop if I repasted + did the back cover mod. I also would be curious to see the effects of putting copper RAM heatsinks onto the GPU memory.

 

Yeah, the G51/G60 had terrible airflow.

Do a copper mod and you'll see similar changes without the fan.

 

Noted. Do you have any tips on where I should get the stuff for the copper mod and what exactly is required?

 

Can you link the pad?

Also, how much better performance do you get with the 360m with your overclocked settings?

 

It's this pad, the Zalman NC2000 - Newegg.com - ZALMAN Notebook Cooler Model ZM-NC2000 Black

Shop around, ebay has them for a good price (refurbished), I got mine from Amazon's Warehouse deals for $51 shipped/no tax, brand new.

Depending on the game whether it utilizes shaders heavily, I get a solid 10-20% extra performance with my overclocks just on the GPU alone. It's definitely a big help in Crysis 2, that's for sure, which is a game pushing heavy shader usage.

 

There is a newer version of that pad that im using HERE

I had the 2000 before and they are great pads although the difference is the 3000 has one large fan instead of two small ones and it is raises up more so I find using it on my bed works perfectly.

 

A quick note - there is some question as to whether the NC3000 is built as well as the NC2000 and whether it cools as effectively. I had read somewhere that the NC3000 isn't made out of as high quality materials (so it feels cheaper/cools worse) and that the 2000 was still the way to go. Any thoughts on this?

 

The cooling part is debatable but the build quality is not as good its steardy just not as good materials. I notice a much higher rate of cooling coming out of one large fan and its a lot quieter for me than the 2000 was however the shape of it is totally different and if you want to use it on a bed get the 3000 if its a table get the 2000.

The 2000 is also made only out of alluminium and although only the edging is plastic on the 3000 the build quality is still excellent, I believe the 3000 is cheaper so that is why its not as high quality as the 2000 was.

 

Does it the N2000 or the N3000 work well with putting it on your lap at all?

Also, can OP make a guide to overclock to 360m?

 

Either will be fine but 2000 might be better as it has a flat bottom.

 

NC2000 works fine in my laptop as long as my legs are moved so that they don't block the fans.

Dallers: thanks for the pics and your write-up with your experiences regarding the NC2000 and 3000!

 

Your most welcome . For me I like the 3000 more because I dont care to much on looks and more about a big whopping fan and good elevation I believe the 2000 is a good egg though and if I had my laptop on a flat surface I would take it over the 3000 it has a nice shape full alluminium material and the air holes are in the right place for the G73 maintenance cover along with an extra USB port. The extra £10-£15 might be worth it.

 

I really hate to bump an old thread.

But could you go more in depth as to how you got the fans to kick in higher?

I cannot figure out how to get control of anything with this g60jx

Can't find a program to undervolt with. Can't find a program to control fans speeds with. etc

Nothing is compatible.

 

I'm also wondering, how much of an FPS increase did you get on certain games with the overclock