Official Asus G72GX Owners Lounge

Is there no other way to remove the GPU for repaste without complete disassembly?

win132001 was kind enough to send me the disassembly pdf but isn't there an alternative method? I'm a bit afraid of the keyboard removal with those clips.

Is it possible for the entire back cover to come off? The GPU is idling at 70 degrees celcius atm

 

Unfortunately no. You have to disassemble the entire thing top to bottom, with the exception of taking apart the LCD panel of course.

 

Then you are doing excellent, just leave your laptop like that, it doesn't need a repaste at all.

 

Was afraid of that.... thanks for the manual though. It's going to come in real handy when I get some free time to tackle this

 

thanks!

 

Anyway to overclock or just set the screen brightness to max while running on battery only.....That is the only fix to the screen flicker for me....I have tried all the other fixes and none have worked....I only use it for a few minutes at a time on just the battery and the screen flicker gets on my last nerve.

Brian

 

Okay - apologies if this has been asked before (admittedly I didn't read through ALL 130 pages). I know there was discussion about replacement fans. I was able to find a replacement fan for the G71GX - but I'm running a G72GX (the BB exclusive). Would the G71 fan still work? The fans for both models look very nearly the same.

I'm sure the problem is the bearings on my fan - I've cleaned it, and the loud noise from my laptop doesn't begin until the fan starts running. My idling temperatures also seem high. I'm thinking I could also use a re-paste, but I honestly don't know crap about hardware (yay, software person here). From the last couple posts, it seems I'll have to take nearly the whole laptop apart just to paste it. I believe a re-paste may really be needed - currently my GPU idles at 63C, only moments after I've turned the PC on (albeit my fan is having issues).

So, my questions are:

1) Replacement fan for G71 will work for the G72? If not, has anyone been able to find one for G72?

2) Being my inexperience in hardware, is it better to just send the computer in to a repair shop for re-pasting?

Thanks in advance for any help or suggestions anyone can throw my way!


EDIT: I double checked the model ID for the fan in my system: KDB0705HB. It matches the model number in the picture for the G71GX fan I found in the E-store ( LINK here). However, I called Customer Care afterwards to confirm that, as they have 24/7 support available - and was told it likely would *not* work and that the G72GX version of the fan is out of stock. Now I'm thoroughly confused, though wondering if the tech I talked to was simply mis-informed, as happens frequently.

Thoughts?

 

1) I have both the G71 and G72 BB models and the fans are identical.

2) Assuming that you haven't done the copper heatsink mod. 63C at idle isn't bad in my opinion. I have done both the copper heatsink mod. and the repaste. The repaste will take a while but, isn't hard to do if you follow the disassembly video. Just leave yourself an afternoon and take your time. As I type, my G72's CPU's are both at 38C and the GPU is at 57C with no external cooling. Also, be sure to check the fan for dust regularly. Take it out and hit it with some compressed air. When the fan starts spinning fast and is loud at idle is usually a sign that there's some dust in there.

Good luck!

 

Thanks for the reply

I haven't done the copper heatsink mod you mentioned - don't even know what that is, LOL. Hardware isn't my area of expertise (barely even limited knowledge).


I've cleaned the fan already with comp. air - hence my belief in needing a replacement. I'm glad the two fan models are the same - thanks for clarifying

As far as the video, I remember reading a mention of that earlier in the discussion - do you happen to have a direct link on hand, or is it available on YouTube, etc?

 

Part 1: YouTube - Asus G71GX Disassembly tutorial to remove graphics card.

Part 2: YouTube - Part 2: Asus G71GX Disassembly tutorial to remove graphics card.

Part 3: YouTube - Part 3: Asus G71GX Disassembly tutorial to remove graphics card.

Part 4: YouTube - Part 4: Asus G71GX Disassembly tutorial to remove graphics card.

I've watched a lot of videos on applying thermal compound and read even more comments. I think that the "Pea" method is the consensus favorite, and is the method I used.
YouTube - Installing Thermal Compound (NCIX Tech Tips #11)

 

Awesome - amazing, thanks for the help Hopefully I can get this fixed soon, I've had my G72 for going on 2 years now, it's been awesome. Glad the fix seems to be so 'simple'

 

I have owned the G72GX bestbuy for about 6 months now and am still impressed with it. However, I've recently considered switching from 64 bit Windows 7 to XP Pro. "WHY?!" you might ask? Based on bits and pieces I've read on the web, Windows 7 is responsible for the massive sluggishness in download speeds. (mine usually tops out at about 200 kb/sec., making a 1 GB file take like 2-3 hours to download IF it stays at 200 kb/s) The people who have written posts about this all say the same thing: "I used to have a desktop, with XP installed, and always had lightning fast downloads. Then I upgraded to Windows 7 and all the sudden my download speeds are ridiculous! Like 50-80 kb/sec!!!" I don't like the sound of that. I want to try going to XP to see if indeed my download speeds increase drastically. However, I have also heard rumors here and there about not being able to use 100% of my 6gigs of RAM, won't be able to use the graphics card to it's full potential, etc. etc. bla bla bla....

What do you guys think? Should I do it?
What's bad about it if I do? What OTHER advantages are there to it?

Thanks.
-Shane

If this has already been a topic of discussion, please accept my apologies and direct me to that thread. Please, thanks and sorry.

 

I'm not sure what all that is about. I've never heard of it but, I'll take your word for it. It's your time and system so, if you want to try it, go ahead.

As for download speeds, I haven't noticed this issue. Based on the following, I wouldn't bother. Here's my speedtest.net scores on my new 25/25 FiOS network over wireless with my G72GX BB model running Win 7 x64 at stock clocks:



Here's a new speed test on a Comcast network over wireless. I'm not sure what the offered speeds are for this network but, I'm pretty sure it's the lowest tier:

 

are you using wireless? If so there are known issues with some of the stock wifi cards. Many people upgrade to the intel 6200 or 6300. Search the forums for it. I think dlc latency of something is what they mention.

Cheers,

 

Hi everyone, quick question about repasting if I could some advice I would appreciate it.

I took the machine apart last night, totally disassembled, the task was easy, but when I cleaned off the old paste and turned over the card, on the lower side I found more thermal pads, which are going to need to be replaced because I am not getting good contact on the surrounding chips. Did you guys who shimmed and pasted also use shims on the other side of the board as well? I may need to order another small piece of copper I guess.

 

I have done both sides. I figure it's better to go all out instead of half-a**ing so to speak.

I only know this to be very common in Windows Vista. If you absolutely want to switch back to XP, might I suggest going the 64 bit version of it. You'll have all 6GB of usable RAM. I can't tell you that you'll find all the drivers for 64 bit XP though since that version is not very common.

 

what is it about a 64-bit OS that allows me to use ALL of my installed RAM?! I mean why wouldn't XP 32-bit let me use 6 gigs of RAM, if i have 6 gigs INSTALLED....

 

I'm not much of a software guru by any means, but basically 32 bit with memory hole mapping enabled in bios only allows a max of approximately 3.5 - 4GB of usable physical memory. The 32 bit is basically a sized pipeline only allowing 32 bit memory mapping, even if you're running 64 bit hardware. There's an equation to it, but the equation equals to that 3.5 - 4GB limitation for 32 bit. The 64 bit allows for a much, much larger limitation, past what we can fathom having at the moment. Again the 32 bit and 64 bit is all about the pipeline size. If you have 8GB of RAM running on 32 bit OS, you will only have about 4GB's usable because the OS doesn't have the ability to read anything past the 32 bit memory address table. Then it's all hardware and software translation, it's too much for me to get into really. Again not a software guru. You can read it here if I confused the crap out of you, haha... Clearing up the 32/64-bit memory limit confusion

 

(( Just a brief update concerning my questions earlier ))

Ordered the G71GX fan, installed in my G72. Works fine, nice and quiet again Only downside is for two-day shipping - you pay more than the cost of the fan, LOL. My computer runs quietly again - so quietly, in fact, I was worried for a while the fan wasn't even connected right and wouldn't turn on. 10 minutes on Harvest Day in Bad Company 2, and I finally hear it come to life

Also, @punx: Building off of what win13 mentioned, it has to do with the algorithm used. 64 may not seem like a large leap from 32, but it's actually based off of exponential equations. I believe the article win13 linked to explains it fine.

Pasted from that article, in fact:

What does the above mean? Well, a 32-bit OS can only have 4GB of memory max. A 64-bit OS could have 16EB of memory max. The most RAM I've heard of inside a civilian/domestic computer is 84GB. So, I'm sure we have a long while before we'll reach the limit of 64-bit. Might as well upgrade now, instead of waiting Also, note that the '4GB of memory' includes more than just RAM - if you have a gfx card with video memory, that's included in the equation, as well. Again, the article is worth reading

 

Well thanks for all the input guys. Maybe I will stick to W7 and just try out wired internet and see if it makes any difference first. I'd hate to burn everything on my HDD i want to keep onto like 6 discs before i do a wipe with XP, only to find out that those extra 2 gigs of RAM are just what I needed to play all my games with NO problems whatsoever...

 

I have had this laptop about 2 months now. I bought a refurb from newegg, and got a flawless beast. Just wanted to show you the scores i got on 3dmark with stock cooling and stock voltages on my 260.

Cpu 3.028 mhz @ 61c max
gpu 600/1500/975 @ 91c max

Result

It was a 12368 if you dont want to click the link.

 

I have had my G72 for a bit over a year or so. It is one AWESOME beast. I just had a SSD installed, a OCZ Vertex 2 160 Gb. It is ROCKING. But my question is, does anyone know of a dual boot software? Thank you for helping me and GO GO ROG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

dual boot software? Like linux and windows dual boot?

 

Yes. Something so I dont have to dig into the BIOS all the time.

 

Hello everyone. Just wanted to post my results from repasting and shimming the GPU. I used the PDF file teardown guide that I got from win132001 and it came in handy. I actually damaged my original heatsink in the process by trying to bend and make the underside (GPU side) contact better, so I purchased another used heatsink from ebay and clipped pieces off the damaged one to shim. I also had a small piece of copper here I purchased from an ebay seller, it measured 1.3x mm in thickness.

I had the laptop (G72GX-A1) serviced in the fall from Asus Indy repair, and I had a bad experience. My SSD came back with errors that I thought made the drive irreparable, but after using the drive tool from Intel I got it back online. Overall the experience was bad and when this thing started to get warm again, (high 80's at idle GPU) I went ahead and tore this thing down.
EDIT: forgot to mention that using that guide I was able to determine the jackass who replaced the thermals before probably didn't replace them all, and if he did he did a terrible job pasting the GPU and CPU. I also noted that he forget to re-install the keyboard screw through the bottom of the case, which is likely the cause for the insane amount of flexI experience. I will have to find a replacement screw somewhere.

I used shims on the GPU side of the card only, only in two spots, with the 1.3mm thickness copper. I used the 24 carat diamond paste on the GPU. The rest of the chips had sufficient contact and the machine now idles at 50* C with the back cover off on the cooler. Cooler off it was 57*. At load, right now, encoding a video, is 60*C, cover off. The CPU and northbridge were also repasted with AS5 and the CPU is in the 62* range, I think the diamond paste may be in order for that, but at this point I'm really satisfied with the outcome and say it was totally worth the effort and the money. I feel the machine will last a lot longer in this shape.

 

If you can give me a better description of what you are trying to accomplish, i may be able to help you.

 

I have put 2 separate drives in, the original 500gb one and a SSD one. I have to go to the bios to change the boot order to tell which drive i want to use. The original drive has all the productivity stuff, music, etc. The SSD has the os and Warcraft.
Thank you for helping me.

 

The way I used to do dual booting, like 10 years ago, was to have one drive committed to both OS's with completely fresh installs. That one drive would have to be partitioned to two. Size shouldn't really matter when you partition, but make sure you can tell which partition is which when you install the OS's. Now first and foremost, go into the Windows 7 setup and once you get to the installation destination go ahead and delete any and every partition from whatever your OS drive is going to be. Now partition that drive into two separate drives, but do not format either of them. Go ahead and choose whichever partition you are going to use for Windows 7 and install. Once that's said and done, go ahead and install your second OS on the other untouched partition, I take it some sort of Linux based OS. Now once it restarts from some part of Linux installation it should give you the dual boot option because both OS's will write their stuff in the master boot record and since Windows 7 was the first to be installed it will be troll of that bridge every time you start or restart the computer. If there's anything you want to change in the bootloader just go into Windows 7 and open up "msconfig" from the search in start menu and go under the boot tab. There you can change the default OS to load and the timeout if no user selection is made when the screen comes up. Warning: I just have to give warning to take out the drive that you aren't using for installation, this way you don't accidentally delete or format whatever you may be cherishing on that drive.

Anyways, I'm pretty sure this way will still work. It's worked for me back when Windows XP had just come out and I had gotten my copy of Red Hat Distro. If for some reason this doesn't work, I'm sure someone will correct me. Like I said, it's been 10 years since I have messed around with dual booting, and I don't image that much has changed with dual booting.

 

You are correct in saying that it hasnt changed much but the process is a bit different. The way windows 7 handles multiple operating systems is a PITA to change. I have windows 7, xp, ubuntu and backtrack on this system. All OS's are on the same drive on a separate partition with my second drive as a universal storage location. If the op can tell me what operating systems he/she is trying to boot i can give some tips.

Honestly in order to change that, you would have to rewrite the bios and i'm betting neither of us know enough about it to do that safely.

The easiest way is to boot from the SSD and have all of your apps installed on the second drive. I have two 500 gb drives and i use one just for movies and games and the other boots all of my operating systems.

When i boot it goes through the bios and into the bootloader and asks me which operating system i would like to boot and i choose from there. Either way you are going to have to invest some time and do alot of google-fu to accomplish this.

 

There are 2 ways to setup dual boot with Windows and Linux. I assume you are installing Windows 7 on HDD1 and Linux on HDD2.

1. In Linux, install and setup GRUB2 (Grand Unified Bootloader), creating 2 boot options, one for Windows 7 and the other for Linux. Tutorial

2. In Windows, setup your boot.ini so it has 2 boot options, one for Windows 7 and the other for Linux. (use BCDEdit.exe from cmd prompt to configure your boot.ini). Tutorial

If you have issues you might consider using SuperGrubDisk

Nice job! Pictures?

 

Hi,

I have a G72x... with a bad fan. so far I can't seem to locate one on the web and Asus wants me to send my laptop back for a fan replacement (3 weeks!!!) since this is my only computer I can't be without it that long. any one else have this problem???

the fan is a (Delta Electronics DC Brushless # KDB0705 HB)

Thanks

Tim

 

If you can find one for the G71 it should work as they are the same fans. There was some talk of this a page or two back if you want to take a look.

Here's a link straight to the Asus store. Compatible Models: G71G, G71GX & G72GX. Price: $19.99: CPU Fan

 

SteelersFan:

Hi,

Thanks for the link I just ordered one.


Tim

 

Is anyone else having problems with the screen? Not sure if it is my drivers or what, but having the flashes of white and going black etc. Trying to research in this thread and the internet but don't have much time each time I reboot before it happens again.

Nvidia gtx260m driver: 8.15.11.8631 7/1/2009 but it says nothing newer available

 

I don't know if you have 32bit or 64bit windows but here is the link to the latest 32bit Windows 7 drivers for the GTX260M

NVIDIA DRIVERS 270.61 WHQL

 

Pretty common problem. You can try one of these easy free fixes and see if it works:

YouTube - Asus G71 White Screen Flicker Fix

YouTube - asus g72gx screen fix

My G72 hasn't had this problem yet, but I just fixed it on my son's G71. Neither of the above fixes worked as it ended up being the ribbon cable going to the LCD which is a part of the plug that you'll find under the left hinge cover. I noticed that with a little pressure on the back of the lower left side of the screen I could cause or stop the flashes. So, I just used some duct tape to apply a constant pressure to the troubled area of the cable. I folded a small amount of tape to make a, "pillow" then used strips of tape to hold the, "pillow" down, (on top of the cable in the troubled area) which created the pressure. The pressure remains constant even if the tape loses its stickiness due to the laptop case cover.

The other options for me were to send it away for up to 3 weeks...Not happening if I can help it. Or, I could purchase a used one from ebay for approx. $40-$45. If my fix doesn't hold up over the long haul, I'll just get one from ebay.

Good luck!

 

This laptop has been a complete let down. I already had to send it in once when the power strip would no longer connect. The fact they don't pay for the shipping, when they are fixing design failures that impact a large percentage of their customer base is pretty gross. I feel like I bought a lemon but it wouldn't qualify since everyone else has the same problems.

 

Doozie, it is one of two things.

A pinched wire from the screen to the board or nvidia powermizer is flickering when it switches clocks.

I would install the latest drivers, i am using the same 270.xx driver that was recommended above. If that fails you may have to do some disassembly and find your pinched cable.

 

Hey, I've had a G72Gx for a while now and mine's stopped working. Any ideas? The problems started yesterday, the computer would load up to the Win7 icon and then go black, not letting me access the login screen in any way. Now the screen won't even turn on, and I have no idea what's going on. The hard drive indicator is flashing, but beyond that I have no idea what the problem is. I got it back from Best Buy about a week ago because the screen broke and I had to send it in to get a new one. When It came back it was the same as I had left it, but now it just won't work. Any ideas? I bought it about 14 months ago, if that's any indicator to anything.

 

BestBuy needs to fix it. It hasn't worked right since they worked on it they need to fix it. Also if you have their support agreement they may replace it with a G73 if they can't fix properly. Talk to a store manager and politely but firmly express you desire to see this issue resolve, preferably with a new system.

Cheers,

 

Based on the above, it could be a screen problem?

Google, "windows 7 black screen" and see if you can find some help there. Sounds like that might be the culprit. I've had similar issues with my G72GX, but it would always load within a few attempts. It lasted a bit, but It's been awhile since it last happened and I don't remember exactly what solved it or if it just corrected itself somehow.

Good Luck!

 

They made me sign a form when I picked it up that says it was working when I got it and that I can't say it was their fault. Plus, the warranty I had was apparently a one-shot deal (which, I might add, I recommend anyone avoid because it's a waste of $280).

 

I've had my G72 (Best Buy version) since December '09 and the past few days it has been freezing up while playing a game or watching a Youtube video. It will just freeze completely while the sound either gets stuck or goes very, very slowly. It either does it for about 30 seconds and then goes back to normal or goes completely unresponsive, requiring me to hold down the power button. I've cleaned out the fan completely and the temperatures don't seem to be too bad (CPU maxes out while gaming around 55C and the GPU at about 86-88C). Anyone have any thoughts?

Edit: Does anyone know what the warranty was on the Best Buy version or how I could check on the status of it? My box and papers for the laptop are in a storage area on the other side of the country.

 

I just bought mine from new egg and the problem I'm having is that it randomly shuts down for no reason when im using it even when it in sleep mode and when im using it with a cooling pad.

 

@stevoarmoe sounds like you need to send it back, did you buy a refurb?

 

Does anyone know where I can find the video cable needed to upgrade my HD+ to Full HD?

 

yeah I got a refurb what a mistake that was

 

It could be a faulty battery or AC adapter, try it with the battery out and then with the AC out and only on battery to rule that out... otherwise it could be any number of hardware problems.

 

hmmmmmmmmm thanks i will give it a try.

 

yeah tried it without the battery it still shut down sigh I'm returning this piece of crap.

does anyone know where i can get a brand new one instead of a refurb?