Asus G60Vx - 3.06ghz T9900 Surgery & Initial Impressions (large pics warning)

Well, I've been meaning to upgrade to Windows 7 and really didn't feel like paying Microsoft, so I decided this would make a good compromise (a new Laptop hah). I won't bore you with the details, so... on with the pics:

In Surgery Mode:



Note that the G60Vx has a really crappy cooling system design (it shares one heatsink & fan between the GPU & CPU). However, it at least allows easy access to the GPU Heatsink.

I don't have any IC Diamond 7 at the moment so I just tossed in a good helping of Shinetsu Microsi to the CPU. Took off the crappy pad from the GPU and did the same.

Warning: do NOT attempt this if you are not good with your hands or have good tools. The screw size and position are very difficult to maneuver and deal with.

Windows 7 Desktop:



Experience Index scores a 5.9 with the T9900. The lowest was the HD score, the rest were 6.6 - 6.8.

I seem to have a strange idling temperature behavior. It will stay around 55- 58 degrees C (GPU) for a few minutes and then climb to up to 75 degrees. The fan seems to be completely OFF until it hits 75, then kicks in a drops the temps back down to 55C.

The CPU idles consistently at 25C to 28 C.

Next to my Gateway FX P7805u:



Initial Impressions:

Extremely sturdy, high quality chassis and materials.

Average screen (I was pumped for an LED screen but it isn't much better than the other laptop screens I have)

INSANELY quiet.... which may not be a good thing if this GPU temp ranging continues (keeping the fan on constantly would solve this problem). For comparison, my 9800M GTS in my Gateway (where the fans are spinning audibly at all times) idles at 47C.

Anyone have recommendations for drivers, feel free to leave a line...

 

OK can you explain what tools you will need to upgrade the CPU? and does the 3.6 run any cooler?

 

Wow, the CPU and GPU radiator is made of aluminium. I did not know that. This adds to part of the reason why the G series notebooks are hot.

 

That is the mistake they made with the C90S then they put copper sinks in the C90P and now with the newer 15" G series they go back to aluminium. I really don't understand the brains at asus sometimes. Great laptops/bad cooling systems..

 

Anything to shave a few cents off production costs. I can't wait to sell this G51 and get a Clevo. Wish I'd gone with one to begin with.

 

62 C seems to be the consistent idle temp now that I have hooked up an external monitor with a Windows Media Player running at the same time.

I also noticed a faint regular buzzing noise, most likely from the Seagate HD. I miss Hitachi & WD...

Well, I will be getting an X-25M at some point (when it becomes cheaper).

 

That isn't exactly what makes or breaks a cooling system. The cooling design in my Gateway FX also uses aluminum heatsinks with a copper tube.

 

Bad fan bios control I guess then

 

Would I see more performance from upgrading my G60vx to a Q9000 or a T9900? I would assume the T9900 would be stronger for most games with its much higher clockspeed.

 

Lol this question again Go for the quad; it will perform much better in games from here on in. Although I would look around for a good deal on a qx9300 as the extra 500 mhz on each core should be very helpful.

 

IMO, Quad core processors are pointless on a Laptop. They are clocked too low and the extra cores are not used efficiently, if at all.

If you want Quad Core, you should get a new i7 System that overclocks to 3ghz.

 

It's not just the material that contributes to cooling power, rather the size of the radiator itself. From what I can see, the G series notebooks use a short and narrow gated radiator that doesn't allow intake airflow to soak up as much heat before exiting.

Also, the fan itself, as I have been ranting for the past few months, is being choked by turbulence because the backpanel is so close to the fan instead of being open to allow direct intake.

A cooling system can still be effective as a single fan/single radiator solution, but taking away all the basic key factors that makes it effective enough to cool a CPU, GPU, and northbridge is nothing more that cutting corners to cut costs.

But you are indeed correct as well. Asus set the max fan speed to kick in after the GPU temperature breaches 90*C for most users.

 

Yes, this design would benefitly hugely by an open case (no bottom panel) or a good cooler (waiting for mine to come from Amazon).

 

What cooler did you buy, CitizenPanda?

 

I got the Zalman NC2000. Amazon's slow (but free) shipping kills me though...

 

You should get Amazon prime (they have a free trial). You can use 2 day free shipping with a ton of items and 1 day is like 3 dollars.

 

So how much diffrent is the 3.6 then the stock CPU? do you really see anything?

 

17.6%. 10char

 

I didn't use the stock CPU for longer than first time bootup.

My experience with my P8400 (2.26ghz) on my Gateway with the 3ghz T9900 does indicate an noticeable, but not a hugely significant perform boost in most day to day tasks.

Games that are more CPU intensive, you will notice a significant boost.

 

Panda, what GPU clocks are you running during idle?

 

I don't know... what tool can I use to tell my idle GPU clocks?

 

GPU-Z

10chars

 

That's the same argument that was made when Yonah first came out.

 

GPU-Z doesn't help... in the sensors tab, it displays the same clocks as the clocks I set (550/950). I also set my shaders back to 1375.

 

Well, there's your problem.

When idle, the clocks should drop to 200 core and 120 memory. So your computer is running gaming-level clocks while you're reading my post.

Get Powermizer.

 

Hmmm... that is a problem. I thought Powermizer is built into the drivers? I'm running the latest OEM drivers from Nvidia's website (186.81)

 

Some people have problems with 186.81. Try 186.82.

 

Some people have problems with 186.82. Try 186.81.

 

Powermizer isn't working on either of those drivers...

I may have to revert to stock drivers for the moment.

 

Try NVIDIA GeForce v186.82 WHQL Drivers most of the G51 had issues with the powermizer with 186.81 (not all), but 186.82 seems to be ok with most, and also has given me 300pts extra on 3dmark06.

 

Try the secret weapon. 187.62. http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/topic/25483-v18762-windows-7vista-64bit-clevo/

 

Why is this a "secret" wepon? is this a really good driver?

 

i lol'd

 

I had the same issue - the GPU not downclocking in 2D with my G71 using 186.81. As you said 186.82 fixed the problem and got some more points in 3D Mark 06.

 

Nice work!
Have you run any benchmarks with the new CPU?
How much warmer do things get?
Would be nice if you posted some temps after running some games.
I bet if you used some IC7 things would run a little cooler

 

I gotta check mine, but i was checking some video n pics from others (A1s). And even though the cooler is new, it does seem it comes copper in the G51J.
G51J pic
XoticPC G51j (check at 5:30)
GentechPC G51J video (check at 4:30)

 

The videos do not show the radiators. The pic that you linked does show that the radiator is made of copper. However that is for the G51J, not the G60VX or any other P45 based G series.. Most interesting nonetheless.

 

G60Vx is aluminum.

My problem still persists, though I haven't tried the 187 version you've linked yet. The stock drivers even exhibit this behavior..

Unfortunately, the best I can do is downclock everything down to 200mhz manually, but the shader clock won't stick for some reason (still at 1250mhz). Idle now is 46/29/55/36 (Chipset, Processor, GPU, HDD).

Now I'm wondering if other G60Vx owners are encountering the same issue...

 

Well 55C for the GPU is with in accetable tolerance, mine goes to 48C, but my ambient is down to 20C this days.

If you tried the 186.82 drivers from the link i posted above without any luck you still have 500/800 on 2d, then try NVIDIA GeForce v186.42 WHQL this drivers also didnt had the 2d clock problem for me, this drivers also were used by some and reported to have slightly lower temps than the mostly popular DOX modified 185.85.

 

Are you running Windows 7?

Also, what are the idle shader clocks supposed to be?

 

Core/Shader/Memory ratio should be 1/2.5/1.5, i.e. 550/1375/825

 

the powermizer downclocks are 200/120/400.

 

Now I have a new problem I noticed...

Once the computer returns from screensaver or sleep, the GPU will clock back and forth between the clocks I set and 275/550/300... which results in my screen flashing every time it does this...

 

hey, so im experiencing driver crashing even with slight OC on 186.82, would u guys say that 186. 42 would deliver similar perfomance IN GANE (dun care about 3dmark, ive given it my best on vista...) compared to DOX 185.85/186.81/186.82?

really need to know, srsly playing tf2 and driver crash @ 530/850/1325 is annoying.

 

Where are you getting this ratio from? Memory speed is independent of what the core is at. There is a technical reason for the core/shader ratio but not the memory afaik

 

Stick to 186.81, those work great.

 

Something Soviet said. Or something similar. Something about core/memory ratio.

But in any case, raising memory too hgh gives little gain while producing more heat than is necessary.

 

i was experiencing BIG stuttering in 186.81 playing tf2, idk y, but i also read a select few cases of other ppl having the same issue. i mite try it again, the pain with installing drivers is that 1. installing it and 2. unistalling/reinstalling nvidia control panel. i feel too lazy to continuously change drivers. ive gone from stock nvidia --->185.85---> 186.81--->185.85--->186.81--->185.85--->1856.81--->186.82, im getting tired of it. main problems from the revert of 186.81-185.85 were powermizer wasnt working, then i found a fix, then 3dmark scores <1400 ptz using 186.81, then heat problems for the third time. then after that i used .82 and now have crashing problems. goddam.

 

CitizenPanda:

How difficult is to to replace the cpu? I am no stranger to building systems and replacing parts in 1U rackmounts. I assume you just undo the screws on the 2 heatsinks and unplug the fan? Does the fan radiator rotate out with the heat pipe?

Seriously considering buying a T9900 since HP is selling them so damn cheap. It also helps that my warranty sticker wasn't put on the screw so its not sticking to anything. Makes me want to take the plunge.

 

Easy process, annoying small screws. The heatsink/fan lifts up perpendicularly and folds over in resting position.