C90s - Questions and Problems

I just got one of these for cheap at work. (think below $200 cheap)

It came with a e6600 but I want to mod it like here and put something cooler in it. (I see the E7500 w/ BIOS mod is good)

One of the things I did do was replace all the stock thermal paste with Arctic Cooling MX2 on the CPU, GPU, and chipset. This seemed to help from what it came with which was all dried up.

Also I "think" it has a bad video card. (crazy artifacting has happend at boot like twice but other/most times it is fine but the VC hits like 95-100c under load, it has also been about 25 reboots since and no issues so maybe my replacing thermal paste fixed it?) The VC also doesn't ever leave its max clocks even in power saving mode.

I can use EVGA Precision to underclock it and save profiles, what should I keep it at?

Oh here are pics of the artifacting:

http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/14680/IMG00034-20090827-2237.jpg
http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/14680/IMG00033-20090827-2237.jpg

I am running Windows 7 x86 and have installed many C90s drivers and utilities but also have found many of the utilities from my G50 work on this unit too.

My main problem (since for now the VC is behaving) is overclocking. I don't know what app I should use for this. The one that came with the C90s BSODs the machine instantly. I have not tried the overclocking app from my G50 yet however.

EDIT: It has the latest 1002 BIOS from ASUS.

 

Anyone have some thoughts?

 

Which graphics card do you have in your C90S? The 8600M GT GDDR3 tends to overheat so I avoid overclocking if possible. If you have the DDR2 variant, then you should be safe.

 

It is the 512MB DDR2 model. It still seems to be doing OK after I stripped it all down and redid the thermal paste, still runs super hot, but with the newest BIOS temps came down a bit.

One issue is it never goes into lower power modes, it always runs at 475 core/400 ram/950 shader. Always... How can I make it go to lower power modes when I don't need it to be in gaming mode?

Lastly, I would still like to overclock the CPU, does anyone know about doing this in Windows 7? I think that the overclocking app from ASUS was just not designed to work in this scenario.

 

SetFSB is a good application for that.

Problem is I don't know the clock generator.

 

Another thing maybe I should add. Does the C90S change the RAM speeds when overclocking the CPU?

Maybe the RAM cannot take it? Also it is two different brand DDR2-667 modules.

Maybe I should try a stick of the RAM from my G50 as it is DDR2-800.

(I overclock my desktop but it has an NVIDIA chipset thus you can have your FSB different from you RAM speeds.)

Lastly, I have an E4500 CPU, should I use this over the E6600 that is in there now?

 

DRAM frequency follows CPU's one. Just have a look to tab "memory" in CPU-Z.

Instead of setfsb, I oc with ClockGen which seems to me easier and friendly tu use.
The clock generator is at the beginning of the drop list, 2nd or 3rd I don't remember exactly.

On C90S, CPU as a bus speed at 1066 MHz, it's impossible to tweak this setting. Your E4500 has a bus speed at 800 MHz, so it will not work. That's I think.

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SL9ZL

http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLA95

@+

 

As 9800xpv says clockgen is better to use with the C90S as its older PLL is on that program and it is easier to use than setfsb. As for ram, I recommend using matching modules either 667 or 800mhz will work but they must match as the C90S is picky about ram and may give you problems such as not working on battery if you don't match the sticks. 800mhz ram is overkill however as the fsb at stock will run at 1066 mhz (266 quad pumped) with overclocking you will be unable to reach even 1333mhz fsb (333 quad) which is the native speed of 667mhz ram. So I would save the money if you can.

As for the FSB yes you can install a 800fsb processor it will work fine but you will not be able to run a 1333fsb processor. With the bios mod you can install a E7500 which runs on a 1066fsb and that is the best dual core. A 800fsb quad core is getting released soon called the Q7600 running at 2.7ghz and that might also work once you have carried out the bios mod/flash update. I wouldn't bother taking your E6600 out and replacing it with the E4500 though as it is an inferior processor. Get the E7500 or Q7600 the dual is very cheap and the quad will be dirt cheap also.

 

How about an E7300, it is 2.66GHz @ 1066FSB.

(I can get one dirt cheap)

Also any ideas about my video card running at full power 3D mode always?

I need to get it to go to lower power modes.

 

E7300 will work on your C90S when you have updated the bios.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/details.aspx?sSpec=SLB9X

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showpost.php?p=4585054&postcount=31

 

Yes it will work those are your 2 upgrade options: E7300 and E7500 with the new bios. However the E7500 will allow you higher OCing potential due to its higher multi, 10x vs 11x, either way 3ghz should be possible still. Have fun upgrading.

 

Yes, oc should be easy to fsb about 290 ~ 292 MHz, so the E7300 will run at x10 = 2.9 GHz or more.
In the same oc, an E7500 is running easily at 3.2GHz.
And oc is without overheating with those last C2D.

BUT : if the CPU is rather cold, that means the fans will not run very fast, and at the end, that means the GPU will be rather hot.
Necessary to manage more space for air flow by drilling the ace door.
And using an air cooler for laptop.

Ps : I've ordered a new ace door as I don't want to drill the original one. My order is on the way, I should get it next week.

@+

 

I've just performed a 3dmark06 test before writing, here it is :

You can see that CPU's t°c is 55°C, max at 69°C, with oc at 3.2GHz.
At the same time GPU's T°C is 101°C, max 104°C => that mean GPU downclocked at a moment, because critical t°C is 105°C. I think it was in the last test Deep Freeze.
During the test, fans didn't blow very much.
That's very pity for GPU's t°C.

And that shows that my E7500 is easy to cool, even if oc. Much more easier than my previous E6600.
My C90S is still full stock about cooling.

@+

 

That looks like an issue, upgrade my CPU and the GPU looses cooling as the fans won't spin up.

 

Is there any fan control software that works on the C90? If so it may be used as a (not very pretty) workaround.

 

Nope there isn't. Only way to make fans run at full speed is to wire the fans directly to the 12V source, near the battery. Means fiddly small wires and soldering.

9800xpv have you drilled out your ace door yet? Should lower your GPU temps by 20C under load once you have a cooler underneath.

 

Hello King,
Not get yet. Asus parts Europe is in Sweden, is it ? So it take some times to come in France.
@+ ,)

 

I had the same problem during the first year. Now it stays at 96~99 load. The fans are controlled by the CPU only so as long as your cpu doesn't heat (like in 3dmarks graphics test), the fans won't start.

 

I've ordered a Zalman ZM-NC2000 , despite a lot say Cryo should be better.

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