Dell XPS M1330 - nVidia GeForce 8400M GS - Copper Mod

But isn't that one too thin (0.9 mm vs. recommended 1.5mm)?

 

In my final version of the mod, I ended up using a thin shim (between .6 and .8mm) and bending the heat pipe the rest of the way. It didn't make any difference really, but I gave it a shot. So it's possible to use less.
Also increasing amounts of people are using only ICD7, no copper at all.

 

Idle mode

CPU: InteMobile Core 2 Duo T5600
Core0 42°C
Core1 42°C

GPU: nvidia 8400M GS
Core 57°C




If you have some comments to this here: Thx.

1. When you remove the cover (backside of the computer) you
can see the aluminum foil covering the whole cover. Aluminum
foil is a good heat reflector (radiation of heat). Does it
make sense to remove it? I guess that the foil guarantees
that the computer is a Faraday cage. Is it?

2. This is addressed to the people who changed to the copper
mod: Did you ever have an accident "à la vertical lines"? How
long do you have this copper mod working for you?

 

My gpu temps went down after the copper mod, but the other temps all went up. Did I did something wrong, or is this OK?

 

No, that's normal.
Since they all share the same heatpipe, the more heat transferred out of the GPU, the more heat transferred past and into the chipset/CPU.

 

How much did they go up by better still what temps are they hitting now on idel /load?

 

I've tested this a while ago. The max temps are the temps after a benchmark with 3DMark06.

My CPU went from 34 °C idle 66 °C max (without CM) to 38 °C idle and 77 °C max (with CM)

I thought this was a bit strange because the FAQ says this:
15. How about the benefits of this Copper Mod?
A: This Copper Mod reduces the GPU temperature by a few degrees when idle and several degrees when loaded, CPU and Chipset temperatures by a few degrees. The Notebook will run comparitively cooler and quieter with the Fan on slow speed.

Another question:
I've placed the GPU Termal Cooling Pad (small one) on the chipset, because there wasn't one on the chipset at the beginning. On the picture I see the GPU Termal Cooling Pad is allot smaller than the chipset Termal Cooling Pad. Is this a problem/will this make difference?

 

I was in the same boat as yourself the first time I applied AS5 temps went down on GPU, CPU hit 60 C idel @the time I had not given the paste time to cure fired up laptop right after and left running for 1 hour..As the days went by temps can down..
Unless there is yet another version cooling unit for the M1330 XPS there should of been a thermal pad on the chipset, as the heastsink would not make contact with the chipset or was this a quote for some other PC?..

 

It's already a couple of month ago I did the coppermod, but I don't notice any big difference. But games are running smoother than without the coppermod, so I think it's OK, that the other temps are higher.

I've the same cooling unit as in the Topic start, but only there wasn't a Thermal Cooling Pad on the chipset. So I used the one from the GPU, which I peeled off for the coppermod. So everything looks the same as on the pictures, but I only have a smaller cooling pad on the chipset.

 

Your original setup did the heatsink make contact with the chipset?
Thermal pad you are now using will be ok, I now know there are at least 3 different types of cooling units for the M1330.
My GPU temp @48C, CPU @43C and chipset @42C most of today apart from when I ran a test by accident GPU went @52C CPU @48C. room temp about 28C
Note the recorded length of time system in the logs.


GPU


HDD


CHIPSET


DESKTOP


CPU


CPU

 

Hmmm....I just copper modded my 1530 and things seems a little odd. When it is idle. It starts from 40 cpu and 60 gpu and rises to 50/60 and then heat sink cools it back down. I know I'm supposed to let the AS5 cure but is this what happened to 1330 modders?

 

Hi there,

Since I last two weeks tried to finish Need For Speed, i experienced the GPU problem. I updated the BIOS to v.15 (it was 05 ) and latest video drivers, and after shutdown my xps didn't started anymore(vertical lines or nothing on screen) now after three days, I started and.... kaboom i saw the DELL logo. Now i'm writing on the xps. I installed a temp monitor ...the GPU is now 62-64 on Firefox, but when I youtoube, it goes 70 or more.
My question is.....the GPU is OK and i only have to mod right away without any problems any more? or i have to change the GPU and then mod.

Now i'm affraid to turn it off...probably it won't start anymore....

P.s I own a XPS 1330, t7500 2.2 ghz, vista, Motherboard version 01.

Thanks!!!

 

July 8, 2009: Celebrating 1st Anniversary of Dell XPS M1330 - nVidia GeForce 8400M GS - Copper Mod. My notebook is running great without any spares, service or repair!

 

Getting my mobo replaced It lasted for a while

Any news on using ICD7 to replace the m1330 thermal pads?

 

Hey i've recently purchase a XPS m1330, the video card problems i have seen in this thread, getting too hot , vertical lines etc shouldn't happen with the X3100 integrated? I'm not a Hardcore gaming person, plus while i have it i will be at university. Live streaming and every now and then cinema 4d for 3d modeling.

 

No, it's fine with the X3100

 

Thanks for the response.... i can't wait to get it, will be here on Monday ;-) still find it strange they would send it all the way to Mexico then Hawaii, and i live in Barbados. Ah well they say it will be here Monday, hope i get accessories my friend got a free Bluetooth mouse (since they don't sell that type any more)

 

Hi,
I bought my M1330 in september 2007, the graphic card crashed in august 2008 and was replaced (motherboard and heatsink as well). And now barely one year after the graphic card crashed again! I don't remember something about a warranty extension but i'll check on my dell acount.
Moreover I am spending my year in Ireland (I am french). Do you have any idea if I will get my card replaced for free (even in case of no warranty) and in ireland?
When I call dell shall I mention I know about the faulty cards or just pretend I ignore? Some other people told me to call and ask for a warranty extension (100 euros?) but without mentioning my problem and then only call back 15 days later to talk about it. After everything I read on the net about those faulty card, I want it replaced for free!

Thanks.

 

I believe the warranty extension is only for the US and Canada, but it's worth a shot calling and complaining anyway.
Don't play dumb, because that won't make any sense. They'll lie to you if they think they can get away with it. If you shown knowledge, they'll be more likely to do what you want.

 

Here's the link for the limited GPU warranty extension:

http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/...ate-limited-warranty-enhancement-details.aspx

It mentions how to get support in the U.S., and outside the U.S., so I think you're covered.

 

I'm in the UK, didn't know about the warranty extension or this issue when I phoned Dell support, and the extremely helpful techie told me all about the extension and got the motherboard replaced on site, free of charge. So it sounds as though the extension does apply, at least in Europe.

 

"Few degrees" and "several degrees" only? With my GPU running at 80-85 degrees at light use and at 100 degrees under the stress, is this copper mod even worth trying? I doubt I will notice any difference after such amount of work done.

 

it will drop to 55 when idling and 70 when under stress.

it'll worth it.,

Burn it with rthdribl 1.2 ( http://www.daionet.gr.jp/~masa/rthdribl/)
if it crashes in 10 minutes ask for a replacement. if it's still running after 10 minutes, do the copper mod immediately.

 

I used to get 100C+ on games such as CoD4 and FEAR under stress. Now they bearly go above 70C. That statement is an understatement, although may be true on some applications (there was little temperature difference with Final Fantasy XI for example, but that didn't used to go above 75 anyway).

The copper mod is the best thing I did with this laptop. In combination with using RMClock to undervolt, it has now become an excellent gaming machine.

 

The mod is well worth doing and I've only done mine within the last 2 months along with some other mods on this 2 year+ M1330.

 

+ 1

With the mod and using AC MX-2 compund, I now get:

CPU: 36 C idle, 56 C load
GPU: 56 C idle, 71 C load

 

i did mine last night, my gpu temp dropped by about 11 degrees, but when idling one of my cpu cores is about 6 degrees warmer than the other (sometimes 12) and fluctuates lots where as the other core stays at one temp and changes occasionaly have i done something wrong? ive reapplied paste and seated it again but its still the same.

 

Your heatsink is not seated flat against the CPU so it's not touching one core. You will likely need to bend your heatpipe a tiny bit to allow it to lay flush against the CPU.

 

Thanks hep, bend the pipe outwards on the gpu side?

 

That's correct. Only a hair, and be very gentle. If you bend the pipe back and forth too much you will risk breaking it.

 

Hi, that is a great guide you got there, but I have a few questions if you dont mind

first, what is the point of the copper sheet? Can't this all be done with paste?
second, if there was orginally a thermal pad, can I just take it off and replace it with paste only? (without any copper sheet)
third, if I were to put use the copper sheet, can I put a copper sheet in places where there was only paste? ( in other words, if there was originally no pad, only paste, can I still put a copper sheet with paste there?)

Sorry for so many questions. This is my first time changing thermal pastes and I don't wanna mess this up. =]

thanks a lot

 

uhhhhhhh I did the mod to my 1530 and it works the same. There was no pad to begin with with the 1530.

 

The point of the copper is to bridge a gap (about 1.5mm) which is far too large for paste alone [though people have done it using a special paste called ICD7, DO NOT use other pastes if skipping the copper).
The places that only have paste right now are not really gaps, they're direct contact. Adding a copper shim here would decrease efficiency, so don't add copper where you don't need it.
...pretty much, do what the first post says. We've perfected this. If it was a good idea to put copper shims elsewhere, we'd have thought of it.

 

I recently bent my heatsink to lie flat against the CPU. The temperatures are...

CPU (Idle/Load): 46/56C
GPU: 41(!!)/62C
Both under load (CPU/GPU): 62/62C

 

wow i never thought of bending... might try that

 

I see, thanks for your help.

In your guide, you put paste on both the cpu and the corresponding heatsink area. won't that be too much? I thought we are supposed to just put it on the cpu and press it with the heatsink part.

 

When I wrote the original guide, I only applied paste to one side per contact.
(put paste on CPU, GPU, put paste on one side of shim and used that to stick the shim to the heatpipe).
Sinstoic has made some changes which I do not agree with, though if you spread the paste thin enough it should still work his way.

 

Be careful when bending the heatsink. If you do it wrong, your fan won't seat correctly (mine's still slightly crooked, but I was able to push it back most of the way). What I did was put a thin layer of thermal grease on the heatsink, and gently pushed it down. If the grease wasn't squeezed out, I would adjust a little, and try again. Once you think you have it, remove and reapply the grease and do one more test run, just to be safe. Also remove any excess hanging over the edge of the CPU.

Edit: Bend the metal bracket. The part of the pipe the extends toward the GPU is too fragile.

Edit 2: How do I know? There's a dent in the heatpipe where I pushed on it too hard. Still works though.

 

Does anybody have the ebay store link? The one in the OP is down
Or do we have to order from their actual site now?

Also, is the copper mod generally more effective than the ICD7?

 

Contact them via and arrange shipment [email protected] or +441515264777

 

I want to know that also. I am planning to just fill the gap with ICD7

 

Give them a ring there friendly and helpful, there also about 10 miles away from me so it was quite handy

 

Awesome i saw that this makes a a BIG difference!!
I however need to buy one for a friend, is anyone selling these awesome solutions? =D

 

I just installed this mod. So far so good. I'm running Bios A15. I can't find anywhere to download A13, on the dell site they skip that one. Do I really need A13 to get the full effects or am I ok with A15.

 

As per Dell you better of running the latest which your doing.

 

how about the other unit that has a thermal pad on it (other than the gpu)....has anyone thought of replacing that with a copper shim ?

 

Nope, you're the first. No one has thought of that. Congratulations.




In reality, that's the chipset, about 200 other people have suggested it, and the results are in...

DING DING DING

Overall, degrades performance of the cooler (increases chipset temp, doesn't decrease any other temps).

 

The long sad story for Nvidia continues ... most damaging is the reaction of their CEO high-lighted in Bold below

 

Hi did the coppermod and got result 51-54 C with multitasking (browsing,chat,music etc)
65-68 C on gaming. Is that OK ?

I took off the module cover so notebook coolpad fan can blow directly to the MOBO

 

http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/sony-finally-admits-nvidia-chips-are-borking-its-laptops-offers/

We should all get replacements that won't fail. Enough of the swapping out for the same GPU nonsense.