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

I see i see. Cool.

Maybe i'll try undervolting if im' THAT bored here in university...

 

I just got my 14x14x1.5 piece of copper today and I just now randomly took a look at the small advertisement leaflet that came in the envelope, I don't know if you guys already noticed this...



Caught my eye.

This thread sure put its marks on metaloffcuts, I read about Kreeeee's (sorry about getting the e's wrong) free piece earlier, too .

 

It's 5 e's.

Yeah I chatted to them for a while about why these pieces were so popular.

 

Why not?

I get 63C peak temps with a volt modded CPU and fans set to turn to max when the GPU hits 60C via i8kfangui without a laptop cooler in 24C ambient temps.

 

Think they'd refund me for the copper I bought if I emailed them?

 

You're all going to hate me for this but, here it goes. I read the first dozen or so pages of the thread and saw no mention of which laptops this mod was compatible with. Looking over the actual mod it seems that, with perhaps only a few exceptions on the actual steps, it'll work on any model that was shipped with the "inadequate Thermal Cooling Pad" (I love the professionalism show there, god knows I would have used something other than inadequate ).

Anyways, this will lower temperatures for any GPU using that pad. I have the 8600 in mine and I'm pretty sure it has the same pad though, I imagine there will be some differences, if anybody knows the differences I'd like to know before hand. Also, is the Thermal Pad what is causing all the laptops to die or is it just causing the heat?

Anyways, sorry if these questions were answered at some point in the thread.

 

The death of the GPUs are inevitable, even with the mod. This just prolongs life significantly. The nVidia defective GPUs die not because of temperature, but because the material they are made from cannot handle constant temperature change. Going from room temperature to 80C, and back and forth causes them to deteriorate over time.

On a sidenote - what BIOS revision is everyone using? I'm on A10, the last before the "thermal improvement," didn't want my fans running all the time... but I idle at 61C (in a very hot room, about 27C). Perhaps I should consider updating, eh? Can always go back...

 

You should update, because it doesn't merely kick the fans in sooner, it kicks them in at certain times to minimise the large sudden temperature change that you talk about.

 

@hep, I found that with A10, although my fans didn't kick as early, the actual cycle time was almost identical, i.e. it took the same time under A10 for the GPU to reach 64C (where the fan turns on) and cycle down to 54C (where the fan turns off) as it does under A12 to reach 56C and cycle down to 49C.

So, I couldn't see any benefit to A10 at all - it didn't actually lessen the fan usage appreciably.

 

Reporting back with my temps after running 3DMark06 (got a score of 1460) and an hour of WOW. Pic taken after letting it idle ~30 min while doing some web surfing.



Bios A12
Nivida driver 175.97
Room temp ~21C
No volt mod or cooler

I've actually redid my Cu mod over the weekend (realized that I applied too much AS5 after reading some posts), hopefully the temp will drop a few more degrees after the AS5 "cures."

 

Alright, I'll update then. I was actually on A12 for a while but downgraded because it seemed like the fans were running louder (so faster) than previously.

 

Is it safe to use the copper for the Chipset and CPU as well? It seems I might as well use the copper on everything.

 

No, you can only do it for the GPU to replace the crappy thermal pad

Do NOT try it on any other part as it might crack it from too much pressure.

 

The CPU would not help as the cooling assembly already directly contact the CPU, the chipset has shown a decrease in performance on everyone who has done it.

 

Hi, my M1330 is having this blank white screen & weird vertical lines. Based on many forums I have read, it is a GPU problem. My M1330 is out of warranty but I read somewhere in the forum that Dell is extending its warranty for another year for this product. Am I still covered with this extended warranty by Dell even if the warranty already expired?

Anyhow, my real question is this. Is it possible to use the heatsink of old VGA cards or cpu's? I am here is Saudi Arabia and I dont know where to get/buy the recommended tools like thermal paste and copper. Can I modify my M1330 without thermal paste?

Please tell me the alternative way for modifying copper if any.

Thanks

 

elg3ne:

1) Yes, the extended GPU warranty will cover you for additional twelve months from the point at which your original warranty expired.

2) No, almost certainly not, I would imagine.

 

I've been playing Oblivion today - 69C! Crazy.

 

Updated links to the latest version of GPU-Z and RivaTuner.

 

Thanks Tabten5... I just hope that Dell service center here in Saudi will accept my unit because it was bought from Dubai and Im here now in Saudi. Also I hope that they are updated that Dell offer 12 months extended warranty for M1330 units.

I'll just cross my fingers when I go to Dell service center.

Thanks

 

Hi everybody,
I registered to the forum just to thank the poster of this great thread!

By the way, I have an xps 1530, which has a heat sink entirely made of copper. The problem is with the design of the heat sink itself, since it has 5 screws holding it down on its left side (where the cpu and chipset are) but only 2 screws on its right side, where the GPU is located (the heat sink has 2 branches, it's shaped like a U). Obviously it tends to make more pressure to the right-side screws (the CPU being a little taller than the GPU also contributes to the phenomenon), so that one of the two female connections (I hope you can understand what I'm saying, I'm sorry for my English, I'm Italian ) was torn apart from the mother board...
I glued it to the mobo again (with a particular heat-resistent glue), put some arctic silver on the gpu and cpu (the pre-existent thermal compound was in a bad shape) and crossed my fingers..

Here are my temps (ambient is 28° C):
BEFORE
idle - 60-62°C
gaming - 105°C on ubuntu, 105°C+ on win (to the automatic shutdown)

AFTER
idle - 56-58°C
gaming - 80-84°

I'm using driver 177.92 (which is an amazing driver!), windows xp sp3, no laptop cooler, just something to lift the back from the desk (2-3 cm)

 

Out of curiosity, where did you get the 177 driver? I've got a 1420, and the latest they have for XP is 174.something. I tried looking at the drivers for the 1530, but they only had vista drivers.

 

He is not using the Dell drivers, he is using drivers from a site like laptopvideo2go.com.

 

yes, i'm using drivers from laptopvideo2go.com, taken from here

 

I've got a question for the experts.
If I got a new system and applied the Copper Mod before use,
will this solve the problem of the overheating GPU regardless if I play games regularly (games like latest NFS) or will this Mod just prolong the life of the GPU and eventually die?

Thanks in advance

 

It'll prolong the life of the GPU.

 

btw, after some days my temps have significantly dropped!
now playing wow at max settings i get 76° C max, staying regularly in the low 70s.. I'm going to try the zalman nc2000 (i read that it's better than the nc1000 even for 15in notebooks - as for cooling performance) and see if i can stay at 70° max, which would be awesome!

 

WOW I can't wait to install the copper mod... when I play WoW it goes up to 90C that's not happy fun time for me AND i have a 3 fan cooler AND i'm in chicago (it's cold )

 

Thanks so much I just completed the mod. This is my average idle now, which is about 4-5 degress less

 

Playing Oblivion brings my GPU to 98C, it arrived today and is completely newly built, I want to return it but I can't because I ordered it "For Office" and we don't get the 14-days return thingy.

Gonna do the copper mod once I get the AS5.

Bleh, I really wanted to get the Vaio SR or Lenovo U330 instead. Maybe even a Precision M4400.

 

Hi guys, newbie here, is this copper mod really prolong the life of our m1330?

What about the warranty issue with Dell?

If I ask someone to mod my m1330 with this one will Dell still acknowledge the warranty?

I'm not a technical person, so by chances if I mod my m1330 & it broke down I cannot remove the copper mod if I'm sending the unit to Dell service center.

Does anyone mod their m1330 & send their unit with Dell w/ the mod still attach?

Thanks

 

I don't think anyone has modded their M1330 and then returned it with the mod still there... it's pretty straight forward and easy to put in & remove if you need it. Dell will likely tell you that you caused its death by doing the mod (even though that's the opposite of what the mod does) just to get out of having to pay for another motherboard for you.

 

Yes.

Technically this voids your warranty, you could however revert it and they'd most likely not notice.

Not if they notice the change.

If you can't remove the mod then your warranty is forfeit, especially if your GPU breaks down, the tech guy would notice the copper piece there.

I doubt.

 

Ok, maybe a non-techie & lady like me should know how to open the laptop & remove the copper inside....scarryy... :-0

anyway, maybe i'll just ask a person who know about laptop hardware to install/remove the copper just incase in bugged down because of GPU.. but im knocking on the wood & hoping it will not happen.

thanks

 

If you read through the guide on the first page you shouldn't have a problem managing this. Just keep any water away from where you're working with the laptop and make sure to not scratch anything with the screwdriver or suchlike.

But it's up to you, of course something might go wrong, maybe you'd rather have the responsibility yourself than someone else messing it up for you.

 

immel:

fyi: just got my mobo replaced this afternoon. it's a gpu problem. the technical guy already leave scratches on the screws attached.

the reason I want to do this mod is to "prolong" the life of the gpu. I'm afraid gpu prob will appear again... still I can't decide if I will do the mod. :-( also I'm having problem of looking the AS5 & copper here locally in Saudi.

 

You can get the copper from metaloffcuts.co.uk, they ship worldwide. As for the AS5, you could probably find some eBay seller shipping worldwide as well. It'll probably cost a bit more than finding it locally, but it's still not a big sum compared to the result you'll get.

If you do the copper mod the GPU will stay colder, this could solve the rebooting/shutdown problem all together, but I can't say for sure.

 

I have read in this forum that some people still experience the GPU problem even if their mobo is already replaced. Is this a result of poor wormanship on this product? Or the way user's use their laptop? Or maybe the working environment?

I'm still not confident enough on my mobo replace I'm still afraid this thing will happen again.

Do you suggest I sell my m1330? or keep it and do the copper mod? Gggrrrrr... still can't decide.

 

Sick guide!
Thanks alot for this.
Did the mod with great success.
Lowest GPU temperature so far was 58, before it was 65
Highest GPU temperature does not pass 68, before the mod it reached 85 and over! Also the fan kicks in a lot sooner im guessing since the heat is actually being transferred to the pipe lol, what a poor desogn on DELLs part.
I guess this guy screwed up big time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brrJkgocn78
Bottomw line: Do the mod ppl!!!

 

Don't sell


Do the mod...i'm scared of doing this to my new baby too but it seems easy enough..... the copper and the AS5 you can get them off ebay (copper mod is even from the SAME uk people)

How does the problem arise? poor planning and engineering by both Dell and Nvidia

but Honestly if you don't abuse your computer you should be fine...I've had mine since the beginning of June and no problems so far..I play games and everything (she is ALWAYS hooked up to a laptop cooler and I don't abuse)

if you want change your power settings put them to battery life it takes off the GPU load (you can instantly tell as soon as you play a game that it is either clocked back a little or something like that)

Just don't be mean to her and she should be fine....my last dell was a 15 inch comp that also liked to overheat (had a regular pentium 4 not the M)

Be nice to the machine and it will be nice to you

 

Well, I don't play games on my m1330. I just use it for Internet.

My mobo comes with A08 bios & I upgraded to A11 & then A12. Is it a wrong move to upgrade?

I just notice that on A11 the fan stops at 58C using HWMon and back on at 65C but on A12 fan is off at 53C then back on at 60C. Also there is a tiny sound at the back of laptop when Im using A12 but if I use A11 there is nothing. Im sure it is not the fan because even if the fan is off, I can still hear the sound. Laptop is idle on this test.

Right now Im on A11 is it ok to stick to this one?

 

I might have to get in on this:

"Lawsuit claims Nvidia hid serious flaw in graphics chips"
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08...dia_hid_serious_flaw_in_graphics_chips_1.html

 

Is this a problem with the GPU or just a problem with the cooling assembly ?

 

It's a problem with both in this case; the cooling assembly is poorly designed hence my mod, however the GPU is now known to be defective.

 

Just another question, anyone with a dell 1420 has tried this mod? It uses a 8400m GPU and have similiar cooling system as the M1330. But i am not sure wat thcikness should the copper sheet be for 1420....Is it the same? 15mm as stated...thx a lot!

 

Just curious, how long have been your M1330 running with copper mod? Is there any signs of GPU problem?

Also to all those people who do copper mod, how long it has been running?

Is there anyone do the copper mod & still their GPU dies?

Thanks

 

I've been running the copper mod for several months now, however my M1330 is far from my main system. The GPU will still die eventually in all likelihood, this will only prolong its life, perhaps several years which is sufficient.

 

hmm.. can you please tell how many months to be exact? I'm doing some research hehehe.. A friend of mine is trying to sell her xps m1330 to me for $300. The specs is C2D 1.8ghz, 1gb ram, 120gb hd. The mobo recently replaced due to GPU problem. Her lappy is same as mine.

I'm thinking twice if I will get it because I know that GPU problem still there. And in fact I was thinking also to sell my xps because of this problem but still can't decide. :-(

 

Btw, how many hours you are using your M1330 a day?

I'm using mine at least 6 to 8 hours a day but only for Internet and document processing.. no games at all.

 

Been using it for about 4 months, as per the link in my sig. I used to use my XPS ~6 hours daily, but now have a desktop that I use most of the time. I now use my XPS for under 1 hour average daily. The truth is, I only use my laptop about once a week and for about 2-6 hours the day I use it. Which is why I am probably going to sell my XPS and get a netbook.

 

Did the mod on my new mobo with the GPU. My mobo came with the A08 bios, but I upgraded to A12, would like to revert back b/c my temps were still about 3 degrees cooler and the fan didn't blow as much. can't find the A08 bios on Dell's FTP server, anyone know how I can get a hold of the A08? Can someone dump their A08 bios somehow by chance?