m1530 temps at 90, should I call dell?

joeytav, thanks for the clarification. I'm going to do the copper mod on the northbridge. I can't get over how good your temps are.

Do you have revision 1, 2, or 3 of the heatsink? If your puzzled about which revision you have, number 1 has copper heat plates (the part that touches the chip). Revision 2 used copper heat plates but smaller. Revision 3 used aluminum heat plates.

With your excellent temps I would think you have revision 1. But I also think that the copper mod for the northbridge is more a part of this story than it would appear to be. I just have to figure out how you get such low temps.

I ordered the revision 1 heatsink and am waiting for it to get here. I am going to create a post which shows the difference in temps between revision 1 and 3. That info should be most helpful as no one has ever determined which heatsink revision is best.

"ok i called dell this morning, they told me that temp till 95 are totally normal o-o, but tomorrow they change my mainboard... ?_?"

I can assure you Albox that while those kind of temps are common, they are certainly not normal. What Dell means to tell you is - "yes, 95 percent of our M1530's have heat problems due to bad production practices".

That's what this thread is all about. The members of this forum are getting awsome results by fixing Dell's blunder with their heat compound.

95c = short lifespan for M1530

 

I believe I have revision one or two - there is definitely no aluminum, and the copper plates were pretty big, so I'd guess its one. I've undervolted my CPU as well, but even when its running a stress test its peaking at about 55-56C.

 

Alright, things are getting clearer now. joeytav, you and yomamasfavourite have reported the lowest temps that I have ever seen on this forum. I believe that you both also have revision 1 heatsinks (no aluminum).

I think it's a safe bet to assume that when I install my revision 1 heatsink the temps are going to drop even more and going by your temps I should lose at about 10c on CPU and GPU (present max temps for me are CPU:68 GPU:79).

This is going to be awsome! It's about to get frigid inside my M1530.

 

Thats from just now, all I was doing was listening to music though.

How old would you say the revision one heatsinks are?

 

I don't exactly know but through deduction between myself and two other members (have to dig that post up), we concluded in that post that Dell originally came out with a good heatsink (the one you have) but then tried to cut cost and came out with revision 2. Revision 2 had less meat on the heat plates but was still all copper. Then Dell really got cheap and came out with the crummy aluminum heat plate version.

So we can all thank Dell for cuttung costs at the expense of our high temperatures. Thanks Dell!

 

From what I gleaned from your pictures in the cop mod thread, you did the copper mod on your GPU. This was necessary on the 1330 due to bad contact but that doesn't apply to the 1530. We're talking about doing the copper mod on the northbridge which is slightly lower than the CPU and the GPU. But if you still got lower temps then that's cool too, copper mods all around

Slowdown, how exactly did you order the revision 1 heatsink? Did you specifically tell Dell to send you that part? I thought the service reps have no control over that (just like how you can't order a specific non-grainy LCD panel). Pictures of each of the heatsinks would be nice.

 

Yes paperkut I still think that's true. It's next to impossible to specify revision 1 if you're going through Dell. I wish it could be that easy. But you already know how Dell is.

I got mine from Ebay. What you have to do is find one and then email the seller. You explain to them the difference between revisions and then ask them if the picture they are showing is the actual item.

That's what I did when I ordered from a fellow in the UK and he assured me that it's the same as in the picture, with copper heat plates. I'll see when it gets here.

You will know what revision I got because as long as that guy told the truth, I'll be posting the 'M1530 heatsink shootout'.

 

Argh, I need to buy a new heatsink now seeing as I have big juicy aluminum plates on mine.

I looked for heatsinks on ebay but got very few results, they all seem to be selling the XR216 model and it certainly looks like they have copper plates but I'm not sure if they're the right size.

EDIT: Ok, never mind about the part number, it seems they're all just XR216. Also, I think I've narrowed down exactly what the revisions look like.
From pictures in this thread and this thread I can deduce:
Rev. 1: Copper plates all around (joeytav?) click
Rev. 2: Copper just on the northbridge (aluminum on the other plates) click
Rev. 3: Aluminum plates all around (my attachment) and click

/Offtopic: Hmm, after looking at the second thread link I posted (replacing m1530 screen), now I want a LG LCD panel (since I've got the Samsung SEC3350 which are crappy)

 

That is revision 1 (the sweet one). I'm willing to bet that's what joeytav has.

I believe that one is revision 2. Not as good as revision 1 but still better than revision 3.

This would be revision 3, the one that you and I have, and yes our goal is to ditch this one and get revision 1. The one I ordered is revision 1.

I wish you luck paperkut. Don't give up. There is one out there waiting for you.

BTW: nice job on rounding up those pics

 

Ok, fixed the revision numbers in my post. Time to hit ebay and find the right revision before they're all gone

 

Yeah, thats the one I have fo'sho! :]

 

Ahah reading all this, I now know I have revision 2. So at least it's not the worst. I'm sure my GPU will max around 79 after the AS5 sets in, but I sure would like it lower!

 

This confirms it. It just can't be a coincidence that his temps are so awsome and he has revision 1 heatsink. yomamasfavourite said in another post that he also has revision 1 and his temps are just like joeytav. It's really the only variable left in our group of people that have done the thermal compound mod.

english724, you're good where you are now with those temps. Vast improvement and now you're stable. And your input regarding revision 2 very helpful here. According to your reported temps, now we know that it's very close to revision 3

I would say that myself, and it would appear paperkut, are just obsessed with getting the lowest temps possible. Since we have already achieved stability, it's kind of like a game to me now. I'm just looking for the icing on the cake at this point.

But by all means english, join in the madness!

 

The more the merrier!

I'm just pissed because I've been using a scalding hot laptop for an entire year when I could've been cruising along at 30C. So I've decided to really work my warranty and get all my internal parts replaced. I'm also working on getting that LG LCD panel now since my Samsung is indeed dull and grainy (maybe I can voice my grief and coax Dell into replacing my laptop for one with an LED panel )

All in all, good work fellas! I think I'm gonna track my temperatures from factory default to undervolt+rev1+AS5 and post it up

 

Yes, when we get our R1 heatsinks and record the results we should start a new thread, something like "M1530 heatsink shootout".

Whoever gets the results first should start that thread.

paperkut, the race is on!

 

Been reading through this thread...I also have a 1530 thats overheating when i play a game

I downloaded HWMonitor, it's telling me my idle temps for CPU are about 60c. For GPU its 70c (T5450)

Should I consider undervolting / doing the thermal paste trick?

 

Do a load test using this protocol: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=337401

If your temps are like 85+, it will definately be worth while. Undervolting is easy pants and makes a huge difference.

 

Lo and behold! The fabled heatsink has arrived.

I'll post up results in a bit.

 

Mine arrived also paperkut. Alright, tomorrow I will install mine and record the results. I am so interested to see what will happen. It's going to be very useful info as we are both in possession of the R1 heatsink. If I hadn't had too many beers I would install it right now.

 

Thats definately the only I have; opened my lappy up the other day to but some OCZ stuff in it and double checked :]

 

Since the topic of AS5 was brought up here, I have a problem about that.

I just changed the thermal paste of my M1530 to AS5 but I noticed that instead of going down, the temperatures of the CPU and GPU actually go UP. It's not by a large margin, about 2°C to 3°C, but is this even normal? I followed the instructions in this thread word-to-word, tightened and made sure that the heatsink was reseated properly so the procedures were at least correct. I'm considering these options now:

1. Applying the AS5 on northbridge chip.
2. Open the heatsink add apply another thin layer of AS5 on CPU and GPU.
3. All of the above.

Please advise me on what to do next, fellow M1530 users. Thanks in advance!

 

1. I would skip trying heatsink grease on the Northbridge.
2. How small of a drop did you use for GPU?
3. I think it's time for a grease pattern test. Clean all compound. put small drop in center of CPU and GPU. Push the heatsink down by tightening the screws. Loosen the screws and then lift the heatsink. Look at the pattern of the compound on top of each chip. Does it look even with good coverage?

If possible, pictures would be most helpful.

 

I took out the heatsink and noticed that the patterns on the CPU and GPU were not even. I applied another layer of AS5 on CPU and GPU, made them even and added a little amount on the heat sink directly on the locations where there were too little AS5 to compensate the unevenness.

Temperatures seem to be lower now but I'll report more tomorrow. Thanks for the advice slowdown117.

 

You got it. If that doesn't fix your problem, you may have to slightly bend the heatpipes to ensure that the heat plates sit flush on the chips.

Warning: If in the process of tweaking the heatpipes, if you bend too much (and it doesn't take much) you will crush the inside of the heatpipe. Even just a little pinch and your temperatures will soar like never before. Be extremely cautious when bending the heatpipes. Once you collapse a section, you can forget about it working right ever again.

My advice is, that if your temps are within 2 or 3 degrees of what you expect, leave it like it is. The AS5 will 'cure' as they call it. So in a few hours of heavy use, the compound will set in and temps will drop 2 to 4 degrees Celcius or so.

 

ok i§ve got the same problem like you .. 80-90C temps - for example when playing WoW or the utility which you wrote about..

so i called dell technical support, they send a technican (you must definately urge that its overheating), the next day the technician came, replaced the cooler with another one - and .. the temps were GREAT again

so the problem was with the cooler ..

 

Above all, I'm glad you got that straightened out. But it is most likely that it was not the cooler itself, but the failed thermal pads that Dell uses on these heatsinks. You will know for sure because after some time you might notice the temps creeping back up.

When those pads fail, they melt and and up on the sides of the chips, with nothing left on top to bond to the heat plate. The only permanent fix is to do the thermal compound mod. Your temps will be supreme then.

But it is also possible for one heatpipe to have less cooling capacity than another. I have seen identical M1530 heatsinks (both revision 3) have 8 degrees Celcius difference. If there is any variance of the vaccum inside the heat pipe it will affect it's cooling.

Was there anything else wrong with the other cooler (like a fan problem)?

What was the max GPU temp before you had the cooler replaced?

And,
What exactly is your present max GPU temp under heavy load? If you don't have it already, check it with Rightmark Hardware Monitor. It will be good to see what your max temp is now, so that down the road you will be able to see if it is getting higher.

Edit: whoops, don't forget the CPU temps.

 

Thanks. So it's better to wait for the AS5 to set in before proceeding to make any changes?

 

I would. Run 3Dmark 2005 about ten times. If it is settling down you should see a sudden temp decrease in one of your runs.

What I describe to you is what I see when I do this procedure.

But the answer is yes. Always give the compound a little time to work itself in. It most certainly helps if you run benchmarks on new compound. The heat accelerates the work-in process. After several runs you will see what the temps settle down to be.

It's fairly common to see the temps drop a bit after the work-in process is done. But if I didn't see any improvement then I would take everything apart, clean it again, and re-apply compound. My method that never fails me is to put a small drop of compound on top of the chip. Then, on the area of the heatsink that will touch the chip I apply a VERY thin layer of compound. I use a swab or a card to do this. That usually does it. Make sure the chips are really clean.

Edit: make sure that AS5 doesn't touch the tiny capacitors and resistors! Clean with isopropyl alcohol and swabs.

Edit: those are general guidelines and I'm not assuming that you 'Izlude99' don't already know this.

 

One last thing, is it ok to clean the areas around the tiny capacitors with isopropyl alcohol?

 

Strange... idle temperature drops by about 4 to 5°C now but load temperature remains the same compared to the stock thermal compound.

 

Izlude99, That number is important. It should not pass 80c. What is your max GPU temp?

 

On load, the GPU reaches between 79 to 81°C, idle is about 60°C. I live near the tropics though so ambient temperature here is between 25 to 30°C.

 

Izlude99, you have succeeded. That is the proper temp, and yes since you live in warm climate, your max temp will be 1 or 2c higher. 81 sounds very good. If it doesn't pass that temp no matter what you throw at it, the GPU is in good shape now. You might even see it drop down to 79 or 78c.

I wouldn't fool with it anymore. Nice job.

Yes. Use a swab and be careful. Very light pressure. But as stated above I might leave it alone now.

 

I've been following this thread for quite a while as i'm planning to use AS5 on my notebook too. Is there a guide (step by step), for applying the thermal compound on an xps m1530. Its just that i've never done this before and was hoping there was a guide with a proper set of instructions i could follow and not make any mistakes.
Cheers.

 

You're in the thread already.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=340692&page=3

Second post on page 3 of this thread. Hopefully that should be what you need.

 

ya i've seen that. but if i remember correctly, there was a thread with even detailed steps (with pics). i was hoping i could get directed there, coz i couldn't find it.

 

Yeah, I think I'll leave it for the time being. Paranoia got the better of me though so I opened the back panel and pressed and screwed the heatsink even tighter! Not that it would do anything but...

As for the temperatures, it's getting a bit erratic now. Idle varies between 60 to 66°C and load temperature varies between 76°C to 81°C.

 

I get 87c max, I think it's still good, because it's after2 hours of intensive running rthdribl en Orthos ! Normally it only max out @ 81c during gaming ! Disabled powermizer and disabled cpu throttling.

grtz