6831FX Overheating after T9300 Upgrade

First of all let me say that I really appreciate all the info on this forum! I found several awesome guides that walked step-by-step through the process of upgrading the CPU in the great laptop. Now onto the problem...

Using a few of the guides I was able to get the T5450 out and swap it for a T9300. I used Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound just like all my desktop CPUs and as was recommended by many. The process went off pretty much without any problems, i say pretty much because I discovered that when Gateway refurbed this notebook, they apparently didn't bother to replace screws 1 and 2 opting instead to leave the holes empty and void of even the springs.
The original CPU ran at about 60C under load and in the 30s idle (According to HW Monitor). The new CPU ran at 15-24C idle, but taps out at 92 and shuts down when I prime95 it. Before the fan even begins to spin up, the CPU is in the 70s. If I use RightMark's CPU tool to cap the CPU multiplier at 8x (800Mhz, Voltage at 0.925v) it idles at 43C (58 according to RightMark) with the fan gently blowing.
I've already tried reapplying the thermal compound just to be sure. I used a tiny bit too much initially, the second application was a near perfect THIN layer, but the results are nearly identical.

Did I do something wrong? It gets way too hot way too fast. I've looked everywhere to find something to pin the fan to see if I can at least burn it in a bit to see if that helps at all, but nothing can control the fan... Any ideas? Could it be related to the missing screws/springs? if so, where could I find/buy those tiny screws?


Thanks in advance!

Here is a sample RightMark log showing the overheat (launching Crysis )

Code:

23:44:58.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 1247.35, Throttle:   96.12, FID:  6.0, VID: 1.000, CPULoad:  26.63, OSLoad:  20.31, CoreTemp: 40.6
23:44:59.093, CPU: 0, Clock:  831.29, Throttle:   95.98, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  56.10, OSLoad:  32.81, CoreTemp: 41.8
23:44:59.093, CPU: 1, Clock:  831.39, Throttle:   96.02, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  31.61, OSLoad:   9.38, CoreTemp: 41.0
23:45:00.093, CPU: 0, Clock:  831.23, Throttle:   96.04, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  10.99, OSLoad:   7.81, CoreTemp: 42.0
23:45:00.093, CPU: 1, Clock:  831.15, Throttle:   95.99, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  63.23, OSLoad:  60.94, CoreTemp: 41.8
23:45:01.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2494.60, Throttle:   99.98, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:   7.14, OSLoad:   7.81, CoreTemp: 43.8
23:45:01.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.88, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  41.82, OSLoad:  57.81, CoreTemp: 44.8
23:45:02.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.47, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:   6.56, OSLoad:   3.13, CoreTemp: 45.0
23:45:02.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2494.11, Throttle:   98.32, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  41.14, OSLoad:  60.94, CoreTemp: 46.4
23:45:03.109, CPU: 0, Clock: 2494.07, Throttle:  100.02, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  12.72, OSLoad:  10.94, CoreTemp: 47.2
23:45:03.109, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.90, Throttle:   99.95, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  47.39, OSLoad:  57.81, CoreTemp: 50.0
23:45:04.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.74, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  10.76, OSLoad:  14.06, CoreTemp: 48.4
23:45:04.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.41, Throttle:  102.43, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  29.64, OSLoad:  32.81, CoreTemp: 51.8
23:45:05.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.26, Throttle:   99.91, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:   6.21, OSLoad:   0.00, CoreTemp: 50.2
23:45:05.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.74, Throttle:  101.73, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  16.30, OSLoad:  25.00, CoreTemp: 54.2
23:45:06.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.97, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:   8.70, OSLoad:   6.25, CoreTemp: 50.8
23:45:06.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.90, Throttle:  100.05, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  29.57, OSLoad:  43.75, CoreTemp: 54.6
23:45:07.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.65, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  50.84, OSLoad:  48.44, CoreTemp: 54.0
23:45:07.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.85, Throttle:  100.04, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  19.70, OSLoad:  18.75, CoreTemp: 56.2
23:45:08.093, CPU: 0, Clock:  831.10, Throttle:   95.98, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  21.83, OSLoad:   3.13, CoreTemp: 53.2
23:45:08.093, CPU: 1, Clock:  831.26, Throttle:   95.97, FID:  8.0, VID: 0.925, CPULoad:  57.31, OSLoad:  16.92, CoreTemp: 54.0
23:45:09.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.82, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  58.01, OSLoad:  37.50, CoreTemp: 56.4
23:45:09.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.74, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  59.26, OSLoad:  60.94, CoreTemp: 57.0
23:45:10.109, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.60, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  95.67, OSLoad:  48.44, CoreTemp: 61.2
23:45:10.109, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.75, Throttle:  100.01, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  98.63, OSLoad:  81.54, CoreTemp: 61.6
23:45:11.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2490.22, Throttle:   99.93, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  96.62, OSLoad:  59.38, CoreTemp: 67.0
23:45:11.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.81, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  97.05, OSLoad:  76.19, CoreTemp: 67.2
23:45:12.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.76, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  96.26, OSLoad:  45.31, CoreTemp: 70.6
23:45:12.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2492.90, Throttle:   99.92, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  98.50, OSLoad:  85.94, CoreTemp: 72.4
23:45:13.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2487.45, Throttle:   99.86, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  95.80, OSLoad:  45.31, CoreTemp: 78.2
23:45:13.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.88, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  98.88, OSLoad:  87.50, CoreTemp: 80.6
23:45:14.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2494.12, Throttle:   99.95, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  57.89, OSLoad:  28.13, CoreTemp: 80.8
23:45:14.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.42, Throttle:  100.00, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  60.44, OSLoad:  59.38, CoreTemp: 83.6
23:45:15.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2494.44, Throttle:   99.97, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  79.24, OSLoad:  56.25, CoreTemp: 82.8
23:45:15.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.73, Throttle:   99.95, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  80.72, OSLoad:  77.78, CoreTemp: 85.4
23:45:16.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2494.30, Throttle:  100.03, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  84.20, OSLoad:  53.13, CoreTemp: 84.4
23:45:16.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.86, Throttle:  100.04, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  87.08, OSLoad:  70.77, CoreTemp: 86.6
23:45:17.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.54, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  93.89, OSLoad:  56.25, CoreTemp: 85.8
23:45:17.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2494.37, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  96.48, OSLoad:  78.13, CoreTemp: 87.8
23:45:18.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.22, Throttle:  100.01, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  93.34, OSLoad:  68.75, CoreTemp: 87.0
23:45:18.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2530.57, Throttle:  100.04, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  96.48, OSLoad:  78.13, CoreTemp: 88.8
23:45:19.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 2493.70, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  92.75, OSLoad:  51.56, CoreTemp: 90.6
23:45:19.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 2493.84, Throttle:   99.99, FID: 12.0, VID: 1.137, CPULoad:  96.43, OSLoad:  74.60, CoreTemp: 92.0
23:45:20.093, CPU: 0, Clock: 1246.96, Throttle:   95.90, FID:  6.0, VID: 1.000, CPULoad: 103.55, OSLoad:  64.06, CoreTemp: 88.8
23:45:20.093, CPU: 1, Clock: 1247.10, Throttle:   95.96, FID:  6.0, VID: 1.000, CPULoad: 105.68, OSLoad:  76.92, CoreTemp: 90.0
23:45:20.093, CPU: 1, CPU OVERHEAT ALERT!

Specs:
Gateway P6831FX (Refurb)
.31 BIOS (A1R3100) - For Intel VT Tech unlock
Intel T9300 (Stuck at 1.6Ghz@8x 1/2 bus,0.925v)
4GB PC2-6400 (Running at 800Mhz, woot!)
Dual 320GB 7200RPM HDD (32MB Cache)
8800 GTS - STOCK
Windows XP x64 w/ SP2

 

Is the CPU an engineering sample? Did you buy it used? Have you undervolted it?

 

Is the CPU an engineering sample?
>No ('SLAYY')

Did you buy it used?
>No, New.

Have you undervolted it?
>Working on that now. So far I've gotten it to x9 multiplier @ 0.925v running at 62 degrees. I'm working my way up the mulitpliers. I was amazed that taking it from 1.150 down to 0.925 dropped the temp from 84 to 62! I'm hoping to at least make it to 2.0 Ghz, although its kind of crappy that it can run at stock speed/voltages...

I also reseated and re-thermal pasted the CPU a few more times, adding more seemed to work the best so far, it isn't making contact on the entire CPU with the usual very thin layer and the screws just can't go down any lower without stripping...

 

You said the fan wasn't coming on? At what temp does it come on?

You should not have to undervolt the CPU to avoid overheating, it should run fine as is. Of course, you SHOULD undervolt it because it is a great tweak, but that's not something you should be relying on just to make the CPU work.

 

The fan does come on somewhere around 40 or 50 degrees, but the CPU can go from 30-90 before the fan can completely spin up.

Update: I've gotten it stable at 2.3Ghz ([email protected]) with temps at 71 doing Prime95, 55-60 doing Crysis CPU Bench.

 

is there a thermal pad on the northbridge? if not your screwed.

do not put arctic silver on the north bridge chip either, this lead to the long road of my laptop dieing.

 

how the heck did you undervolt that cpu to. 925 volt. i have the t8300 on my 6831 and the lowest is goes with rightmark is .950. i have tired the x9000 and the t9300 too and they also go that low only. and you must have a problem somewhere, i think its the fan most likely. the fan on my 6831 never shuts off even when the cpu is around 37C idle, my tops out at 56C 100% undervolted to .9875

 

Hmm, you mentioned screws missing from the heat sink. Did you ever replace them? If you don't have sufficient pressure on the CPU, that might cause the heat sink to be ineffective.

The fan should be on all the time too, as someone else said. It depends on a sensor to heat up, so you'll want to check to make sure that's not a problem.

Since you got it refurbed, I'd suggest grabbing those guides again, rolling up your sleeves and verifying that everything under the hood is connected correctly. Check it all, and check it twice to be sure

Best of luck!

 

I second this, mine T9800 works fine w/o undervolting.

 

dude your t9800 doesnt work in the 6831, that cpu only works in 7811 and newer models.

 

same notebook, newer parts

plus clearly it is working, he probably has the 7811 or higher

 

I have not replaced the two missing heatsink screws as I don't have any that fit. Any idea where I can get screws of this size (and the two springs if they are needed)?

The northbridge looks like it has a thermal pad on it, its not in very good shape but its there.

Here is the undervolts I have running now:

Code:

Multi - Voltage - Max Temp (in Rightmark) Prime95
8x  - 0.925  - 46
6x  - 0.925  - 52
7x  - 0.925  - 55
8x  - 0.925  - 57
9x  - 0.925  - 59
10x - 0.925  - 61
11x - 0.925  - 74
12x - 0.9875 - 84 

When I remove the load the CPU drops down to 36 within a second or two. The fan appears to work, it doesn't sound like its dying or anything and spins up appropriately, just a bit slowly.

Playing Crysis for 3 hours caused an overheat so I dropped it to 10x and now it has run for 12+ hours on various games w/o issue.

 

Christ on a cracker, I have the same CPU, and it overheats to a constant, tropical-beach-warm...

ONE HUNDRED AND GODDAMN FOUR CELCIUS.

I have to keep it on a cardboard box with a desk fan inside to let it run any games without overheating and shutting down.

You're not alone, mate

 

really weird. my T9300 idles @ 30-33 and tops @ 55-60 under load (UVed). like someone said there may be uneven pressure on the cpu die because of diff screws ? reapply thermal compound? seriously something is wrong with these temps.