P-6860fx Question

Hi all,

I've got a P-6860fx and it's running into issues. Normal operations (browsing, photo editing, etc.) seem to run fine, but whenever I play games, the CPU cores seem to push well into the 70C temperature range, and even hitting early 80s. GPU seems fine temperature wise, but it's -very- obvious that gaming performance since I've received the machine has dropped drastically. Older games such as TF2 can only run on low-medium specs, compared to running at higher/highest specs when I first booted her up.

I've tried undervolting, but could not seem to get it to work for the life of me (after undervolting just a little bit and stress testing, temp shot way up). I've also considered getting a cooler, but I'm not sure how much it would reduce the temp.

In addition to this, part of the casing seems to have popped off slightly. I can visibly lift part of the case up near the left side of the computer (the opposite side of the WiFi switch).

All fans have been blown out, and I'm going to format it soon and see what I can do.

In all, I have two questions:

1) Do you have any suggestions as to what the problem might be?
2) Has anyone had personal experience with Gateway repairs (as the laptop is still under warranty) ?

Thanks!

 

Take it apart further and give it a good cleaning. It sounds like you have dust deep in the system causing it to over heat.

If that isnt the problem then i really dont know what is. Gaming your GPU should heat up alot quicker than your CPU. So i cant see why it would be oppisite of that.

As to undervolting if you follow flip fires guide it will work. All CPU's are different, but the t5750 in the 6860 stock will usually undervolt to the .95 setting.

Another thing you can do is to reseat your CPU. Just pop it out clean all of the old goop off (cleaning the insides of the machine during this for a squeeky clean system) and then applying new thermal paste (i recommend AS cermique, but everyone has a favorite brand)
Sometimes reseating will help if the system has been "jossled" any

The case comign apart does worry me though. Has anything been dropped on it recently? Or has it been dropped?

 

Thanks Kamin.

I would rather not take it apart just yet, as I'd like to consider warranty options first, however, I could see that there would be dust in the system, considering there's a small opening on the case.

As for the case coming apart, it has not been dropped, but has seen it's fair share of pick-up-set-down usage (it was used as my work PC for awhile, and had to be carried to numerous places). It's not as bad as it may sound (at most, it can only be lifted maybe a centimeter), but it does provide a space for airflow that might not be beneficial.

As for the temps, that's what I was worried about. GPU heats up to a normal temperature at a normal rate, but even just doing typical work the laptop will often idle around 55-60C. I've seen it down at 35C, but it's been quite awhile.

I've actually tried to undervolt using a guide on this forum (not sure if it was the one you're referencing), but just couldn't do it. Even dropping voltages a hair would cause it to overheat.

 

You dont have to take it apart that much really. Just flip it over and remove the panels on the bottom (its just screws) then use some compressed air and give it a good cleaning. Then just screw back on the panels.

Might also help to grab a q-tip and swab out the fans.

Actually speaking of fans... does the CPU fan come on? It might be stuck/damaged (never know)

I've never heard of undervolting making your temps spike. The only thing it will ever do is cause a BSOD... thats indeed odd

 

Ah, I can go ahead and do that.

I'm not sure about the CPU fan, I can certainly hear a fan starting/stopping during normal operations, and it's constantly on while gaming. I don't know if that's necessarily the CPU fan, however.

I should note that when undervolting, the temp spikes uncontrollably under stress testing. I often have to quickly stop the stress test before it goes too high (I've hit well up to 89C).

 

you have a cooling issue for sure, it could be that your heatsink has come loose from the CPU

 

Just encase you did not know, the cpu vent is in the back right of the laptop.
The only reason your temps spike when stress testing is because that uses 100% of your cpu instead of when your playing a game it will vary on how much of your cpu is used. It's odd that you have such a problem, try undervolting again. My cpu never goes above 50 when gaming at the very highest, usually staying around 47-48. Also are you using HWmoniter to see temps?

 

Are you using the stock CPU? I had very similar temperatures, it caused my laptop to freeze up while gaming. I'd say clean it out, apply some new thermal paste to the cpu die and then try undervolting it again. There is a great guide on it in the hardware forum.

 

Hi all,

After taking some of your suggestions, I popped off the bottom of the case last night and did some cleaning. Lo and behold, in the CPU fan I found two dime-sized pieces of fuzz/lint that were stuck between two different blades, making the fan spin much slower than it should.

I removed those, did a bit more of the cleaning, and headed up to the undervoltage guide again. This time, it undervolted just like a charm, down to 0.95v. It now seems to idle around mid-thirties, and about high 20s when it's in a specifically chillier room.

The laptop is actually much quieter now (the fan is, at least), and the performance changes are nearly night and day. I think I'll still give it a format here soon, just because it needs it, but I think for now I can stay away from having to ship it to Gateway.

Thanks a lot for everyone's suggestions!

 

Oh, as a second note (since I believe everyone on this forum likes to hear these), the undervolting down to 0.95v reduced the max temperature from 84 down to 70!

 

Glad to be of help.

 

Is that your cpu temp? That still seems high for undervolting. Mine got no more then 57 (I think) when stress testing. 60 at absolute highest. What are your room temps?

Or was that before you removed the dust?

 

you should definately apply new paste on that cpu or get a notebook cooler if u dont got one already, like mechrock said it shouldnt be that high undervolted and idle.

 

My max CPU temp under stress seems to be about 70. Idling it floats around 35-43. I do keep it in a warmer room, however. This is all after removing the dust.

I do not want to crack it open and apply new paste until the warranty runs out, as other issues may occur and I don't want to break the warranty. I will consider getting a cooling fan though. Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

Also, should I consider raising the PC off the ground? It sits flat on my desk.

If so, what should I use to do that?

 

Yes that can lower your temps a good bit as well. At least an inch under the bottom. You can use pretty much anything you want. Example: Book, wallet, or in my case my game case.

 

I've looked into the coolers, and it seems the most popular are the Zalman NC2000 and the Cryo (the model of which I can't think of right now). Does anyone have any personal experience with these?

 

After cleaning out my GPU vent today with compressed air (because my temps seemed a little high again), it appears that the GPU fan is not spinning.

I'm wondering if like someone else in this thread mentioned, some lint or something similar has the fan jammed?

Is there a guide on how to disassemble the 6860? Last time I tried to take it apart I failed miserably, only succeeding in scaring the **** out of myself a few times

 

After about two hours (and a lot of nervous sweat), I got 'er done!

The culprit (in-between the blades of the GPU fan!):



The fan must have almost no torque for something like this to stop it.. Now my GPU is idling at about 44C, back to normal

 

I love happy endings.

 

heh

on a serious note, anyone tried copper mod on GPU? how significant was the temp drop? im really tempted to do the copper mod on chipset and GPU.