Boosting the Video Card

The videocard of the Inspiron 7000 is accessible on the bottom of the laptop. There is a warning to take precaution on static electricity.

I have seen in the site in using arctic silver for various component. Is the videocard one of this??? How do you clean the videocard.[?][?][?]

 

Only if there is a heatsink on the video controller can you use artic silver, all it is is a heatsink compound. As far as the video card, I'm not sure why you would want to clean it???
I do know that if you want to keep your warranty in effect, then don't mess around inside your notebook unless it is just to upgrade the memory. afterall those guys look for any reason they can to void your warranty if anything goes wrong[ ]

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill

 

My laptop is way past its warranty. Its a 5 year old laptop.
The dell website
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pcyc/removing.htm

have a good description on how to dismantle the laptop. I wore an antistatic wrist strap to be safe and only hold the side of the PC boards.

I discovered that the bottom of the heat exchanger has a claylike substance. It is in between the processor and the heat exchange. Can I replace it with arctic silver?[?][?][?] (Below is a diagram of the heatexchanger)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pcyc/heatexrr.htm

I also found out that same claylike substance in between the SODIMM heat sink and Memory module. Can I also replace it with arctic silver?[?][?][?]
(Below is a diagram of the SODIMM heatsink)

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pcyc/procbdrr.htm

There is also a diagram on the videocard. It says to inspect the thermal pad. Can I replace it with Arctic Silver or is a thermal pad better?[?][?][?]
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/pcyc/6086c.pdf

I know you can vacuum the PC inside as I have seen in techtv. Can you use (CRC QD Quick drying )Electronic cleaner to spray the PC boards, videocard, processor?

Its a good thing Dell have service manual. Even novice like me can check provided there are instruction and diagrams.
I guess that is also a double edge sword. For those with warranty, you can't mess with the computer unless its expired. For those with expired warranty, its a big help.[ ]

 

Anywhere you have the old heatsink paste (clay like stuff), you can replace with arctic silver. 1st clean the old stuff off with alcohol (not rubbing, but the pure stuff) then apply a very little amount of arctic silver, more is not better, but worse. Don't use it in addition to a thermal pad, one or the other only. I also would not use any liquid cleaner for the circuit boaards, just blow them off with compressed air.

Jack

"They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security" (Ben Franklin)
http://pbase.com/joneill