How good is a laptop cooler on lowering CPU temp?

I currently use PCSX2 and Dolphin a lot which are very CPU intensive and when in full load cause it into temps between 85-90C. The bigger problem is that the system starts to turn Turbo Boost on and off which has a big performance impact on the emulators.

If I were to invest in a good quality cooler, can I hope for at least 5C lower, with 10C I'd be over the moon.

 

More like 3C if you're lucky. But to tell you the truth, I can get 2 just from raising the back of it off the surface. So you be the judge as to whether its worth it or not.

On the other hand, that's with medium to high levels. I have yet to set it to render at 100% all night, so I'm hopeful it will be of better use under those extreme circumstances.

 

Have you replaced the heat sink paste on your CPU? A repaste with some good compound could give you what your looking for. Add in the laptop cooler and you could hit 5oC or more reduction your looking for.

 

Even if it doesnt reduce the temp that much, I just want it to be cooler when its under full load, its after 85C that system reduces TB so if I can stay at that or even below Id be happy.

My system is quite a to open but how much of a difference could it make by applying better thermal paste, are there any reports?

 

Notebook coolers have been very effective for me. I would use them always to keep the HDD from melting in my full day, full tilt workflows.

Along with repasting the TIM - the results should be at least as good or better than what you expect.

Many reports of a properly applied TIM lowering temps substantially - this is 'Cooling 101'.

 

Most manufacturers don't take the time to do a proper paste job and either you end up with too much or not enough. Get yourself a good paste(either IC Diamond or Coolaboratory Ultra and repaste you CPU and GPU if possible. Head over to the Alienware M18 forum and checkout the thread on repasting with Coolaboratory Ultra. All I can say is with my I7-3940XM running at 4.6Ghz, is WOW.

 

Depends on the ambient temperature. I've seen more than a 15C decrease in temperatures because of a modified cooling pad I made.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/accessories/703124-my-ultimate-cooling-pad-build-2.html#post9054513

 

Try running throttlestop and see if your hitting TDP throttling.

Maybe you are now finding your answer, that clock for clock the 4702 will run hotter.

Have you tried undervolting? Not only will it help TDP throttling but also temperature, at least at the same clocks. Of course if the reduced power draw results in higher clocks then temperature may still be a problem.

 

v

Show me?

Beside, running at those speeds and being stable are two entirely different things.

And one more things, while I don't mean to be the heavy here, but you don't just wake up one day and go repast your GPU. While it might not be a complicated procedure, it does take a bit of dexterity, patience and technique to get it right. Something not everyone has:

I remember, I tried to glue a cup back together once and glue was everywhere. In the end, the only thing that was stuck together was my fingers.

I shudder to think what my laptop might look like after I'm done. Anyway, I have access to a lab if I ask nicely.

 

Hi there Is it possible to post a link I have been contemplating a CPU and perhaps GPU repaste with something along the same vein for the PCH on a ivy bridge aw m17r4

 

Nice to see you again too, hope you had a great Christmas. Ill try out Throttlestop but from XTU even when under full load it doesnt say there's any throttling. As for emulation, the problem is that TB kicks in but that sends the temp soaring only for it then get disabled but even worse PCSX2 is given less cores to use so as a result my framerate is constantly fluctuating.

Is there any way of setting aside a set amount of the CPU to a program? Also what are the downsides to undervolting?

 

I wouldn't pay XTU to much attention regarding throttle reporting. With ThrottleStop you will get a clear indication with "TDP throttle" and "TDP log". The first one shows realtime TDP throtting and the second one is a sticky bit to show that it has occurred at some time. It can be cleared if already set before any testing.

No downside to undervolting other than getting it right. Too much and the system will crash. Start with -50mV and work towards somewhere around -100mV while checking stability. Once you find where it's unstable add ~30mV to give yourself a bit of headroom.

I have not used PCSX2, does it normally use multiple cores or is it single threaded in which case it may jump from core to core as Windows context switches.

 

Oemenia,
You mentioned thermal pads may be somewhere in your system. My dell d630 had one on the NB and the GPU. I replaced those with pre 1982 pennies (flattened slightly so everything would fit together nicely) with thermal paste on each side and saw a significant reduction in temps (also it probably helped reduce overall temps because the gpu and cpu shared the heatpipe, so when one ran cooler so did the other). The other thing about a cooler, it may help if the fan arrangement is such that a fan is blowing air directly into your computer fan's intake.

 

IMHO Laptops should be designed so when running at stock and within specified ambient temperatures they should not need extra cooling, if they do then perhaps it is better to look elsewhere. What's next, having to run coolers for power bricks!

 

Dufus,

I can agree with you. But for the cost of a notebook cooler (less than 1%-3% of the cost of my notebooks) it is cheap insurance when I'm running them flat out (daily). And at that small percentage - what is one more cooler (shared between a few notebooks) to make sure the bricks keep cool too.

 

True, but while they should not need it to operate efficiently and continuously, sometimes an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

After all , there's nothing wrong with taking an extra step to insure that the machine operates as cool as possible. And the cooler it stays, the longer it will run with less likelihood of failure and/or the need to be serviced.That's the law with any machine whether it be electronic, or mechanical.

 

I have nothing against the coolers themselves, they are a good idea but they should be optional not mandatory because the laptop manufacturer skimped on the laptops own cooling.

 

You can either go on YouTube and you can get videos on teardowns and recasting. Also in the Alienwäre Forum they have links to it in the M17 or M18 owners threads