8710w GC124EA - operating temperatures

Config : T7700 Core 2 Duo (2.4 Ghz Processor), Nvidia 1600m, WUXGA screen.

I was wondering what are the normal temperatures on this machine ? When totally idle using Core Temp utility it shows around 55 - 60 Celsius temperature / core. When i kick it with a heavy game it goes sometimes even at 90 degrees celsius. I could even shut it down while playing Mass Effect for some time (i belive it's reaching the 100 degrees threshold). So in order to avoid this i use the Windows 7 feature (Maxim processor state) and set the processor speed to 80%-85%. Now, the laptop always sits on a Zalman Notebook Cooler NC2000 so i'm guessing this helps too.

What are my options here ? I'm thinking about opening the laptop...clean it a bit and change the thermal paste (CPU and GPU) with Arctic Cooling 5 (i understood the factory paste used by HP is pretty bad). I could also upgrade the T7700 processor to a T9300 (wich i read it's way cooler).

I'm waiting for some advice. Thank you.

 

I should also mention ... i own this laptop from april 2008...i've never cleaned it inside so i'm guessing there's some real "dirt" in there. I will buy the silver arctic 5 paste. Can i put it on both CPU and GPU ? Or the GPU needs special treatment ?

 

Most likely you just need to clean the dust and probably repaste the CPU. As for the GPU, check the temps (HWinfo32, GPU-Z, HWMonitor, etc) first. If they are ok, - don't touch it. If even after dust cleaning the GPU temps remain high, - mess with it. You can use AS-5 on the GPU die (main crystal) but not on the memory pads. Those can only be replaced with proper pads. So, I'd say, leave the stock memory pads for future and only repaste the core/die.

 

Good advice....will do so. Thanks again.

 

Ok...finally opened it, you can check the photos. I got some questions :

1. What type of screwdriver do i need to open the videocard thermal pad ? (picture nr. 3) I bought a T6 and it's too damn small .... so must be T8 or T10 tops.
2. Is there a way to open just the processor thermal pad ? I unleashed the screws but the thermal pad goes right next to the fan and i can't get it out without disasembling the video thermal pad too....or so i belive.

 

Another question...as you can see in the 4'th picture, i bought the arctic cleaning solutions 1&2. They were ment to clean the processor and thermal sink but can they be used to clean the plastic blades of the cooler also ? And if so ... should i use cleaner nr. 1 or nr. 2 ? (i read their manuals and it sais the first one is for disolving any thermal pads pieces that remain on the heatsink and nr. 2 for perfectly cleaning them afterwards). So i belive the nr. 1 solution is more acid (if i can say so) and i'm afraid not to damage the plastic. Should i use ONLY solution nr. 2 ?
Any of you guys have tried them in such a manner ?

 

Ok ... finally done...with success You cannot imagine what kind of dirt lies around the fan.

Will also wait for the Arctic 5 to show it's teeth...they say it can take up to 200 hrs to get to optimal themperature. Will keep you posted.

 

Did this surgery result in better results?

I have an 8710w as well that heats up and I am trying to find a solution that fixes the problem.

Thanks.

 

if its dust, you can see quickly by just taking the keyboard off and look at her insides.

If there is a lot of dust, you need to clean

I do this to my 8740 every 3 months

(well when i'm not swapping out cpu's for benchmarks anyway!)

When i had an old school NW9440, after cleaning dust and repasting cpu/gpu i had a drop of 18c in max temps