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    Compaq nc8430; heat, drivers, cooling?

    Discussion in 'HP' started by TerraX, May 26, 2008.

  1. TerraX

    TerraX Newbie

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    Hello!

    I a while back I bought HP Compaq nc8430 (Intel Core 2 CPU T7200 2.00GHz, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, 1GB RAM, Win XP Pro SP2). I have been using it for about 2 years now (around there somewhere as far as I remember). I am mainly using this laptop to draw in CAD programs, watch movies, browse on internet and I am playing games as well.

    Anyway I am having a few problems:

    1.) CPU Heat
    When I turn on laptop temperature goes from 50°C to around 53-55°C (this is when I am not doing anything). If I browse with Firefox and watch some movies online it gets above 60°C. However playing games gets my CPU up to 80°C very quickly (within minutes). It stays around 82-86°C normally (both cores). And it doesn't matter what kind of games I am playing... 8 years old Disciples 2 or a newer games like World of Warcraft or EVE Online. I play on 1680x1050 but all settings on lowest.

    Now apparently this CPU can handle 100°C. So is being above 80°C dangerous? I don't play games that much. Maybe 2-3 hours a day. But during that time CPU is in 82-86°C range all the time.

    And just to add; room is at normal 21°C, there is minimal dust inside laptop, I try and clean it often. Also laptop is about 1cm lifted from wooden desk.

    2.) Graphic card
    I can't find a way to see my GPU temperature? I am using ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 and I fear that things aren't that good at GPU as well... But I don't know how to see it's temperature? I tried SpeedFan, Everest, ATI Tray Tools... nothing shows it's temperature.

    Also what drivers to use? HP won't update them... Mobility drivers are just a pain. I tried to use Omega drivers, is it safe to use them? Or should I just use normal ATI drivers without Mobility support...

    Also how does this laptop cool down Graphic card? I don't see any other fan but the main fan for CPU and interior. Does the same fan also cool down Graphic card?

    3.) Cooling
    I really want to cool down whole laptop. I was thinking about buying laptop cooling pad Zalman ZM-NC1000 or something like that. But the problem is that this laptop doesn't have fan on the bottom... But the fan is actually sucking air in thru keyboard (the fan is under 123QWEASD keys)... So would cooling pad even have any effect? Since there are no fans under laptop.

    I also heard it's possible to undervolt or throttle CPU with RightMark CPU Clock Utility (I use it to monitor CPU temperature). But I never overclocked or underclocked anything.... So yea I am afraid to mess around with settings as I have no idea what am I doing...

    I hope my post isn't too confusing...
    Thanks!
     
    TerraX, May 26, 2008
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  2. andygb40

    andygb40 Notebook Deity

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    To read the temperstures use something like hwmonitor. It's free and seems to work well for mast laptops. Get it from http://www.cpuid.com/hwmonitor.php
    Although your laptop draws the air in from the keyboard, cooling the underside with a notebook cooler reduces the overall temperature of your laptop's chassis. This will help with cooling as the fan won't have quite as much work to do.
     
    andygb40, May 26, 2008
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