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    Official MSI GX640 Owner's Thread

    Discussion in 'MSI' started by min2209, Apr 6, 2010.

  1. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    There's loads on ebay and in my room :p

    Got 3 of those on my heatsink .. haven't got a chance to make use of all of em yet but will be useless in my case as i don't see my temps going any lower. Might help dissipate heats ...
     
  2. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    Quick question: Overall, does the GX have any heating issues? Cuz if it does, I'd rather just skip buying this one. Mods dont float my boat. At $1k, it should run well stock, ideally. If I buy a cooling pad/mat that has fans that blow upwards, will that be sufficient if I'm in 90degree Los Angeles summer weather?
     
  3. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    No it doesn't , most people are making a big deal out of it .. 50c+ at idle is not hot , that's the average temp for a GPU. Using a cooler is always recommended for gaming.

    NZXT Cryo LX is the best cooler on the market at the mo , granted it's a bit pricey but worth it for your 1k investment.
     
  4. hakira

    hakira <3 xkcd

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    You don't have to mod it for it to run ok (unlike the g51's in the thread i linked), it's more an issue of modding because you can. Also lower temps can never hurt... they are probably part of the reason my compal is still my main comp :s
     
  5. Ryan

    Ryan NBR Moderator

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    Wait for the new Zalman NC3000s and NC3000u. :D

    I'm waiting for those...
     
  6. Drager773

    Drager773 Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi I'm new to these forums and I have just been using it to research this particular laptop you guys are discussing about. Lol I've been reading up on the gx640 for almost 2 months and constantly come to this thread to check out new developments, problems or helpful advice you share. I'm pretty sure that i want this laptop. Seems like the best bang for my buck type of deal =)
    My dilemma is that I really want to have this laptop as soon as possible when I order it online. Can someone give me a trusted buyer where i can get the laptop within 1-2 days? I really also don't want to be given a "dud" that I have to RMA, so a credible reseller would be very much appreciated.

    I've looked up some sites and I can't really decide between their credibility because I am fairly new at buying computers online. REMEMBER shipping speed is a huge plus for me because I want to order it by Sunday and get it on Tues-Wed so I can tweak it for a few days before I have to go to my National Guard Drills.
     
  7. p51mustang23

    p51mustang23 Notebook Evangelist

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    Xoticpc
    GentechPC
    RKcomputers

    I think those are some of the most well liked. If you want better chance at not having a DOA, then you will need to give them a day or 2 to test it.
    --------

    The gx640 seems to have temps that are perfectly acceptable @ stock. However I am really interested in doing some cooling mods, especially the copper pieces. What would be a good keyword to search/site to visit to find them. I'll also get a laptop cooler and under-volt my CPU, so it should run like ice.

    Also, as was asked before, how much clearance is there for any copper added? I've heard the parts are around 5mm tall, will that fit? Hopefully going to pull the trigger on this thing soon...
     
  8. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    You want a trusted reseller who will take care of you? Go to Ken Lee at GenTechPC.com. Tell him I sent you.

    In full disclosure, I did not buy my Gx640 from him because I was unaware that he sold it. However, prior to this, I was going to buy an ASUS G73 and then an ASUS N82 from him (but ended up with the GX640).

     
  9. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    Their price is $1149 and they charge a little more for shipping than most wholesalers, and you'll need to do a minor upgrade if you want them to check it for you. However, I can understand wanting to pay the extra for peace of mind.
     
  10. aintz

    aintz Notebook Evangelist

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    id only buy from them if they post a video of them applying thermal paste etc. the guy at frosty computer just put 10x as5 on a gpu as needed and that will majorly messup temps and not to mention possible chip damage.

    probalby going to pick one up from ncix if i dont find a good clevo reseller in canada
     
  11. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    Has anyone noticed that the FAX modem drivers provided in the MSI website are for Motorola and Agere?

    http://www.msi.com/index.php?func=nbdriver&maincat_no=135&prod_no=1998

    However, in the Device Manager, the fax modem driver is from LSI.

    So, why no LSI driver in the MSI website then?

    EDIT: Turns out LSI and Agere had a corporate merger. The Agere driver is the upgrade to the stock LSI one.
     
  12. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    Did anyone update their laptops with the most recent BIOS and VBIOS yet?

    If yes, did you notice any differences?
     
  13. willjob

    willjob Notebook Enthusiast

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    If you want fast shipping and the cheapest price then order from Provantage.com. As long as you order by 3pm Eastern time they ship out the same day. I ordered my overnight and I think the shipping was about $40. It is only $10 regular ground.

    I have had zero problems with mine.
     
  14. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    Those looks good , but they are only 720rpm :eek:

    Been done by Notenoughminerals. It's the one installed in your machine , MSI were late to put it up apparently.
     
  15. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

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    zalman has a 220mm Fan,

    dude that will probably push more air then the cryo even at that rpm, but then its also down to fan design too :)
     
  16. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    Mine is a 25cm/850rpm and i'm still not satisfied with it :(

    Cryo will still be the top dog i think. Yeah , Mera will let us know about the fan :p
     
  17. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

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    The cryo is defo very good, but it probably has a degree of uneven airflow due to the 3 fans (I think?)

    Where as the zalman fan, takes the whole base of the cooler, but your temps seem amazing so you should be satisfied !
     
  18. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    I know , but still wanted a faster fan :p I think 850rpm is the fastest available for 25cm fan ..

    All 3 are in the middle right ?

    Off-topic , where the hell do you get copper sheets in the UK ? I went down the local B&Q , all they got is 0.1mm or something .... too thin

    They do have some nice mesh though , might go into Mcgyver mode and build myself a bottom cover :D
     
  19. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

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    Yeah i suppose the faster the better alot of the time for fans,

    Hmm copper in the UK, i actually dont know mind you, you could try a mix of mx-3 and copper plate stacks?
     
  20. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    Yeah that's why i'm looking for some , 0.9mm would have been sweeter rather than stacking up those thin sheets .. i will try it though.
     
  21. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

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    I'll start browsing around, heck ill even check some of the local pc stores, and ofc hardware :D.
     
  22. Dead2th3world

    Dead2th3world Pure Hatred

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    Kool ! Let the hunt begins :D
     
  23. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    There are plenty of online suppliers you could probably buy sheet copper from.
     
  24. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    Good call. Just checked my BIOS and VBIOS versions with HWiNFO32. You're absolutely correct. Thanks.

     
  25. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    NOTE: you will need to install both the LSI and Motorola drivers for the Fax Modem.

    Both are listed in my Programs List.
     
  26. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    At stock settings, and stock chassis (unmodded by copper, etc), and without a cooling pad underneath the computer, and with an i5-430m, what are some of the temperatures for: idle, surfing the web, watching youtube, and playing games?

    Also, what are good temperatures for the GX to be at anyways (please specify a range)? As I type this on my HP dv2610us, with the temperature outside the house at 55F, CPUID says my CPU is 122F (50C) and 113F (46C), with the GeForce 7150M at 148F (64C), and the HDD at 105F (41C). It has the battery in, and AC adapter plugged in charging the battery. The palmrest is cool to the touch, with like a hint of heat (similar to the heat if you touch your cheeks on a normal day).

    Thanks
     
  27. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    Here is the Vantage score for JJB's HP Envy 15 2nd Gen (he has one of the better quality CPU/GPU with respect to OC). He had an i5-540M CPU and ATI HD 5830 mobility (overclocked).

    As you can see, while his CPU score is higher than ours, our GPU and overall Vantage scores blow the Envy 15 away. Without a coupon, the Envy is almost $450 more expensive.

    The HP Envy 15 is definitely not better than the GX640 when it comes to cost-benefit.

    [​IMG]
     
  28. ledzep60

    ledzep60 Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am planning on getting this laptop in the next few weeks. Have a question. I want to swap the hard drive with a SSD.Then move the 550 Gb drive to an external enclosure. Can I run Aronis to an external drive and then lay back down on the SSD? I know that the WIN7 OS is an OEM version that doesn't come with a disk and you really can't install more than once. I don't want to buy another copy of WIN7.

    thanks
     
  29. ydaf

    ydaf Notebook Consultant

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    Does anybody know why there is a big gap in my CPU core temperatures? Is it probably because the thermal paste wasn't applied evenly/correctly? Should I be worried about this? Sometimes it's up to a 10 degree difference. Thanks.
    [​IMG]
     
  30. lackofcheese

    lackofcheese Notebook Virtuoso

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    I have pretty much the same gap. However, I think it's simply because Core #0 is the one that does almost all the work; Core #1 is probably switched off much of the time. If you put the CPU under load, you'll find the temperatures tend to equalize.
     
  31. ydaf

    ydaf Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks. I was thinking that might be the reason why. Good to know I'm not the only one.
     
  32. p51mustang23

    p51mustang23 Notebook Evangelist

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    I've been looking at both the ZALMAN ZM-NC1000 and NZXT ACC-NT-CR02-B CRYO S 15".

    Which one blows the most air directly into the GX640's intakes? or is something else better?
     
  33. ECKS

    ECKS Notebook Prophet

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    bump for GX640 temps
     
  34. Tree_Burner

    Tree_Burner Notebook Deity

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    finally, after long wait, my gx640 will arrive tomorrow.

    got a call from ups today, "we need a signature to deliver this package. we cannot give an exact time, but it will be there between 8 am and 7 pm."

    thats kinda ridiculous... i can't sit at home all day...
     
  35. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    I think I'm definitely buying this laptop in just a few weeks.

    On another note, is there really no hardware virtualization option in the bios? It seems ridiculous to me that MSI would leave that out. No XP mode?
     
  36. Tree_Burner

    Tree_Burner Notebook Deity

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    xp with window 7 professional.
     
  37. NotEnoughMinerals

    NotEnoughMinerals Notebook Deity

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    Yea, xp modes normally work best through the OS
     
  38. peekaboom

    peekaboom Notebook Consultant

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    You have two options.

    One, is to call the nearest service center, tell them you have a package that will be delivered but you won't be home. Ask when you can pick it up directly from the service center / loading yard. I had to do that with my last laptop.

    The other option is to leave a signed note indicating that UPS has permission to leave the package from <INSERT NAME OF RESELLER YOU PURCHASED FROM> at the porch. You'll want to call UPS service and ask what the protocol is that for that. Although of course you then run the risk of having your brand-new laptop sitting outside your door for x-hours.
     
  39. min2209

    min2209 Notebook Deity

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    I realized something earlier. About the vent placement.

    See, they can't really have the vent at the back, with the battery being at the back there's too little space, and besides, having the vent beside the battery will eventually fry the battery.

    They can't have any of the hot components and the heatsink on the left because... it's a gaming laptop. Your left hand is on WASD. That only leaves the right side. Has to be the top right corner because putting a vent at the bottom right would mean you CAN'T get out of the way of the heat regardless of where you place the mouse. So I suppose... live with it :D
     
  40. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    I know, but in order to do that, you need to have hardware virtualization enabled. On my current laptop, this is a setting in the BIOS. There is no such setting in the GX640 BIOS. Maybe it's enabled by default?
     
  41. Tree_Burner

    Tree_Burner Notebook Deity

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    haha. also on the phone they said they could not make any changes for the delivery until after the first attempt. so lets just hope i'm home when it comes
     
  42. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    I contacted MSI about hardware virtualization support. I thought I'd post it here.

    MSI Tech. 04/26/2010 it is auto turn on.
    End User 04/26/2010 Does this laptop support hardware virtualization? In many other laptops, there is an option to enable or disable hardware virtualization in the BIOS, but I do not see such an option in the manual. Thanks for your help.

    So apparently it's always on. Good stuff. I can't wait to order.
     
  43. hakira

    hakira <3 xkcd

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    That's a good point, but coming from lappys that have vents on the upper left it's still weird.

    Any word on copper mod headroom? Looking for about 7+mm between the heatpipes and the case backing... a copper mod would probably negate any negative things about the right vent placement by preventing the fan from spinning up too high?
     
  44. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    For people with the i5-430M, is this processor a bottleneck for things like Crysis, GTA IV, and Assassin's Creed II? I'd like to stick with it since I don't get a discount for upgrading through Xotic. I wouldn't mind upgrading it myself a few years later if I need to, especially since the processors will be cheaper (both because I would buy it myself and because I won't have to pay for installation).
     
  45. bankergolfer

    bankergolfer Notebook Deity

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    No, it's not a bottleneck.

    No, you won't upgrade the CPU in a few years, because there will be a faster, more powerful laptop available for the same relative price as the GX640 is today. Your money will be better spent getting the updated technology.

    Seriously, when is the last time that you've updated a laptop? Desktop, yes. Laptop, no.


     
  46. NotEnoughMinerals

    NotEnoughMinerals Notebook Deity

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    Well people upgrade laptops, but mainly hard drives or RAM.
     
  47. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    True. I wish I could pay for the upgrade, not for the whole processor. Would I even notice any difference between the i5-430M and the i5-540M? If it's significant, maybe it's worth $300, but I don't see that really happening.
     
  48. jaysonsd

    jaysonsd Notebook Enthusiast

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    I've used it on Crysis and Dead Space. Crysis was full screen maxed out everything, ran smooth. Dead Space was maxed out windowed in 1024. Ran smooth and the sidebar said my processors never got over 50%. But these are both GPU reliant games. I plan on upgrading when quads come down in price.

    You'll get a higher benchmark (look into the early parts of the thread), not sure what else. My comp did stutter when I tried to stream a video through HDMI on HD and play SC2 @ the same time :rolleyes: .
     
  49. bossier330

    bossier330 Notebook Consultant

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    Thanks for your help. Good stuff. I guess I'll live without playing HD video and gaming at the same time :(
     
  50. aintz

    aintz Notebook Evangelist

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    no laptop will play crysis "smoothly" on high settings (60fps)

    i guess people just really have low standards, back when oblivion came out one of my friends in real life thought having 10fps was smooth. that was truly sad.

    if you want to play games near max settings buy a desktop. unless you dont mind 30fps.
     
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