CPU core temps?

I have an NP9377 with the i7 4910mq. Core temps with the laptop suspended by the sides about 2" off the table are 92c (seems very temp stable, not sure if throttling back for temp) with the fans on auto running prime95. During games running in turbo mode I've seen spikes to 97. Of note: When stopping p95 there is an approximate ~35c drop in CPU temps. And it happens QUICK. <1sec. Then I see the typical temp slope as the heat sink sheds it's residual heat.

Laptop has the upgraded thermal paste to IC diamond.

Is this normal? Are they really HOT running CPUs? Or does it sound more likely that the heat sink contact from manufacture is less than ideal or a bad heat sink or something?

Seems like this is a bit on the hot side for being stock clock.

As a side note: How flat are the coolers on sager products in general? Enough that they'll accept an application of liquid metal TIM?

 

Auto fans *NEVER* kick up to maximum. Try FN + 1 for a 10+ degree drop in temps.
Next, did you say that you got 97 degrees in gaming with a propped up laptop? Your paste job or heatsink (or both) are bad. Instantly.

Here, I have two videos of battlefield 4 (known CPU toaster) and a couple of other games where my temp is visible. For each video, set to 1080p to see the temp meter better.
Battlefield 4 normal/livecom
Battlefield 4 ultra preset with 200% resolution scale + overclocked GPUs
Evolve Big Alpha
Tomb Raider benchmark, ultra preset (no tressFX) + 4x SSAA
Trine 2 ultra preset + 4x SSAA
CoD: Advanced Warfare (middle of a review; watch the temps is all)

These were all with max fans + a propped up machine, but even on auto fans I don't usually pass 80 degrees in gaming. Without propping my machine I hit 90 degrees in BF4 at max fans, but most other games don't get close to 90. BF4 is the only one that does. Also note that most of the games have above 60fps because I have a 120Hz screen and thus a 60fps vsync lock is out of the question, so my CPU gets extra load.

 

I'll post up some temp graphs with the fan on auto/max when I get home.

I guess there's not much out there as far as tests for a bad cooler is there? The fan works, but no way to determine a bad heat pipe or something?

Have you ever had the heat sink off yours yet? How flat / smooth is it? If not, lappable or PITA? I don't have any extra TIM laying around at the moment else I'd check myself

 

It's lappable if you're careful. I've repasted mine three times in the paste. It's quite easy actually. If your heatsink is bad, no matter how you paste or what paste you use, it's going to suck with temps. Especially if you notice a huge deterioration in temps after a couple of days and the paste pumps out.

 

Ok I have those temp graphs now

First one is again with the laptop propped up. Fans on auto running prime 95. Note the immediate jump in temperature from 50c to 80c, and fall off after prime95 is stopped. Peaks temps are somewhat better than last night as the room is cool this morning - 65f



Again with the fans on max. Still an immediate rise and fall in temperature, temps staying in the low 80s

 

So propping it up and max fans = no problems now for temps? Prime95 is not something you run normally. But I expected you to try it in games; the same ones that gave you the 97 degrees.

 

I'll get that this evening. I figured prime 95 would be the most consistent test since it's a full load vs. erratic like games

I'm stll hung up on this rapid temp spike/dropoff when introducing or removing a load.


I would've loved to overclock this guy a little bit but as it is I don't think it's going anywhere from a thermal standpoint. The fact that I can't get desirable temps without forcing fans to full - and even then on the high side of my comfort zone - I'm thinking something somewhere is wonky

 

You had a problem with games more than with tests like prime95 from what you had said. If you really want more cooling, coolaboratory Liquid Ultra would help much more, but I can't say what the limit is. I'm able to overclock and game on max fans with this thing propped up like I have it using folded toilet paper blocks, but it gets a little too hot when I render videos, so I left the OC off.

 

Yup sure enough getting temps in the mid 90s. Flipping the fans to max keeps it in the 80c range.

Going to order up some thermal paste and sand paper. CPU heatsink doesn't look too bad as far as lapping goes. It's the GPUs that look like they'd be a pain. Not going to worry about them though. temps are fine.

 

if you're getting 80's temps with max fans and a sufficient propped up machine on the CPU in gaming, your paste is likely not done well. I *max* at 80 in BF4 at 125fps, and my room is likely hotter than yours. So yeah, even a normal repaste with good paste should help. To be fair, with max fans without propping up I never had overheating issues. Never thermal throttled under normal usage (95+ deg is thermal throttle).

 

I recommend to anyone who has thermal problems to try sealing up the space between the fan and the heatsink. It prevents air escaping and makes sure all of it is forced through the fins. I found this to be an effective strategy. My CPU runs at 72 degrees average on Prime95 blend which I am very happy with. (I can't say the same for GPU stress tests unfortunately).

Here is what I did.

 

Great idea! Never would have thought of that

 

That doesn't work for the P37xSM or SM-A machines. The P370EM version benefitted as far as I know, but the SM & SM-A SLI models didn't benefit.

As I said above, it shouldn't benefit, but feel free to try it and let me know.

 

isn't that insulation tape?

 

Yes it is.

 

I would also suggest repasting with some IC Diamond/Gelid GC extreme.. That thing can do wonders.. After repasting with IC Diamond, my CPU temps were 10C less then with Dell stock paste or Arctic Cooling MX-4..

 

He got the 9377-S model which means he came with ICD by default. You can't NOT pick ICD when getting the NP 9377-S. Which is why I suggested either his paste job was "bad" or he had a bad heatsink. His temps appear to still surpass mine even though his room is cooler, and I'm using Arctic Céramique 2 on my CPU, so... yeah. I think something is up.

 

Definitely.

I have the 8258-S model with the 880M.



I run significantly cooler with hotter hardware.

 

Weird. I got some liquid metal ultra and a lapping kit from Frozen CPU the other day. Should be here in a week-ish. I guess we'll find out soon whether it's the cooler or the paste job.

I had emailed sager about the issue and they said it's within their "safe range" so even if it is a bad cooler it looks like I'm on my own for this one

 

Read this before you do it http://forum.notebookreview.com/ali...a-any-tips-before-i-start-19.html#post9541945

 

Seems about what I was expecting. It's conductive, keep away from aluminum as it's gallium based.

I wasn't aware about the longevity issue, though I'm having trouble finding anything really conclusive about it aside from the occasional person here and there. I guess well have to wait and see! A re application every year wouldn't bother me too much though. I'm used to having to pop my machines apart fairly often to get the dog hair out of it

 

Cooooool (literally)

Did a test applying the liquid metal ultra to the unlapped heatsink (not enough time to dig into it today) and I'm seeing 77 degree temps running p95, fans on auto. Set to full I'm at 70. Again all running p95. I'm very pleased with this


I had myself geared up for a wicked application process but truth be told..... I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's very easy to use. Clean as normal. Put a dot on, "paint it," replace heatsink. Done. Took me all of about ~12 mins including assembly/disassembly

 

i started hitting 80 and high 70s in bf4 on stock clock, while being propt up and cooled from underneath from fans
sending the laptop in for diagnostic testing

 

Is that really that bad? Seems pretty standard, if your fans are on auto. I've been playing AC:Unity on Ultra and with fans on auto and propped with a cooler below, my CPU averages around the low to mid 70s, with the rare small spike into the high 70s. BF4 seems more intensive CPU wise, so your temps aren't really abnormal.

 

after re-doing my thermal paste mine hangs around 65c

 

I repasted with CLU (finally) then set it to 3.9GHz. I'm satisfied with that; I don't pass 92 deg even in solid renders in Handbrake of Shadowplay videos (my hottest daily task), so I'm happy.

Now I need to do the stupid part of finding out how much I can drop voltage to see if I can kill temps & power draw JUST a bit more. -50mV is a BSOD, but I might be able to handle -10mV or something, I think.

 

I was reading about the copper cooling upgrade from Xotic. Decided to grab some heatsinks and go HAM. Was going to put some on the CPU but they are about a mm too thick. Need to find a good way to shave them down and I can pop some there too

 

Bro there is a difference between going HAM and OMGWTHBBQ!!1

 

So what cooling pad and what case modifications are you making to use that extra area?

 

Honestly those temps are not bad and IMO not worth sending in for diagnosis. I have done quite a few benchmarks on lots of computers over the last year. I do all our YouTube video reviews so I check out a lot of models. High 70's and into the 80's is not uncommon.

 

No case mods as of yet. One step at a time. Been using a laptop cooler I got from Fry's ages ago

Saw a 4 degree drop from these and a huge amount of temperature stability. It's pretty stable, not jumping around. Im expecting to see a bigger gain from the CPU than I am the GPUs though. Make use of that empty area on either side of the heatpipes

 

If you ran it over an extended time you would stabilise the same or higher. You have increased the thermal mass but not the cooling ability.