GPU temp on M860TU; help!

I've had an M860TU for a year. I regularly monitored my temps because of the elevated HD temp on the laptop and never ever had a problem with my GPU (9800M GT) with the games I typically played(Darkfall)

I couldn't play such a time consuming game anymore so I downloaded an old favorite's newest rendition - Heroes of Might and Magic 5 (game's at least 2 years old) and never thought to keep monitoring my GPU temps.

Well my video card crashed a week after my warantee expired.

I decided to just spring the few hundred bucks and buy a nVidia 260M GTX to replace my dead 9800M GT. I'm still trying to play HOMM5 but my video card keeps jumping up over 100*C (typically between 90 and 108).


What am I doing wrong - the game isn't even on full settings!? I haven't tried it with any other games - is there any tests I can do? Could this game have some error in it thats causing serious heat damage to my GPU?

Could I have already damaged my beautiful new card? Is there a way to check for that?


Edit: I installed the GPU myself, the only difference between the new card and the old card is some of that silver paste that was all over the chip in the center of the card - which the new one doesn't have. Heatsinks on top of it, the fan is put in exactly as it was before. Could I have put the fan in upside down? I don't even think its possible considering the screws are placed asymmetrically.

 

Make sure to give a clean application of thermal compound.

clean off the old thermal compound before re-applying the new compound.

you can use rubbing alcohol or a spray a little WD-40 on a towel and use it to wipe off the old paste.

 

Sounds like you didn't put any thermal compound on the GPU (the silver stuff). This is NEEDED to transfer heat and easily explains your problem.

 

Yikes guess i should have done a bit of research earlier on it. I hope I havent damaged the thing. I wish the tech support guy I talked to had told me that when I asked him if it was difficult to install.

Thanks guys.

Any recommendation on brand of thermal compound to buy or tips on putting it on... or threads that discuss this?

 

the cooling guide walks you through it... generally.

Most people use:
- Arctic Silver 5
- Arctic Cooling MX-2
- OCZ Freeze

 

you should avoid arctic silver if you dont have experience of how to apply thermal grease..
because silver = electric conductivity so spill a little on the sides can pose a risk to your GPU..

i add one to the recommended list : ICD7 , diamonds
or two : MX-3

 

I know i'm a little late but my gpu failed this week on my NP8660 and it was do to the thermal paste cracking and failing after a year.

I don't know if this is normal for thermal paste but i will probrably be reapplying AS5 when it gets back to me due to the fact that i no longer trust sager to apply it correctly.

Read up on how to CORRECTLY apply this stuff...because you really need it with that new card.

-BTW how much did you pay for your new card since I will be buying one shortly.

 

thermal compound needs a new application every year or so... thats just standard.

so its not the fault of the OEM (usually), but its the lack of being informed to show you how to take care of a notebook, especially a performance/gaming notebook.

 

I use Arctic Cooling MX-3, and I highly recommend it. There aren't many reviews of it, but wow it works very well.

As for applying the thermal paste on the GPU, I just used the "line method", as that's the only method I am comfortable with. It's worked well.

 

I just got off the phone with Sager and they infromed me that the 260M GTX was not compatible with the M860TU.

Are they mistaken? Who did you buy your card through?

The only reason i'm asking is because i'm having to replace my 9800m GT and Sager told me that they do not sell the 9800M GT anymore and will not sell me a 260M GTX due to the fact that it is not compatable with the M860TU (Beside the fact that they will not sell me an individual card).

Can anyone help me out with this? I'm really desperate right now.

 

the GTX 260M (MXM 2.x) will fit the M860TU.

Sager likes to follow Clevo's protocol and only recommend the videocard for the exact model and revision.

Meaning up to that time, the 9800M GT was the videocard that came with the M860TU (Sager 8660).

Later on in the newer revision, the GTX 260M came out and became standard to the M860ETU (Sager 8662).

 

So i'm screwed, they have no more 9800m's to sell and they won't sell me just a 260M.

 

You can buy it from RJtech here.

 

Oh man thanx!! Just what I needed!

Gophn, can u confirm that that card will fit in my np8660? Will I need to mod anything? Bios? Or any problems I might run into?

 

Ask RJTech for a copy of the latest BIOS when you buy the card from them.

 

You need Bios 1.02.14 (the oldest that let your laptop recognise the GTX 260M) and KBC/EC 1.00.10. Zfactors guide to flashing bios with a usb-stick.

 

like said above.

it will fit fine, just make sure you have the latest BIOS updated to make sure the system fully recognizes the new card.