I am running Sager 2090 as a server. HELP!

hi all. been a long time since i rapped at ya.

i am using a sager 2090 laptop as a server. it works fine, but i would like to get the heat down. the sager has the infamous 8600M GT graphics card. it runs idle at 65. which is fine for laptop use, but as a server i would like to get the temps down.

i do realize that using a desktop as a server is superior, but don't have that option right now. i will also be running linux on it eventually instead of xp.

i would have no problem running it with no gpu (headless) at all. will uninstalling the gpu decrease the temps? anyone else had experience running a laptop as a server shut off their gpu somehow? i'm new to all this server stuff so be gentle.

 

i don't think you can disable the gpu. there is no integrated to take it's place. and running headless will not solve the problem.

 

my tip is that you buy Zalman NC3000 or other that has a fan that is 200mm big. That will cool the laptop down a bit.

 

yeah, i could concentrate on cooling rather than turning the gpu off.
this is why laptops make lousy servers, among other reasons...

if there are any others out there using a laptop as a server- let me know what you do about heat issues, if you have any.

 

a cheap 12 volt fan will help immensely just putting it on the side and elevating the laptop a little bit. i rigged an old tv cart with two holes i carved out for 4 inch fans with open space. now that some cooling.

 

I've ran laptops as servers before in the past, I can recommend the same as others have said with using additional fans.

I can also recommend a few more intensive ideas for keeping the GPU cool, some methods I've used myself for this is undervolting and underclocking the GPU either through software methods or bios modding, depending on what power states your 8600M GT has that could be a possible option, if that appeals to you I can point you in the direction of resources for it.

 

yes, atmosk. underclocking/volting the gpu is an attractive idea. any more info would certainly be appreciated. i have tossed around the idea of using rivatuner... what in your opinion is the best software option?

i think i'll try coolbits first. looks pretty easy.

 

Rivatuner will offer some clock settings, no voltage and may or may not only allow changing the clock of the performance power state.

Nvidia Inspector is another app that will let you adjust clock speeds but again may or may not allow you to set it for states besides the performance state, that seems to be dependent on which card model, you'd have to try it to see.

NiBitor Is an app for dumping and editing the vbios, you have full control over the power states and voltage from there, to flash back you'd need to use nvflash, I can either dig up a link for that or upload the win 32/64 version that I use, it's hard to link one off the top of my head since some sites seem to confuse the dos versions with the windows versions.

Any other options come to mind I'll let you know, the vbios editing is a lot simpler than it is made out to be at times, I've had very little issues with years of vbios modding on desktop and mobile GPU's.

 

coolbits reg hack does not do anything.
nibitor will not open the bios.

my guess is the driver has this locked down? is it common to have to use an older driver to get this stuff to work?
will try new drivers and update tomorrow.

 

Are you on win 64? if you are you need to either use nvflash to dump the vbios to file or boot with driver signature enforcement disabled for nibitor to be able to talk to the card and dump vbios it's self, sorry that part spaced my mind at the time.

 

Underclock with MSI Afterburner and get a notebook cooler. Those are my suggestions for now.

 

nvidia inspector is working for underclocking. gpu temps are down 8-10 degrees. nice. i think i will try some arctic silver 5 in addition to a notebook cooler next.

after i get all that working, i might just go for the bios modding. thanks for all the tips. i will keep you posted.



update: arctic silver 5, laptop cooler, and nvidia inspector have things substantially cooler. nvidia inspector has a nice feature- you can make a shortcut and stick it in the startup folder to downclock the laptop at startup.

gpu is now idling at 49 degrees, down from an idle temp of 67 degrees! nice.