Upgrade GPU and heatsinks on overheating p170sm

Hi,

I own an old clevo p170sm that is overheating, both CPU and GPU.
It comes with the i7 8400qm and Geforce780m.

I'd love to both solve overheating and ugprade the GPU too.

To solve overheating I'm looking at repasting, thermal pads and buying new GPU and CPU heatsinks (my laptop came with v101 and v201 of the heatsinks and these have been revised to v102 and v202 and some people reported improvements after upgrading the GPU heatsink to the newer model).

I would also like to upgrade the GPU to the 1070 or 1060.

-Would I need to use a different heatsink than the GPU heatsink 6-31-P15SN-202?
-I'm using the latest premamod bios for this laptop (P170SM_34_31_PM_v2), would it be suitable for the GPU upgrade?

EDIT:
I'm happy to consider the 1060 as it seems more people had success with it over the 1070.

 

Try not to post in several places at once asking the same question.

The later revisions are a bit better on the heatsinks but will still need modification IIRC. You would need a standard layout card and avoid the ones with the cheap VRMs on them.

Modified drivers will be needed.

 

No probls, I removed the other post and will focus on this thread instead.

I read the 32 pages thread and exploring the option of upgrading my p170sm with 780m to a 1060.
I already have the 230w psu.

I need to replace the heatsink so I was going to purchase a new one anyway, the GPU heatsink 6-31-P15SN-202.
What is the difference with my current one, notice the r at the end: 6-31-p15sn-201-r

Can you elaborate please what heatsink I would need exactly if going with the 1060.
What about the x-clamp and shim, does it need soldering on top of the existing heatsink?

Would upgrading to a 1060 be easier and safer to be achieved than the 1070?

I'm based in the UK and links to suggested sellers are most welcome.

please let me know
Thanks

 

The difference is with the fin area and density along with them being linked depending on which you are comparing to.

The backing to the GPU should move from old to new without issue. A shim does not have to be soldered to start with if it's going to improve contact.

The 1060 is more commonly found in the standard MXM size.

 

Thanks. It would be the 1060, however I'll deal with one step at the time

First overheating:
I ordered the gpu heatsink, the stock one.

Regarding replacing the cpu heatsink (i'm not even sure it would be needed), anyway,
my original one is the 6-31-p17sn-101.
I found the 6-31-p15sn-102 for sale, do you think being p15sn rather than p17sn would fit? they look identical from the picture.

thanks a lot!

 

Probably can fit but i'm not sure the CPU heatsink changed much.

 

Received both the GPU and CPU heatsink replacements. The GPU one looks fine and will replace ASAP.

The CPU heatsink, the copper looks aged and stained. See picture attached. Do you think would this in any way affect the copper heating characteristics?
Cleaning with isopropyl alcohol doesn't help.

Many thanks
L

 

You have two heatsinks, just test them both.

 

Update. I replaced both the GPU and CPU heatsinks, repasted with brand new mx4 and replaced the old CPU thermal pad.
What do you think of the temps below?

Ultimately, what are your thoughts about being able to extend the life of this 7 years old laptop a few more years?

Also could it simply be that the GPU and to some extent CPU simply overheat more with age?


Results
GPU idle: drop of 12C from 65 down to 53 (43 on battery).

GPU kombustion burn-in: drop of 4C from 97 to 93

Please note when repasting the GPU, I noticed a couple of years ago I forgot to reinstall all thermal pads and only used MX4 to create a poor man's bridge between the heatsink and the chips. Horrible I know.
The large black chips are cleaned but remain a little stained as if MX4 had been absorbed. Wiping isopropyl alcohol helped but I have the feeling it's corroding the black chips so I didn't clean the chips clean. The actual GPU die is perfect. So heatsink v202 with new thermal pads is now installed.
The other option is getting hold of an imported 980m for 200$, or 1060 which according to Eurocom does not require modding the heatsink and I would prefer, but Eurocom prices at $580 are prohibitive.


CPU idle: no noticeable difference, idle at around 39-42

CPU heavy load using prime95: Drop of 2-3C from 97 down to 94.

I suppose the revised heatsink is not helping much here, or perhaps the copper stain isn't helping, who knows.
Lastly the other thing I haven't tried is replacing the old fans. They spin and can feel hot air coming out. They seem to be working fine.I cleaned them with cotton wools, they look clean now.

 

Prime and furmark are really not recommended for laptops, especially older ones.

Temps look normal.

 

for as much as I would love to just accept it,

can you elaborate both points please, as these temps based on experience on the same laptop and other posts look higher.
Also kombustion is widely used on laptops, including old ones.

 

Power viruses in thermally constrained environments are not recommended. Long term advice on this forum. Tests like battlefield V will give a better idea.

In terms of temps things are going to vary chip to chip. I'm talking personal experience from my experience over the years including tweaking the EM series for some world records back in the day.

 

I noticed when flipping the notebook over and with the cover off, applying a bit of pressure on screws 1 and 3 of the gpu heatsink reduces the temp by 10c without cover from 82 to 72. I bought m3x7 washers i'll try the mod as seen on the other ancient post on this forum.
Also applying a bit of pressure to the heatsink fins reduces temperature too.
Leaving the cover off and turning the laptop the right side up, I can see an increase in temps.
Cpu heatsink I'll return this heavy used and stained v102 and bought a brand new v101 (it is actually new but older with a manufacturing date from 2011) for half the price.

Keep you posted

overall it's going in the right direction.

other games to try? something I could relate to temps on this forum?

Also kombustion seems reliable based on posts, surprised by the hate, but then perhaps I didn't see the relevant posts.

Thanks

 

Opening the cover and flipping over will always reduce temps by a fair bit basically no matter the machine.

 

Hello,
You still have some room on your temp here. 82 for a 1060 is OK and for your CPU, you may check on a game. Using stress test like Prime 95 can be dangerous and can damage VRM on the main board.
Remember, there is no much room on laptop for heat and a game will not make your temps go that high.
Take care too to the thermal pad you use, there are from 0.5 to 1.5mm and using wrong one for exemple for your CPU cooler can make the heatsink to not make proper contact.

 

Getting a set of different sizes and adjusting it perfectly does help a lot.