**OFFICIAL W860CU/NP8690 Owners Lounge**

The dot method is better than the spread method. Several reviews show that the spread method produces air bubbles when the heatsink is mounted.

 

Links please.

 

Gimme a sec, I would've posted it if I remember those articles, darn it.. Let me look for them.

EDIT: Here's one video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffK7L0Qj13Q&annotation_id=annotation_461720&feature=iv

Here's another from the same youtube member: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4

 

So what? These are just videos of how thermal paste spreads. Show me some numbers.

 

There were some sites showing some results, especially at OCN.

Well, it's still the preference of people. Just my 2 cents

 

Show me those results.

 

Yup I'll look for them.

 

While you're looking for them, I'll share my knowledge and experience. This is the notebook world, not the desktop world. The applications used for desktop CPU's is different from notebook CPU's because of one key factor: the IHS on desktop CPU's. When applying thermal paste on a desktop CPU, it is fine to use a dot because of the great amount of pressure from the mounts holding down the heatsink will spread the thermal paste over the IHS, and because the die on a desktop CPU is much smaller than the IHS, thus only needing to adequately cover the center area of the IHS. I've done this several times on old P4's all the way up to the later C2Q's with twin dies. As for notebooks CPU's, they don't have an IHS, nor the high retention pressure of desktop heatsinks to squish the thermal paste over the entire surface. This is why we spread the thermal paste evenly. There will always be air gaps whether you use the dot method or the old school spread method so it doesn't matter. Using the dot method will just squish more excess thermal paste out of the sides compared to using a thin layer of paste. I can make the same argument with GPU's. No desktop user uses the dot method on an exposed GPU die. Why? Because they know what's going to happen if they do: more excess thermal paste will squish out of the sides compared to spreading a thin layer and makes cleanup harder as thermal paste may touch the exposed resistors on the core wafer. This is especially dangerous with capacitive pastes such as AS5. Also, user error comes into play as we cannot lay down the heatsink perfectly flat on the component every single time. We will be dropping the heatsink in at an angle, even if the degree is subtle. Using the dot method will have greater potential of spreading paste more biased towards one side of the component surface as opposed to a thin layer.

In short, for exposed die components, spreading a thin layer is the most effective way to go as the entire die is making contact with the heatsink coldplate. For desktop CPU's with an IHS, the dot method works just as well because the paste only needs to cover the center area to be most effective.

 

Again, you got me there

You've made a really good point on the difference in how it works on laptop CPUs. I guess I have to fold now, lol.

Can you really spread the Shin Etsu easily after heating it in boiling water? I'm having a hard time even though I do it fast (right after pulling the syringe out of boiling water).

I'll start using the spread method now with exposed die components

 

Boiling water? I just use hot water from my faucet, haha. The paste will come out nice and smooth, but you need to be fast with the paddle to spread most of it out, then put the finishing touches on it at the end.

 

Lol, I put a cup of faucet water in the microwave first. How many minutes do you soak it in hot water?

What finishing touches are you referring to? I'm using ziplock sandwich bags but the paste sticks to the plastic and not in the die

 

I usually leave it in a cup of water for two minutes atleast, and maybe longer depending on if I remember to take it out when listening to music.

The finishing touches I am referring to is covering the not yet covered edges of the die after you have spread most of the paste out. Using ziplock bags is wasteful on paste because you need to use more paste to get a thin layer as a lot of the paste will be sticking to the bag as you said. That method probably takes just as long as using an old gift card or the Joker card from a deck of cards.

 

Do you add more paste when you are in the finishing touches stage?

Would a cc do the same effect? Do you've a link to a video that does it with a cc?

I recon that the first time I tried spreading thermal paste, I used a cc but it gave me a hard time since the paste stick also to the edges of that card.

 

No, I don't add more paste after. That's the lazy way.

A credit card is the same as a gift card. Because it is rigid, you need to spread it lightly unlike bendable cards like the Joker card you can use more force. http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=thermal+paste+card&search_type=&aq=f

If you are using a credit card to spread the paste, just extrude more paste onto the die before you spread it. Eventually you will remember how much paste you need to cover the whole die after a couple of mounts or so.

 

Personally, which would you recommend to be easier? A gift card or a Joker card?

 

Joker cards.

 

is that how they come standard? or do the laptop people build them and add the paste?

 

Which vendor did he buy from??

 

I think these are dropped shipped directly from sager if I'm not mistaken. Anyways it looks like AS5 did the trick I only applied it the GPU but max temps went down 20+ degrees. Let the gaming continue! Btw, does anyone know why my SSD does not show up in cpuid?

 

Nice. That's what we like to see.

 

The SSD may well not have a thermal sensor.

 

There are no temp sensors on SSD's.
At least not INTEL or OCZ SSD's(installed both) if there is, there is no way for a laptop to get a reading.
Why? I really have no clue but in general they run cooler than HDD's.
Good to see your temps are now good.
That's more like it

 

Paste your CPU too and you can run OCCT CPU and GPU tests all day long.

 

I am hoping lack of thermal paste won't happen on a unit ordered from a reseller...

 

I ordered mine from Xotic and I have a hunch that it was shipped directly from Sager. They couldn't verify the make of the HDD & the shipping origin was in CA, USA. I'm placing an order for some AS5 in advance.

 

Really? They told me that they could see if the hard rive I'm requesting would be in stock and they'll see what they can do.

So the laptops doesn't come directly from Xotic?

 

Doubt mine did. Although, the only way I assume is by looking at my shipping info. It's unlikely that Xotic would have sent it back to CA to then head towards the East coast. This might've been because it was a pre-order.

 

All sager resellers machines ship directly from sager unless you order reseller specific customisation (eg a graphic skin) or you live in CA (to avoid taxes).

 

Since some of you already posted benchmarks already on stock clocks I did mine overclocked. This machine has one the best cooling constructions I have ever seen. When underload the gpu temperature only reach around 65-70 degrees even when overclocked.

 

Nice! Over 13k for a 15 incher is awesome! Although, it is good to see the 9800M GT still does a fair job compared to the GTX 280M.

+Rep.

 

Thanks.

The GTX 280M doesn't run in circles around the 9800M Gt by any means it is a very good card but the i7 is really the highlight of this laptop. Guys let me know if theres any other benchmarks you want me to run on this bad boy.

 

Suade, with the screen dimmed to the lowest setting, and the power settings to energy saver howmuch battery can you squeeze out?

 

Dawn Of War 2 demo. Built-in benchmark. 1600x900. Ultra. Go.

 

Well I took the plunge and ordered one. I am excited!!

 

I hope you guys not planning on lugging this around without the a/c adapter because its gonna be your new best friend. The battery life is . I don't mind since mine is always going to be plugged in.

Power Saver mode: 1:43 ( Minor web surfing with screen brightness to lowest)

Balance Mode: 1:23 (Moderate web surfing with brightness halfway)

Performance Mode: :51 (Moderate web surfing with brightness all the way up)

Got it downloaded but couldn't find the buit-in benchmark tool.

 

The Arma 2 Demo built in benchmark. The location of the benchmark is under scenarios single player benchmark. I am interested to know how this runs on high and normal.

 

Please run my damn chess benchmark before I have a nervous breakdown.



127kb download, should take all of 2 minutes to run a cycle. No need to post a screenshot, just the relative speed and kn/s.

http://www.jens.tauchclub-krems.at/diverses/schach/Fritz Chess Benchmark.zip

 

I'm about ready to pull the trigger on this notebook. The only thing that gives me pause is the limited 2 memory slots. This makes going above 4GB of RAM crazy expensive.

If HP could throw in 4 DIMMs in the Envy 15, why not Clevo?!

 

Why would you need more than 4GB?

 

Crazy expensive for maybe another year or so.. by then it won't be so bad, you know how RAM prices go.

 

The question should be why not?

But seriously- with 8GB, Vista (and presumably Win 7) runs much smoother and enables you to run memory intensive programs, such as VM's or content creation suites, simultaneously.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vista-workshop,1775-12.html

 

LOL. Here you go using all 8 processors.

 

Checkmate!

 

Mmmmh nice bench !

And this is what I get when unleashing the power of my... omg only 4 thread =o

 

So it's just luck of the draw? They make it sound like they do their own custom configuration building, burn-in, and QA. Mine better have proper paste and temps.

 

You the man!! Thanks!!!!

 

Impressive! One of the fastest I've seen.. My list is really for notebook CPU, but I did add you to the top in the couple of desktop results I've got. You'll be pleased to know you have the highest score.

 

Ill be able to squeeze 2:15 out of it
I have my ways.

 

There is no benchmark on the demo. Sorry.

 

Wow, thats pretty impressive, its just tiny bit slower than my Q9550 desktop chip @ 2.83 Ghz.