X505 Qosmio and NotePal U3 Cooler...

I got a NotePal U3 for my X505-Q893 recently. My Q893 doesn't have problems with heat, but I wanted to help relieve some stress on the fans (the left fan in particular is starting to make noise). However, I've run tests at idle and full load using Prime95, and I can't see any significant difference with the U3. Prime95 stock: 81C, w/U3: 80-81C. Surely I should be doing better than 1 measly degree? Am I placing the fans wrong?

 

I think imglidinhere has the U3 cooler on his Qosmio. Hopefully he will chime in here.

 

Ahh yes! Finally a thread where I am needed! Okay... *clears throat*

The U3 doesn't do much more than what you've experienced, primarily because the cooling system is already more than powerful enough to handle any configuration that the Qosmio happens to be built with.

However the one thing that it DOES provide is that the GPU temps will be lower in the end. I've taken apart my laptop a few times and removed the mesh coverings over the fans, all for nothing it seems. However I've noticed that the fans don't spin up to around 80% anymore, more like around 60% under load, showing that the fans aren't struggling as much to get the air they need to cool off the computer.

So the cooler provides a fresh supply of air at all times whether or not the system needs it. Essentially you're expanding the longevity of your system using that cooler. The configuration I have is one fan beneath each vent on the laptop and the third under the RAM. I noticed it doesn't get as hot idling either. Idle temps mean a good bit when it comes to daily activities and the lower the better when you're not stressing the machine. Means it lasts longer.

So you might not see a 10*C difference, but your machine will last a year longer now because of that purchase.

 

Hmm, that's both disappointing and relieving at the same time. Disappointing because I really thought there'd be a bigger difference, relieved because I didn't spend 2-3x more on some other cooler. And I can laugh at those who did, MUAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I initially used the same fan configuration. Now I've taken out the RAM fan and propped it behind the CPU vent so it blows away the warm exhaust...dunno whether it's better.

And I have another question now...you say you've opened your Qosmio a few times, how easy is it? I've only ever opened my old Satellite, but that was already broken so I wasn't that careful. I'm thinking of repasting the CPU and maybe repairing/replacing the CPU fan (it's getting noisy), is it worth the risk? Any special tools I should have?

 

Do you have any kind of evidence to support that claim?

 

I think he's just saying. You're not really expecting hard evidence or experiements/studies, right? But it's probably true 10C lower temperature will keep the laptop last an extra year (out of 10 years of it's life time).

The laptop coolers won't really help much unless you are using a laptop that is made of aluminum (eg. MBP), or the laptop's cooling system works in harmony with the laptop cooler. In the later case, you have to look where the air direction is, and also match the air direction and flow amount from the cooler. I also had NotePal U3, and didn't really like it because low air flow, cheap construction, and sharp holes everywhere. It was okay as a free after rebate cooler though.

 

Yes I think its fair to assess that a fan's bearing has an estimated life span at full speed and by reducing the amount of time the fan spends at full speed you are increasing the lifespan of the fan. Since fans can cost upward of $150 for some laptops, it can often be "new laptop" time sooner than later for some people.

Unless your question was a troll... In which case I will say good work.

 

I noticed my X500 the fans are coming on at night more than they used too. I got out our good vacuum and sucked out the openings at the bottom; With a flashlight I can see through the vents so they must be clean. I am thinking the fans may be running more because I leave so many windows open on the desktop. Almost all Firefox browser windows, but they do use the graphics card so I will report back tomorrow after cleaning the vents.

 

I have to say, the first time you open this thing, it's a complete b****. Not gonna lie. It's a really really really irritating experience. But after the first time, it gets a lot easier really fast.

I used this site as a reference for my machine, just follow the images:
http://notebook.it168.com/a2011/0209/1155/000001155819_all.shtml

Repasting the CPU and GPU isn't difficult at all. I mean, it's easier than taking apart the heatsink off a desktop CPU and GPU.

For instance, there are numbers next to each screw on the CPU mount that tell you which ones to unscrew first and in what order. You just follow that same order after you place it back on.

Same with the GPU, however I found that there was little to no difference in temps when I changed the TIM on this machine. When I took it off, there wasn't all that much put onto the CPU. It looked like just the right amount for a laptop. o_o The GPU was a different story though, as there was a HEAP of crud on this thing. I kid you not, there was enough TIM on the GPU for me to peel it off and it was about the size of a Lima bean.

I say, just be careful when you do it. Also note that you DON'T have to take off the entire screen mount in order to do this task! You can skip that step if you want to in the link, however if you do, the two little connectors that feed into the chip in the middle of the motherboard, you'll see what I mean, must return in the proper plugs. I suggest writing it down before you do it so you don't suffer the same mistake as me.

 

Vacuuming the vents didnt change anything for me. Not that I was having any heat issues, in fact I am very happy with my video card gaming temps. My concern was for hearing the fans at night while I was sleeping. I dont recall hearing them before, but I guess there is no problem.

 

Maybe it needs new thermal paste?