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EEps

Well...I got a new 1ghz CPU (microPGA2) fer the Dell and decided to put it in.

After disassembling the laptop, I took the heatpipe assembly off. Guess what!! I found that Dell put a double layer, tin-foil spacer between the CPU and the heatpipe plate. WTF??!! No wonder why some laptops seem run warm on the bottom.

I pulled that spacer off and cleaned up the heatpipe plate. Slapped some Artic Silver 5 on the CPU and did a test fit. Pulled the heatpipe back off and had a good clean impression. So I knew it was gonna work. Smoothed out the AS5 and bolted it down.

The CPU didn't work so I had to pull it back apart and stick the old 700mhz back in. After getting everything back together, the temp under the laptop was much cooler...so cool that you don't need those stinking laptop coolers that blow air on the bottom of yer laptop. Big Smile

I found some neat fan control software that would give me direct control over the laptop fans. Instead of a cooking 150°F+ it's now a cool 109°F with both fans on high. It only warms up to 114°F when the fans are on low. Big Smile

At least I won't be burning my legs/lap when I've got it on my lap... Wink Smile

If yer not comfortable with taking yer laptop apart...I wouldn't recommend you doing it...especially if it's under warranty or you have a habit of losing parts/screws and ending up with extra parts when things are reassembled... Sad Smile

Big Dog Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 3448 Location: KERNOW

Good work. Sounds like a plan for anyone who has a Dell lappy.

Oh yea, and I second the not-reccomending dismantling laptops if you're prone to Magic Screw Syndrome.

EEps · Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2004 8:17 pm Post subject:

I'm sure that if a few of yahs take a peek under the hood, yer gonna find that you can cool it much better with some thermal grease instead of that foil shim.... Wink Smile

Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 9:24 pm Post subject:

Dang, the program won't run on my LS400. That 400Mhz gets friggin hot after a few hours. The dang fan almost never comes on. Dangit.

EEps · Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2004 5:33 pm Post subject:

Update...

Got the replacement/RMA 1ghz CPU installed...it now runs at 131°F under load with an ambient temp of around 80°F or so. If I don't run Folding at all...the temp drops to a cool 94°F. Not too bad if I say so.

The next cooling mod project fer the laptop is to add a wedge shaped shim on top of the GPU...Dell decided to make the heatpipe so it wouldn't even touch the GPU core. Go figure. And they made it at an angle, too! Evil Smile

Nothing I can't mod out... Wink Smile