Various cooling mod's / tricks??

[pnutbutters]

Trying to figure out if it is better to just replace the thermal pads or use a copper shim. I would assume that the copper shim is better but if you have to use a couple layers of thermal compound is that going to make the thermal pads the way to go?

Also, does anyone know a few really easy fan mods/ fan control programs? What should my fan be set at to make sure my GPU/CPU do not overheat?

What is the best mod for laptop RAM and laptop hard drives to keep them cool? Any ideas??

Would really appreciate the help!!!!!!!!!!

(working mainly with the HP DVxxxx models and the Dell Studio 15xx / Inspiron 15xx model)

[larrymoencurly]

Re: Various cooling mod's / tricks??

I don't understand how a copper shim can help unless it fills gaps to make the contact surfaces fit together better, something that lapping also does.

DDR2 and DDR3 memory chips are rated for 85C/185F, so no cooling is ever needed, unless they're overclocked or the modules were made from factory reject chips. If you can see the actual chip manufacturer's (Samsung, Micron, Hynix, etc.) part number on the chips, they're OK. It's house branded or unmarked chips you have to worry about because most module makers don't test their products in fancy machines but only with PCs. There's a good chance that desktop memory is overclocked, especially if the chips are covered with heatsinks, and some reviewers have removed heatsinks and found 1333 MHz chips in modules rated for 30-60% greater speed. One company that overclocks memory that way (among the 3 biggest sellers) tests only with PCs and says 2 errors per module is OK.

It's probably best to simply keep your CPU heatsinks clean (vacuum from the outside, but hold the fan still so it can't spin too fast and be damaged) and avoid using laptops on your laptop without a hard, flat surface underneath to prevent blocking the vent openings.

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Re: Various cooling mod's / tricks??

I don't understand how a copper shim can help unless it fills gaps to make the contact surfaces fit together better

That's exactly what it does.

DDR2 and DDR3 memory chips are rated for 85C/185F, so no cooling is ever needed, unless they're overclocked or the modules were made from factory reject chips.

Do you have any spec on the number of hours they're rated for at 85C? Besides, there's also the PCB and solder balls to worry about, not just the chip itself.

It's probably best to simply keep your CPU heatsinks clean (vacuum from the outside, but hold the fan still so it can't spin too fast and be damaged) and avoid using your laptop without a hard, flat surface underneath to prevent blocking the vent openings.

The problem is that some laptops have absolutely horrible thermal design, either there are not enough openings, making the fan ineffective, and/or the fan only kicks in at full speed when the thing is about to melt, then after it cools down a couple degrees, it slows back down.

[larrymoencurly]

Re: Various cooling mod's / tricks??

DDR2 and DDR3 memory chips are rated for 85C/185F, so no cooling is ever needed, unless they're overclocked or the modules were made from factory reject chips.

Do you have any spec on the number of hours they're rated for at 85C? Besides, there's also the PCB and solder balls to worry about, not just the chip itself.

I couldn't find anything in the data sheets relating maximum operating temperature to lifespan, only absolute maximum voltage to lifespan, and for the latter all they said was that prolonged operation would reduce chip life, but they didn't say by how much.

It's probably best to simply keep your CPU heatsinks clean (vacuum from the outside, but hold the fan still so it can't spin too fast and be damaged) and avoid using your laptop without a hard, flat surface underneath to prevent blocking the vent openings.

The problem is that some laptops have absolutely horrible thermal design, either there are not enough openings, making the fan ineffective, and/or the fan only kicks in at full speed when the thing is about to melt, then after it cools down a couple degrees, it slows back down.

But does the bad cooling affect the RAM or its solder, unlike the CPU and video chip?