High Temps, Re-paste.

[Mykeable]

I'm not sure if this is where I should post this.

 

I have an Alienware 15 R3 laptop, have had it for a few years and it's been a beauty. 

 

I've started to notice that my FPS in pretty much games like Warcraft, Overwatch, Fortnite, even Rime, my FPS would be hovering around 80-90 and consistently dipping down to 20 or below every 30 seconds or so. I don't even have the graphic settings on Max/Ultra, and it still does this. I had to investigate this. I pretty much downloaded everything I could think of to figure out what was going on. MSI Afterburner, HWMonitor, Intel Extreme Tuning. One thing I noticed with the Extreme Tuning Utility is that the Power AND Thermal throttling indicators were going on, so I assume I'm being throttled not only by heat, but by voltage as well. I undervolted both my CPU and GPU to -0.120v and it seems to have taken care of the power throttling. However, the thermal throttling was constantly on, as my CPU temp was hovering around 98-100 degrees and the GPU was around 88-90 degrees. 

 

I'm going to assume these high temps are the reason why I'm being throttled. I have a feeling I'm going to have to repaste... I've never done it before, but when I do... I'll be using Liquid Metal. I know the risks, but I want the best.

 

Thoughts?

[Norwegiantweaker]

2 hours ago, Mykeable said:

I'm not sure if this is where I should post this.

 

I have an Alienware 15 R3 laptop, have had it for a few years and it's been a beauty. 

 

I've started to notice that my FPS in pretty much games like Warcraft, Overwatch, Fortnite, even Rime, my FPS would be hovering around 80-90 and consistently dipping down to 20 or below every 30 seconds or so. I don't even have the graphic settings on Max/Ultra, and it still does this. I had to investigate this. I pretty much downloaded everything I could think of to figure out what was going on. MSI Afterburner, HWMonitor, Intel Extreme Tuning. One thing I noticed with the Extreme Tuning Utility is that the Power AND Thermal throttling indicators were going on, so I assume I'm being throttled not only by heat, but by voltage as well. I undervolted both my CPU and GPU to -0.120v and it seems to have taken care of the power throttling. However, the thermal throttling was constantly on, as my CPU temp was hovering around 98-100 degrees and the GPU was around 88-90 degrees. 

 

I'm going to assume these high temps are the reason why I'm being throttled. I have a feeling I'm going to have to repaste... I've never done it before, but when I do... I'll be using Liquid Metal. I know the risks, but I want the best.

 

Thoughts?

good luck breaking warranty  take pictures and dont halfass it. might wanna clean out the fan and the fins before you try to break the entire thing tho 

[SpookyCitrus]

Definitely thermal throttling, I'd dust it out and repaste the CPU and GPU for sure. One thing with gaming laptops is that depending on how long you have it you'll probably have to do that a couple times. But I'd definitely make sure your warranty is done before going into it, and make sure you know what you're doing watch a video on your exact model or if you don't feel comfortable take it to a shop and see how much they will charge. Also depending on the kind of cooling pipes and plates you might not be able to use liquid metal on your laptop. If it has aluminum plates and heat spreaders then liquid metal is a no go. 

[Norwegiantweaker]

Just now, SpookyCitrus said:

Definitely thermal throttling, I'd dust it out and repaste the CPU and GPU for sure. One thing with gaming laptops is that depending on how long you have it you'll probably have to do that a couple times. But I'd definitely make sure your warranty is done before going into it, and make sure you know what you're doing watch a video on your exact model or if you don't feel comfortable take it to a shop and see how much they will charge. Also depending on the kind of cooling pipes and plates you might not be able to use liquid metal on your laptop. If it has aluminum plates and heat spreaders then liquid metal is a no go. 

should also note that the R3 is notorious for breaking when dismantled. read somewhere way back that the mobo doesnt like being touched what so ever. 

[SpookyCitrus]

1 minute ago, Norwegiantweaker said:

should also note that the R3 is notorious for breaking when dismantled. read somewhere way back that the mobo doesnt like being touched what so ever. 

Didn't know that, haven't used or repaired this model before. 

[Mykeable]

My warranty is already done, so no worries about that. I don't think I'd break it as there is a specific video on YouTube I'll be following where a guy takes apart the exact same model to repaste.

 

This is basically the inside of my computer. Not an image of my computer, but one I found on google, its the same thing.

 

and this is the video I'd be following. In the vid, he doesn't really touch the motherboard, he just takes off the pipes.

 

[Norwegiantweaker]

Just now, Mykeable said:

My warranty is already done, so no worries about that. I don't think I'd break it as there is a specific video on YouTube I'll be following where a guy takes apart the exact same model to repaste.

 

This is basically the inside of my computer. Not an image of my computer, but one I found on google, its the same thing.

 

and this is the video I'd be following. 

 

if there's one thing i've learned. always go for the videos where they show you that the computer is working afterwards!. and a good toolkit is a godsend nothing hurts more than to strip a screw  

[Mykeable]

I've also seen and read that a lot of people use 33+ Electrical tape to tape off the capacitors on the GPU, and when they are done, they just leave it on. Wouldn't this this insulate them, causing them to overheat?

[Amaranth]

7 hours ago, SpookyCitrus said:

I'd definitely make sure your warranty is done before going into it...

 

Dell/Alienware actually allow you to repaste without voiding your warranty!

You can even use liquid metal although you should be careful with that if you've never used it before.

 

3 hours ago, Mykeable said:

 Wouldn't this this insulate them, causing them to overheat? 

They're not actively cooled so covering them with a thin layer of thermal tape isn't going to make them too hot.

 

7 hours ago, Norwegiantweaker said:

good luck breaking warranty

See my first comment.