[Alienware 17R4 / 15R3] - Disassembly + Repaste Guide + Results

Higher ain't always better.
See if you can get those Alphacool 14W/mk. Maybe you find them cheaper and they are better. Other name used but same brand.

 

Are the Alphacool better then the Fujipoly. That are 17W/mk? Cost isn't an issue if that is what you are trying to save me from.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZSELP3O/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A15YNZR7YB053N&psc=1

 

Stacking thermal pads will lower their efficiency by AT LEAST 50% @bloodhawk

Make sure the thermal pad is not touched by hand, it must remain sterile for maximum thermal conductivity.

Tech may be willing to do repad, I am not entirely sure to guarantee a yes. But repaste is okay.

Papusan is right, alphacool is just a rebrander of fujipoly.

 

@Freitz alphacool 11/14/17 = fujipoly pads (same exact)

Also sold as modright

 

Does it matter if I use the 17m/wk fujipoly vs the 11/14s? I can get those rather quickly.

 

http://www.fujipoly.com/usa/announcements/extremely-soft-tim-delivers-low-thermal-resistance.html

Would this super soft pads be used like K9 but less messy and no need to measure the height for each strip?

 

What Am I suppose to touch them with? Gloves? Recommendations on stuff I need?

 

Does it Matter if I use the FujiPoly 17W/mk? I can get those faster and they should be fine right? Or would they preform worse?

 

Looks like I can get the Fujipoly 17W/mk or the Alphacool 14W/mk... Does it matter? Wouldn't the 17W/mk perform better or at least the same?

 

gloves disinfected with alcohol

fuji = modsmart = alphacool
indentical

 

Which kind of gloves? Link?

Also does it matter 17w/MK vs 14w/MK?

 

As I said in previous post... 14w/mk is the better one. Softness is very important, more important than use highest quality of stiff pads.

See also Thermal pads updates

 

So these? Just want to make sure I have like an hour to order to make sure they come tomorrow.

 

Correct. But I don't remember correct size needed for use in Awbooks. Just remember buying enough and in correct thickness.

 

Any difference between Alphacool ICE vs Alphacool Eisschicht?

 

o
Same brand name Alphacool and same w/mk does matter.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Dynarex-2513...74&sr=8-8&keywords=nitrile+glove+sterile&th=1

Gloves for touching the thermal pads? rub alcohol on them then use?

 

any gloves really

ideally you want to avoid touching them even with the gloves

glove is only a barrier between skin oil/salt/dirt and the thermal pad

 

So if I need to use the 17W/MK pads even though not as good as the 14W/mk pads should be fine?

The 14's will take to long and I want to try this before the repair Friday.

 

Just don't touch too much on the pad. Use alcohol wipes or isopropyl/alcohol.

 

ALso do all the pads have to be the same what if I mix some of the alphacool 14W/MK with fujipoly 17w/mk? Just on availability.

 

17w/mk is stiffer. Always use same softness pads. Softer the better. But use what you can obtain if you can't find all in same w/mk.

 

I was able to only get teh 17w/mk here quick enough. Ill order the 14w/mk if this works. Anything has to be better then the stock pads no?

 

I recommend the 14/11 because it's softer.


Using arctic pads 6/wmk also works well, not much difference and price per volume is much cheaper.

 

The only ones I can get here tomorrow are the 17/wmks.... Or the artic pads... I already ordered the 17's but if you think the artics are better I would be happy to cancel. I only have about 45 minutes until the cut off time.

 

17 is ok then

 

The 17s are perfectly fine that's what I used no issues here. If you want to get an idea of what to expect this is my 13r3 LM pasted as it sits on my lap as I type. If you cant read it the current temp is +-54C* and it rose to 63C* before the fans cut on (they had been previously off) and yes that is FULL load.

 

I just ran the stress test in utility that would bring the other computer to 95. Only brought this one to 79...: the one in support assist. However this one has something faulty where after 10 minutes of playing freezing and complete fps drop off to zero. So what does that mean for the other rig that hits 95 in the same test?


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I probably need to explain in more detail:

17 r4 - 1 - My first 17 r4. Would drop FPS in game. No thermal issues. System would just go to zero gpu usage and then come back. Under load CPU never over 80 and GPU never over 75 C. I remounted the heatsink today and testing overwatch again.

17 r4 - 2 - Second replacement 17 R4. Would get to 95 Degrees under normal Game play after 30 minutes. Would not drop fps at all.

My question is I have thermal pads from fujipoly and Kryonaut coming tomorrow. Which should I repad and repaste to test? If neither work Alienware coming on Friday to replace the motherboard, heatsink, and fans on the second machine.

Thanks again for the help.

 

LM sounds great. I will try once I get this system working. The dell Tech just replacement motherboard and heatsink. Thermal pads did not show up in time so on stock pads but had him use Kyronaut (well I did it and then just had him put it back together).

Couple concerns - 2 day old system gets refurb motherboard... not happy about that

Windows won't boot so doing a fresh install before testing if this to see if temps are usable before going the pad step (pad will be here this afternoon)

 

Have you seen this topic? http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...0-in-game-random-stutter-freeze.804499/unread
This does sound like the problem you are experiencing.

 

Are you saying the new bios fixed the problem?

 

??
Where does it say something about a new BIOS?
I linked to a topic that discusses freezes / hangs on Alienware systems.
While the thread is covering explicitly the 1080, I would guess that other systems are not exempt either, due to the source of this fault being dodgy assembly / manufacturing processes.

In this thread you can find several users who initially suffered from those hangs / freezes.
They narrowed those issues down to the GPU load falling to 0% every few seconds (after a prolonged load of 15 to 60 minutes) and GPU-Z showing several throttling reasons, one of them being VRel.
This pointed them to the different chips of the GPU which have not made sufficient contact with the heatsink -> fixing the contact by repadding actually solved those GPU load drops and consequently the freezes / hangs.

 

Eso https://twitter.com/AlienwareTech/status/893199800744767488?s=08

 

So I just completely tore down and repasted with new pads and thermal grizzly and this thing is hotter then before....Maybe not enough paste. I put as much as if it was on my desktop.

I am so done with this crap. This is a brand new motherboard and heatsink complete repaste and repad... now it heats up even faster. Did I need TIM on both die and copper? I had plenty on the die.

 

@iunlock or anyone.

I just spent 2-3 weeks with two different 17 R4.

I just finished a complete repaste and repad after a motherboard and heatsink replacement.

This is my results while gaming!!! Can anyone explain to me what is going on. I follow this guide to a T. I am just dumb founded at this point. Dell has a 3rd replacement on its way to me but at this point I give up. I am tired of trying to make this pc work when it just won't.

Paste - Kryonaut
Pads - Fujipoly 17 m/wk -All I could get in a day.

Please help.

 

What's your ambient temps?

 

It's a unlocked Kaby BGA running 35/37x

 

Too much or too little paste can cause this. Did you remove the white thermal pads?

That's sad. Stock clocks hitting upper 90s.

 

And even under Dellienware's advertised OC printed on their website!!

 

Well I repasted the CPU / GPU and mod the PCH and I think the results are very good. I've currently got the CPU running at 4.4GHz. I ran a quick PassMark which hopefully I've managed to attach.

 

Did you spread the paste or just put a dot in the middle of the die?

Laptops can not be treated like desktops. (low pressure mount.)

Make sure to spread the paste evenly over the die(s).

Did you remove the whole motherboard or just the fan assembly?

More paste is better than not enough paste. However, there is such thing as the right amount, which is about a 1.5mm layer. Cover the whole surface well.



::iunlock::

 

9 out of 10 systems with the 7820HK (17R4's) can hold 44x very well after a proper repaste. All day. Even with Kyronaut.

I see numerous systems a week so my data is pretty solid.

::iunlock::

 

And how many systems hold 44x all 4 cores 24/7/365 out from the factory? I don't think 33% or more owners manage a repaste by themselves. What about after the re-paste from the Dell's outsourced tech?

 

My temps after 2 hrs of play

 

@Vasudev

I left the white thermal pads. Should they have been removed now? The guide said to leave them

So I thought that maybe I put too little. I reopened it up and repasted, redid all the pads again. Attached pictures look like I have a good balance of TIM.

@Papusan

Yeah.... Very frustrating I am underclocked with these issues.

@iunlock
I spread it on the die as you can see. Thinking that I didn't have enough I reopened up and put it on the heat sink as well.

See attached for spread.

I removed everything per your directions on page one.

It looked to be a good amount of paste IMO.

Honestly I am losing my mind with this. Tech came yesterday to replace motherboard and heatsink and he shorted out my M.2 drive somehow which magically stopped working after he tried to put it back together.... Amazing.

I have a third replacement coming. However the original system seems to be fine thermally now and no more fps dropping gpu to zero issue.... However that one never received a repaste or repad.

What do you all suggest here?

 

Omg how did you apply the paste like that. Kryonaut was a pita to spread compared to gc extreme lol.


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Right I thought I did a good job spreading. Years of practice lol. Actually just take your time.


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You might use sand paper to give the heatsink a clean finish. It looks a bit uneven. The paste application is perfect.

 

I tried that as well. It did not work.

Ambient is 21 C

I took everything out and put it in my other 17 R4 that had a different issue now that one no longer stutters during games with 0% gpu usage but has a heating issue now as well.

I am not really sure what to do at this point. I really liked the alienware design style and the specs... However I can't seem to get any of the systems to work. I have already invested extra 300$ in paste pads for these two broken systems with no results.

They are sending me a replacement however my 30 day trial period runs out on the 16th. Should I try a third time or just start looking elsewhere at this point? I don't see any other comparable options on the market from a design, thin, with quality keyboard.... thats not black red and plastic.