Alienware 15 R3 LM Problem

As I read now and As i read in the past, Liquid metal gives not so much problem with leaving the liquid metal applied, even if bad, maybe in this case.

Hello everybody, I'm italian and this is my story: you can read or skip. I don't believe I have a perfect English, but I'll try to explain.

I bought from a guy in my country this laptop which had in the beginning
i7-6820hk
16Gb 2400MHz (8x2)
256 gb ssd+ 1Tb
GTX 1070 (mobile? i don't know the difference here, but seems not)
OCTOBER 2017: The guy said me it had problem AC, it wasn't booting. I took it anyway, because it had premium warranty still. At the end of the month, I received it, I was happy
NOVEMBER 2017: Everything was fine. Except of course, for the motherboard, that has been replaced with new charger, after 20 days I think. Nice premium service. They planted their crappy paste and did the Dell diagnostic test. Everything was working.
I try to play with it, and i saw the extremely high temperatures of the CPU. Afraid of that, I called DELL again to help me to fix it out. I had to call many times, because what they said me it would have been fixed in a week, it has never been. I called everytime I had problems like this at least 3 times.
DECEMBER 2017: It's passed a lot this time, till the end of the month, when they tried to change my laptop with a "NEW" one. I asked if it was for real new, but it was not, it was obviously refurbished. I don't care much, because I almost appreciated this, till i tried to boot up the NEW computer, oh wow! Unluckily I don't own anymore the pictures and the video i created for them to demonstrate what they gave me: A laptop with a defective/broken gpu. They said me: You can keep the computer till you receive the new one.
This is the new laptop:
It has the 7820hk. Well, at least i have free more heat in the winter.
I called them again, and waiting for the technician to change its mobo.
JANUARY 2018: Almost a month and a half left of warranty. Seems like they were wasting time on purpouse, but my problem never have been fixed.
FEBRARY/MARCH (don't remember well) 2018: They were forcing me to call courier, so I answered:"I still didn't receive the WORKING "NEW" machine, so fix it, because I use it for my job too". After some weeks they said me that costs of new machine received would have been charged on my own if I would have not done that. I was thinking that the costs would have not been on my wallet. Because the credit card used to buy the first laptop wasn't mine, lol.
Anyway, I decided to send back the first and "good" one laptop, the one that had temp problems ofc, and I had to keep the defective one for some time.
APRIL 2018: I was really tired of this Odissey, but I continued to keep the smile I had at the beginning to having my first and sweared laptop. I tried again to call them and they were trying to palm off the **** to me, without fixing. But the temperature problem has never been fixed, and besides I had a flawed GPU. I asked for the change, because the problem started since i was on premium warranty and not on legal one (which the replaced had). After all this "fight" with them, I tried to call the US Dell too, but it didn't help much. At the end they asked me to send the "new" replaced one to get fixed. I had to get another computer from a friend whilst I was waiting, slower but better than nothing...
They changed it, and "fixed". For them was ok, but I tried to use it... Temperature HIGH again! Something else? Yeah, the courier lost my Alienware Original Box... Sure... I think they didn't know about, but they give me a mobo at least a mobo with G-sync in it. Well! wow! I received so much I can be happy now!.... FFS My temps are still high... I tried to get a new box from them, but they just gave me a 50€ voucher to buy something from them. I had to spend to solve? Really??
I understood they can never help me, and I decided, for obvious reasons, to not update the warranty. I'm not mad! I gave up.



Here it is. I understood what I had to do was fixing it on my own, even as angry as scared for this.
I decided to repaste with a better paste, FAILED

I tried to follow this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...5r3-disassembly-repaste-guide-results.797373/

I didn't follow the guide about the PCH, because i had some little copper pad to apply. I didn't apply glue on it, so i think it's not anymore on its position. I don't think it could be the problem of the CPU that had anyway very high temp.
To be specific: I have VERY high temp if i try to do AIDA64 tests on both CPU + GPUs. Yes, i tried to turn off the Integrated graphic from control panel, useless. I think i have to open it again? Will it be usefull?
I get random BSOD. I have Throttlestop and i tried to undervolt to get better condition and still be able to play, but I'm afraid to open it again, is there any chance to modify bios and let BSOD stay away from me?
Is it necessary to buy new LM and place it?
To be more specific: When I followed guide, some of the LM has spread down on the pcb of the cpu/gpu (don't remember) and i cleaned for a bit it, without knowing I could have take it back in the tube. Anyway, I saw there was a good amount of LM so i continued and trying to fix it to not fry the mobo I cleaned the rest for a bit. Well, I bent a little the cpu plastic part where the upper and only screw is as it has been said here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...ven-core-temps-due-to-uneven-heatsink.797477/
Maybe i did it too much? I would like to give and end to this... Help me please...

I can give you my skype, or anything else id to at least talk about this. I'm getting mad even after 1 year i decided to not do much more... Just because I cannot use it for gaming. I'm ready to do something new, and right now, again.

 

Since your in Europe. I would contact

Pete_light as he is in Britain. Pay for his service and don’t touch a single thing at this point.


http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/repaste-service-review-pete_light.821451/

 

I can't send private messages I think. Anyway, I would like to know more and have more opinion, even from him. It's possible to tag here?

 

What BSOD do you get?

 

You can private message him. Try again. Based on your original post I would not touch the laptop again. You don’t seem to know what your doing and have already messed up the laptop already. Goto Pete_Light

@Pete_Light

He is in Europe

 

In regards to sending your laptop for someone to do anything to it, be smart about it:
1. Always ask for a real name, address, and telephone number.
2. Always use delivery confirmation.
3. Purchase your own return shipping, do not send cash.
4. Use your common sense, there are very few people I would send something as expensive as a laptop.

NBR doesn't currently authorize or support any such services and they are of course done at your own risk.

It sounds like the heatsink isn't making good contact with the cpu/gpu. Did you replace the thermal pads as well? If so, maybe they are too thick? Did you put tape down on the CPU/GPU? Sometimes that can be too think as well. I would take it apart and look to see if anything is preventing the heatsink from making good contact with the components.

*on edit* if you're not comfortable with LM then I say go buy a quality non-conductive paste and go from there. LM isn't going to be a make it or break it deal on a laptop. I'd rather have a working laptop that runs 4-5C hotter than a potentially non-working laptop...

 

Thank you guys for reply.

I would like to understund if I can fix it by myself, because if it didn't brake after placing the Liquid Metal, I believe so ahah
Anyway, yeah i perfectly followed the guide about the pads. I didn't buy for both sizes the Fujipoly's one, but i was sure they were correct. If i remember well, one of those was broken while applying it and yes I applied the tape on both GPU or CPU

 

Well one of those things is likely creating too big of a gap and keeping the heatsink from touching the cpu/gpu die properly.

 

I could open it, but it will necessarily need to change the LM again, right?

 

Not if you already have a reasonable amount and it's where it's supposed to be. If you're doubting your skills though, use a good traditional paste like kryonaut so you don't have to worry about it.

 

I think the amount i drawed on each part, expecially on GPU, made me understund it was enough. Because GPU never reach strange Temps, except for the moment it's working together with CPU (80-100%)

 

I'm not doubting about my skill so much. I made the worst part, knowing how to avoid to fry everything I would like to know if a picture of my laptop opened is needed here

 

Yeah but if the cpu side doesnt make good contact, the right amount just wont work.

 

When I'll got enough time to open it and fix it, I will let you see what it could eventually is the problem

 

I don't know if they may help, but I'll post the link about the only items I was able to buy in my country (Fujipoli are unavailable here in Italy)

https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0..._o01__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardread0c-21 (this is that i put on PCH, but without any glue)

https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0..._o02__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardread0c-21 (Tape 33+)

https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0..._o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardread0c-21 (0.5mm pad)
https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0..._o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardread0c-21 (1mm pad)
https://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0..._o09__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1&tag=hardread0c-21 (0.1mm pad)

Are they wrong?

 

up

 

Just send it to Pete_light. He is very anal with what he does. That’s what I would do


All that money you spend on material will be wasted if you keep opening it up and then doing it over and over again.

 

If you live in highly humid region then it is better to buy arctic pads of 6W/mK instead of higher W/mK pads which are brittle.
If you're going to do LM use a foam dam like Falkentyne suggested in this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...r-liquid-metal-safety-insurance-guide.817207/

 

I live in Italy, i guess so

 

I can't tell you if the pads are the wrong thickness because I don't own an Alienware. Have you searched to see what others add? I will tell you that super 33+ is thick tape and if you have even more than one layer on top of another the heatsink won't make good contact with the cpu/gpu die. I usually use Kapton tape for my laptops and nitrocellulose based nail polish for my desktops. Having said that, I still don't recommend liquid metal for laptops. It's a pain to do, and unless you've done it a few times, it's really error prone. It's just not worth it for the 3-4C drop that you'll get vs a good non-conductive thermal paste.

 

You observed only 3-4C reduction using LM? I thought LM gets rid off 10-15C on max load.

 

In all the laptops I've done LM on, going from Kryonaut to Conductonaut has only shown a 3-4C drop in max load temps. LM isn't going to change a heat capacity limited setup.

 

The jump can be higher in these alienwares. The heatsink itself is pretty good. Contact has been an issue. But I dont think LM should be the last resort. The heatsink mount should be able to keep the laptop cool even with traditional paste.

 

I wasn't impressed with LM in the alienwares I had a couple years ago. About the only thing I've been impressed with is delids on desktops, but I never tried Kryonaut in its stead.

 

I saw some units running at 70c with LM which is nice vs my 78/80c on normal paste. But i agree its not a miracle solution if the radiators itself are too small.

 

But you really can't compare someone else's 70C vs your 78C because of differences in ambient and other environmental differences. I'd be curious what kind of drop you would get going to LM, my guess is not much better than 5C.

 

Hmmm, never knew that. I thought LM can reduce thermals by 10-20C on any configuration and form factor.

 

I saw a difference of 5-6C like you stated. Same ambient temps of testing. Went from Kryonaut to LM

 

At max load?

 

Yes. I went from dell paste to Kryonaut which dropped it about 5c already and after decided to repaste it again but with LM and it further reduced the temps another 5-6c. So overall change was about 10-11c from dell paste.

 

Both tested at 22c in airco controlled rooms.

 

Same laptops? Same test bench? Same tests? Same windows install/processes running?

 

In my testing yes same variables but I didn’t see 20c drop but roughly 11-12c drop with LM

 

I was asking rinneh since it was suggested that LM was worth 8-10C vs "normal paste," which I'm not sure what that means. My whole point was LM wasn't going to be a huge difference and in someone like the OP it's probably more hassle than it's worth.

 

Same game benchmark, same laptop model. Both Windows 10.

 

But not the same laptop... CPUs and GPUs even of the same models have different quality levels. I've had several XPS 9570s with different default VIDs for the CPU which ran at totally different speeds/temps.

 

Yeah thats true but a 10c difference isnt just there because of chip quality. Mine isnt too great by the way. Poor undervolting performance for a kaby lake.

 

10C is more than reasonable due to chip quality, I've seen it in those same 9570s. The first one I had was golden, the second one wasn't even close.

 

In my experience thats not the case, especially at stock voltages. That while i already have one of the better cooling AW15R3s on this forum.

 

I've only had 20 or so laptops over the past two years and none of them are the same. Regardless, you can't compare your laptop to someone else's, you'd have to try LM on yours and see what kind of drop you get. But I'll leave it at that since we've derailed the OPs post enough.