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    alienware 13 thermal repasting?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by xlawx, Jun 2, 2015.

  1. xlawx

    xlawx Notebook Evangelist

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    anyone attempt to repaste the CPU and GPU of AW13? looking for guiide on how to do it.
     
    xlawx, Jun 2, 2015
    #1
  2. Alienware-L_Porras

    Alienware-L_Porras Company Representative

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    You could look for a full teardown video on YouTube. With that, you only need to understand the process of repasting it.
     
    Alienware-L_Porras, Jun 2, 2015
    #2
  3. xlawx

    xlawx Notebook Evangelist

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    yea i'm just scare as **** to open up laptop though, so many fragile pieces
     
    xlawx, Jun 2, 2015
    #3
  4. Chris_Wayne

    Chris_Wayne Notebook Consultant

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    I've seen some videos on the tube, seems like a very straightforward process, I don't think you would have any problems with it.
     
    Chris_Wayne, Jun 3, 2015
    #4
  5. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Don't use excessive force on anything and you are usually pretty safe, if you are used to working with desktops it's about the same.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 3, 2015
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  6. xlawx

    xlawx Notebook Evangelist

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    lol funny thing is a german guy from youtube just replied saying he broke something trying to do a tear down
     
    xlawx, Jun 3, 2015
    #6
  7. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

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    Well yes if you don't take it slowly and carefully you can damage things.
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jun 4, 2015
    #7
  8. creationsh

    creationsh Notebook Guru

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    make sure you follow the instructions in order. The screws need to be taken off in a specific order.
     
    creationsh, Jun 5, 2015
    #8
  9. Ramzay

    Ramzay Notebook Connoisseur

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    If its anything like the 17 R2, it's stupidly complicated relative to past AW laptops. The R1 only needed you to remove TWO screws to be able to remove the entire bottom panel and access everything for a repaste.

    The new 17 requires you to do a complete disassemble to access the CPU/GPU for a re-paste. Which is completely and utterly ridiculous.

    Part of what got me to return my AW17 R2 was how retarded their laptop design was. A re-paste should take all of a few minutes to do from beginning to end.
     
    Ramzay, Jun 11, 2015
    #9
    Papusan likes this.
  10. sirbevo

    sirbevo Notebook Enthusiast

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    You're a brave soul. I'd be scared to death trying to repaste the 17 R2 without a complete instruction on how to do so. Granted, there is a service manual for it but I'd need to see someone do it before I tried it. LOL
     
    sirbevo, Jun 11, 2015
    #10
  11. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Relative to past big laptops. The m14xs required a complete teardown to access the CPU and GPU. Wouldn't be surprised if the same were said about the m11x and 14.
    For my m15x, I can just remove a few screws after removing the removable bottom panel to get to the GPU and CPU.
     
    Game7a1, Jun 11, 2015
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  12. Ramzay

    Ramzay Notebook Connoisseur

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    The Clevo W230SS is a 13" laptop, and it is absurdly easy to access everything. A few screws and the bottom panel comes off, giving access to most of the components, including the CPU/GPU.
     
    Ramzay, Jun 11, 2015
    #12
  13. Game7a1

    Game7a1 ?

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    Well that's something good. But if we were going by Alienware's small laptop record, a teardown is necessary to get to those components.
    I never implied that all small laptops needed a teardown. Just the Alienware ones.
     
    Game7a1, Jun 11, 2015
    #13
  14. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    Alienware 17R2 has been criticized for difficult access to fans and battery in reviews. This is nothing new... Another downgrade compared to previous models.
     
    Papusan, Jun 12, 2015
    #14
  15. Hephaestos

    Hephaestos Notebook Guru

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    Why? OK, let us assume: all disassembly/assembly goes without any issues, nothing damaged. You removed old paste without accidently scratching the CPU/GPU surfaces. You found out what paste Dell originally used in AW13, and bought better one (no point applying paste which is not better, right?). Now, after all that, do you know any proper, reliable before/after tests which show what improvement you can achieve? Or is it just a gut feeling: it has to run cooler? A lot of assumptions here, me thinks.
     
    Hephaestos, Jul 4, 2015
    #15
  16. LHappydude

    LHappydude Notebook Consultant

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    I wouldn't try it unless you really know what you're doing. The new series have the most complicated internal design I've seen in any alienware systems in the past.
     
    LHappydude, Jul 12, 2015
    #16
  17. thepharcyde

    thepharcyde Notebook Enthusiast

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    If it's under warranty just get Dell to come out and make sure that they clean the old paste off fully before liberally applying the new paste
     
    thepharcyde, Jul 13, 2015
    #17
  18. Papusan

    Papusan Jokebook's Sucks! Dont waste your $$$ on Filthy

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    Dell support comes with thermal pads. Miserable quality. Buy paste yourself and let technicians apply it. Buy either IC7 or Gelid extreme.
     
    Papusan, Jul 13, 2015
    #18