Dell (XPS M1530) - let it sleep or shutdown? My Query related to nVidia Mess!!

Hi People, had this question pop up in my mind last night.

I had seen a post in some thread couple of days back from around here, regarding the nVidia mess and the issue of the GPU not withstanding the hot-cool cycles due to the faulty die/packaging material.

The poster had mentioned that even shutting down the computer and restarting it frequently would also cause stress on the concerned component resulting in stress and the user went on to recommend that we let the comp. sleep rather than completely shut it down if we are gonna use it again soon.

First, is this stress on the GPU or the die/packaging due to shutting down / restarting really that significant?
Second, what would the word 'frequent' shutdown/restart here refer to? within 6 hrs? 12 hrs? or shutting down and restarting every day? For example, I usually shut down my system at night and then I start it the next day evening because during the day time I work on the desktop. Is this excessive? *I guess not, but I don't know for sure*
Third, if the above is true, then is it preferred / recommended to let the laptop sleep over or what would be the general time for letting a comp sleep over or just shut it down?? Are there any standards or general practice as such? I have no idea about these things.

Thanks in advance for any info and suggestions Cheers.

 

Yes, shutting down and starting it frequently does cause stress, though sleeping the comp really isn't that great of an option either since it does other things that arn't so good over a long period of time, just in a different way.

The stress on the GPU due to shutting down/restarting is not that significant obviously considering there have been rare cases of GPU failures as a result. There is no real boundary to "frequent". There is no "cooldown period after shutting down".

Its perfectly fine to restart and shutdown every day which is a better option than sleeping it and can preserve your notebook for much longer than someone who sleeps it often. I can tell by your post that you are very concerned.

In fact, one of the things that BIOS A09 does is negate the effect of the "starting up" by making it so that the fans kick in to cool off the GPU as soon as you turn on the computer so it really has no effect on it whatsoever.

Shutting down is ALWAYS a better option than sleeping.

 

Hey, Thanks a lot for that explanation That' very clear now.

Well, I wouldn't say I was 'very' concerned, but yes, I was concerned. As in, I don't remember who posted it, but I do remember it was some senior member or similar with lots of posts next to their name, and obviously, being a learner that I am with these things, I can't just brush off their views And I didn't want to hijack that thread as well...

I didn't know that shutdown/start causes so much stress.. I mean I knew there was some stress, but not to the level where someone would actually discuss it in detail and suggest an alternative.

Anyways, Thanks a lot again. From now, I will not put my comp to sleep, I will just knock it over.. ..

3 Cheers for that quick reply.

 

I think that the thermal differences that cause this problem would be greatly increased if the computer was shut down and started up. This does cause a thermal expansion / compression no matter how much the fans are spinning. It is this thermal expansion / compression that causes the separation which results in the gpu failure. Looking at it that way, the best thing to do is try to keep your gpu to run at constant temperatures. The only way to do this is to keep your laptop always running but well cooled with a cooling pad. This should keep the temps realitevly stable (unless of course you decide to be rigorous on the gpu and game or something.)

 

If you leave it on just a cooling pad, there will be other issues that arise in the long run that are not because of the thermal GPU problem. Sure the cooling pad can prolong it, but other things go on that make it not a good thing.

Like I said, BIOS A09 makes it so that the fans kick in that cool the GPU as soon as you start the computer. In addition to that, you have the Zalman, so you shouldn't have any problems.

 

Ah here... Was it you who posted something similar in some other thread, NizzY?? Because the post I read was similar to this Anyways... hmmm.. thanks for the information. I don't game often or put the gpu under loads of stress... as of now my temp' are pretty stable at the normal levels.. and I just got a cooling pad as well. So I guess the temp' should be under control. But, this expansion / compression is what I was thinking about. Is it that big an explansion or compression so as to affect the components so much?

I mean, by default, the expansion/compression wouldn't be that much if the GPU was withing the acceptable lower and higher temp limits, right? As in when the manufacturer' make this product or any product that would undergo heat related expansion or compression, would have made sure this phenomenon is minimal withing a range of acceptable temperatures, isn't it? *pardon me if I am wrong, I really don't about the engineering part of these things* The expansion/compression would be the greatest only if the GPU is stressed out or maxed out, and the temp' start hitting the "danger levels" or whatever, right?

 

Yeah, this was another thing I noticed with the BIOS A09.. the fan kicks in pretty much as soon as I start up and when I open the temp monitor, I see the temp is like 60-61, and then it cools down, stabilizes around 54-56... and even when I run my usual programs, browsing, or stuff, its always around that level.. when it goes up its like 63-65, and anyways around 66 the fan kicks in again.

And yeah, I got to check out with the Zalman tonight... Lets see. Thanks a lot for the information, you wonderful people

 

The expansion and compression happens all the time regardless of what computer/laptop you have. This phenomenon is definitely by all means minimal.

The only reason why the worry even came up was just because the GPU has the weaker die packaging, which might make the heat it outputs more than it can actually handle which causes the stress.

The expansion/compression occurs only during startup. Think of it as, you go to a pool, you take a hot shower, the you jump into a cold outdoor pool and you feel FREEZING. Its just like that. When you play an intense game or stop playing the GPU is already on in the first place, temperatures do rise and fall, but its all gradual so its nowhere near as shocking. Starting up the computer though, it is a sudden change in temperature that occurs. Though seriously, it is not as big as you'd think and once again A09 bios addresses it.

 

Ah Ok, now its getting clear Thanks.

 

My advice would be to shut down only once at the end of every day. If you are going to be using it throughout the day, just let it sleep. There is no use in constantly causing the GPU to heat up and and cool down if you are going to be using the PC again in the near future. The difference in temperatures between a GPU that's running and one that's not is dramatic when you consider the die packaging flaw.