MSI GT60/70 Optimum Performance and Efficiency Tweaks/Fixes thread

I came up with an idea that I personally think will help owners of both GT60s and GT70s get their machines running the best they can. Instead of having to dig through the 80+ pages of each owner's lounge to find tips or info or instructions on how to do something etc, my idea is to start listing and linking them all and/or posting new ones here so that everyone can find what they need quicker and easier!


Tips/ info:

THERMAL:
1: Repaste your CPU/ GPU with a good paste like IC Diamond, MX-4, etc and apply new thermal pads. I would suggest using Fujipoly's 17W/mK pads because they can transfer the most heat. Both are available from FrozenCPU

Note: juliant said something about using AI Technology "Cool Silver" pads in one of the forums. I found some on ebay ( Cool Silver) but their online store comes up with a "product not found" message so these might be the last ones out there. Can they be used in place of thermal pads? If so, do they work better?


GENERAL
1: If you have a noisy fan, you probably have the early NSTech fan which can be replaced by a newer T&T fan which is much quieter. You can get them from majster msi, just send him a PM! ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/member.php?u=445719)

2: To get better battery life some programs might need to be forced onto the iGPU like Steam, which by default runs the dGPU. Do this through "3D Settings" in the Nvidia Control panel

3: To free up some space on your HD, burn a windows 8 recovery disc so you can delete the recovery partition. (~20GB extra free space)

4: If you're having issues with the touchpad freezing while typing you need to change the touchpad settings. Go to control panel > hardware and sound > mouse > device settings (It has a synaptics logo http://logopond.com/logos/b304f4233812c1dc82ec2387b7d04c7c.png) and click settings when IN the device settings. From there you will want to click the dropdown arrow on the "Pointing" tab, then turn the palmcheck to minimum, all fixed!

5:If you plan on upgrading RAM, stick with Kingston HyperX. Corsair Vengeance 8GB (others are probably the same) sticks were tested by Ken at GentechPC and didn't work at all.

PERFORMANCE
1: If you want to start your computer in a permanently overclocked state, press the G button and power button at the same time, it works for all CPUs.



Those are all I remember reading off the top of my head. Credit and thanks to others on this forum that are awesome and figuring all of this out too! Feel free to add any links or advice that has helped you out!

 

Thanks for the list here, some good tips. Curious, any idea where step 4. with the G button is discussed or documented? I'm new to MSI and this particular feature, and nothing that came with the laptop manual wise mentions it.

 

It's a hidden easter egg is why! It was somewhere in the early pages of the GT70 forum I believe, let me find the link.


http://forum.notebookreview.com/msi/718530-official-msi-gt70-2od-owners-lounge-12.html. There's some info on the previous page or two as well.

And don't worry I'm even newer than you are! I'm so new that I don't even have my computer yet ^_^

 

about the early NSTech fan. has it been confirmed that all early models have this type of fan?

i ordered mine from xotic pc and they said that their stocks for the GT60 laptops just came in. can i assume that mine will come with a new model fan that doesn't make that much noise?

 

Couldn't answer that for sure. Considering how recently these were shipped out, you COULD get a crappy fan. But once they deplete the stock of them I guess it would be safe to assume that all laptops will be built with the T&T fan. Hopefully this has already happened for the sake of both of us!

 

Question, so is it later model will come out all with the T&T Fan? As i planned to get MSI GT60-2OD by end of the year. So i think i shouldn't got that issue

 

That's what it sounds like right now. They shouldn't be making any more with the Nstech fan now!

 

how can i check what type of fan is in my laptop? just take off the back side cover?

 

Yes. There should be a sticker or brand label on the laptop fan. Should only take about 5 mintues to check.

 

i guess this will be the first thing i will check. but really, it is only noise right? doesn't seem like the fan has anything to do with performance issues?

edit:

drivers. why are people looking for drivers for the new 770 and 780m video cards. does the laptop not come with the correct drivers or something?

 

Yes, the notebook comes with correct drivers, but these are production drivers from the notebook's manufacturer, and usually built on an older outdated NVIDIA driver. When a new graphics card is released, it can take a month or two, before NVIDIA provides support for the new hardware in their driver program. Anyhow, newer drivers normally means improved performance, bug fixes and issues resolved, and new game profiles for the latest games...... so yes, everyone is anxious for a new working driver release from NVIDIA.

 

Yes, noise is the only difference, they cool more or less the same!

What striker said is spot on, the laptop comes with drivers, but they are an older version so they're not spectacular or very adapted to the 780m. The reason people are looking for new ones so much is for better overclocking results, more stability, higher FPS, temps, etc. Personally, I'm just going to wait a little bit longer for Nvidia to begin releasing drivers that are fully compatible with the 780m before I worry about it, the stock drivers will be fine for now!

 

My barebone MS-1763 has the NSTech fan. I've opened to confirm. But why is it crappy? This fan is quite unless the Turbo fan is turned on. But don't they all get loud when the fan is running nearly 100%? Are the T&T fans that much quieter??

 

It's because some of the NSTech fans have come loud out of stock, with audible high pitched noise. Mine doesn't have it so not all have that condition.

 

Do you mean using "Fujipoly's 17W/mK pads" to replace the thermal paste ? are you sure ?

 

Just replaced my noisy nstech fan model, got another with nstech but it's quiet this time thank goodness. Sadly my CPU hits 99C during prime95 even with turbo fan and new paste. GPU runs super cool though.

On a side note. Does anyone recommend square trade for an ADH warranty? I'm contemplating it.

 

No not at all! Use thermal paste for the actual CPU and GPU dies, but the RAM chips and other Accompanying parts need thermal pads to keep cool as well . The only pad I would consider using on the actual chips themselves would be those Cool silver pads, but I wouldn't even do that as I still haven't found a definite answer on that!


Batman, something doesn't sound right with that picture. Have you tried reseating the CPU heatsink? You shouldn't be getting anywhere NEAR those temps, especially with turbo fan.

 

Yep I tried that as well. It idles around 48C and hits 99C on the hottest core within 5 seconds of prim95. That is with turbo fan already running at full speed. My coolest core hits 89C. It did this at stock and new paste made zero difference. Think I just have a poop chip. The first laptop I had and sent back due to fan noise only hit 93C max.

Edit: Seems something was downloading in the background. Idle is down to 36-38C but still hits 99C during prime95 and 3dmark11. All with turbo on.

Edit2: Moved the HSF a fraction of a mm left and now max temps hit 81C WITHOUT turbo.... Insane difference that made...

 

Sounds like the heatsink is very picky about being properly seated, I'll be sure to keep an eye out for the same symptoms when I get my computer (TOMORROW )


Edit: Just got it and am LOVING this machine! This is my first laptop and I couldn't be more impressed! I will be updating the first post of this thread with anything I find that could help us out as intended!

 

Great idea for a thread, congrats on the new computer! I lso just got mine a few days ago and it's fantastic.
Keep up the good work.

 

This thread is perhaps a good idea in concept, but I'd consider keeping it very general in nature. To simply say 'GT60/GT70' covers a variety of models, features, hardware, configurations, and a couple tech generations. For instance, in the OP under 'Performance', the supposed 'G' button + 'Power' button Easter Egg is mentioned. If this works, this would be something only applicable to the latest Haswell 780M models. Has anyone actually gotten this to work? I haven't...... don't know what I am doing wrong, but it doesn't work for me. Months ago I read something on this Easter Egg, but it was specific to MX processor owners only. In any event, I haven't gotten it to work with the 4700MQ or 4900MQ processors. I've tried this numerous times, and seen no differences whatsoever with hardware monitoring software. If this is more than just a rumor, it would have been nice if they provided us with a 'Easter Egg Engaged' pop-up window, or something, LOL!

Anybody?

 

When replacing the thermal pads, the performance is not the issue, it's the thickness that allows the heatsink mate as closely as possible to the core. The only area that may be different is with the thermal bridge.