Asus F3M - replacing the thermal paste for Chillfactor on CPU and GPU

Hi guys,
I registered here to search for service/disassembly manuals for my old notebook when I wanted to improve the cooling by using quality thermal paste. The one I use since purchasing TRUE (Thremalright 120 Ultra Extreme) is the Chillfactor 1 that came with the heatsink. It is as effective as Arctic Silver AS5 I've used before but so much easier to work with.

I didn't find the answers on disassembly but I accepted the challenge and went for it anyway. The first time ever I disassembled a notebook, but ended up well and extremely happy with the results. Read below and enjoy. If you decide to do the same you do it on your own risk. I got my notebook from my sister when she got a new Sony Vaio and she no longer needed this Asus F3M. My notebook was not in warranty when I got it and since I don't really need notebook I decided to experiment a bit with it.

My notebook specs
Asus F3M
AMD Sempron Mobile 1.8 GHz
RAM 1024 MB (2x512MB DDR2 667MHz) - changed for 2x1024MB DDR2-800MHz
NVIDIA GeForce 6100 (128MB VRAM)


few pictures documenting the process (wasn't meant as a guide, just for my purposes, so not as detailed). ArctiClean Thermal Material Remover and ArctiClean Thermal Surface Purifier used in the process (absolutely magical stuff that I really love using)




the view when you take off the plastic cover from the back...the cpu fan is missing already...where the hell is my gpu?



my F3M notebook teared apart....I actually disassembled the notebook a bit more than was needed...my approach was "undo all the screws you can and see where that gets you" ;o]


template to remember where the screws belong to (highly recommended)...you can see cpu fan, back cover, optical drive, rams and battery lying around




finally found the little f*cker


detail of the GPU


the thick "rubbery" thermal paste used to transfer the heat to the heatspreader...no surprise it was overheating...thermal paste becomes uneffective after some time....TIM manufacturers recommend re-applying every 6 months...sorry for crappy pic


old aluminium heatsink that I've used for modifying the gpu cooling...I teared one of the fins and used it instead of the thick thermal paste...just keep bending it back and forth and it will fall off




the metal plate under keyboard acts as a heatspreader for the gpu



underside of the old aluminium heatsink...the cpu contact plate is screwed to the heatsink. Since it was the flattest surface I had I put the fin between the two parts and screwed it as tight as I could. The fin was not flat after bending it back and forth to separate it from the heatsink so I used it to flatten it as much as I could.


I just placed the fin (after flattering it) in place and taped it over in the area where it is not in contact with gpu (with strong Pattex tape)....used Thermalright Chillfactor 1 on both sides (the side in contact with the gpu is still clean on the pic...the side between heatspreader and the fin already has chillfactor applied)



Temperature results:

Used 3D Mark 2001 SE. Since my CPU is pretty weak it runs at 100% all the time so no need to test CPU with orthos, prime, occt or any other cpu testing apps. Before my notebook wasn't even able to finish the standart 3D Mark benchamark. The logged max temerature for the gpu was 89 degrees Celsius.

CPU
Don't remember the exact temps for the cpu (since the gpu was my main concern) but it was idling at 69-75 and probably good 10 degrees more in burn.
Now my CPU normally sits at 53 Celsius and during the 3D Mark bench the max logged temp was 61 Celsius.

before: idle 70+, burn 80+
after: idle 53, burn 61

GPU
before: idle 75, burn 89 (coudn't even finish the bench since gpu overheated, resetted the vpu and 3dmark ended halfway thru)
after: idle 53, burn 69 (after completed benchmark)

Conclusion:
That is roughly 20 celsius degrees improvement on both the CPU and GPU just by applying quality thermal paste. The whole notebook is noticeably cooler and the air coming from the vent is just slightly warm. Makes the notebook comfortable to use on your lap and not frying your balls ;o]

my photobucket album with original pictures (the ones linked above are resized to 800x600 for forum use)
http://s900.photobucket.com/albums/ac201/m4t3y/Asus F3M/

 

Hi,
Your final results are very good. I also have Asus (F5RL) that has similar (maybe even same) design as yours. Few days ago I opened only that cover plastic on the back to clean dust from the bars where air is going out, and from the fan. There was pretty much dust and hair on those bars. I changed thermal compound on the CPU also, old one was totally fried. didn't go any further, although I was wondering where GPU could be?
Which application did you use to monitor GPU temp? I couldnt find any that shows GPU temps?
Having seen your pics, i will try to disassemble my laptop again to get to GPU, because laptop is getting hot just around area above where GPU is located. And it hasn't been cleaned yet (about 3 years).
Instead that thick "rubbery" thermal paste above GPU, you put small aluminium plate. OK, but wouldn't it be even better to use copper instead aluminium? Copper has higher thermal conductivity than aluminium.
And, one more question. You taped aluminium plate with tape, and that plate will be warm from time to time. So, I wonder how long will that tape be sticked with Al-plate?

 

Great results, in fact i've just upgraded my cpu in my packard bell dot m/a, from a l110 to a tk55; using the AS5 i've lower temps than before, even if i'm on a dual core now; the original paste was really rubbish so hard and bad laid, absolutely a thing to do to a laptop