Order from PCSpecialist and after market care.

Hi all,

I've had an octane III (p775dm3-g) since last year. However I struggled with high temps (95+)from the outset. Through my own efforts I managed an undervolt and repaste to get better temps. Before the repaste I used some pressure paper to check contact to find the heatsink made very poor contact with the CPU however the gpu made good contact and never struggled with temps after the repaste. After requesting a new heatsink I was made to wait around three months. Out of the blue they got back in touch to say the had the part in stock and would send it out if I was happy to install. I had to exchange the old one to receive the new one . Then when trying to install the new heatsink I noticed it was lower considerably on one side and upon installation would not fit into the screw threads properly. After a bit of manipulation it screwed in. Upon start there were problems immediately, temps crashing the computer on both CPU and GPU (which previously was performing impeccably). I corresponded via e-mail with the support team and they told me it needed an RMA to identify the problem. I sent it back the 26th of this month and today I received an e-mail saying not only was it repaired but also dispatched. Upon finishing work I've since looked on my PCSpecialist account to check what they diagnosed/repaired. This is what they've said;

Fault Report
After receiving your system we have been able to replicate the issue that you have described. This has been isolated to be a fault with your thermal paste and this has now been resolved.
The running temperatures do run high on this particular chassis, upwards of 90 degrees so please do not be alarmed. During our stress testing this is noted and the system was running as expected. When under load in future, something to help this would be to use the key combination FN + 1. This will turn the fans to 100% and aid the cooling.

The system has been stress tested overnight without issue. I then had a second technician look over the work that has been done and we are now happy for it to be returned to you.

We're very sorry that your computer had to be returned to us. We hope you have no further problems.

So the issue is thermal paste? Not a heatsink that makes almost no contact and will not even screw in properly? I should be ok with it running 90+ when using it and to run max fans all the time?? Seriously before the heatsink change I had it never running above 80 on CPU on demanding games and the GPU never went above 70 degrees.

I'm really dissatisfied with this outcome. A top end machine that need to run its fans 100% to stop it throttling and shutting down when gaming or even running simple tasks such as e-mail and browsing.

For the record I used Gelid extreme for its first repaste and temps did improve. After that I used liquid metal and they dropped to the aforementioned lower temps.

For the new heatsink I used Grizzly Conductonaut twice to ensure first paste wasn't an aberration. This is a high end paste which should have ensured best performance.

I can't understand how professionals have not noticed a heatsink that does not even screw in correctly. It was brand new delivered and I do not fault them for that but we all know not every part made is equal quality especially heatsink for these models. If I could have the previous heatsink returned I would have taken it.

This will be going back to RMA immediately as I'm not happy having a £2,000 laptop that has parts inside that do not align/fit correctly. Failing that I'll be seeking outside counsel about this.

 

The heatsink should be aligned with the CPU, I cannot understand how they can see past this, and still say that running upwards 90 degrees with great paste on such a laptop is nothing to be alarmed about.

PCSpecialist is unfortunately, not the best reseller there is in Europe. There's a handful of examples, I, unfortunately, do not have the time to link them, but feel free to search this particular sub-forum.

 

I got back in touch unhappy and the person I'd be speaking with also expressed concern that one of their team had failed to take into consideration the fact that the heatsink wouldn't actually screw into the mounts without direct manipulation. I've been offered to send it back once more for a new heatsink and given an express apology.