Dell :: Inspiron 8500 Video Upgrade-heat Sink Mod Mandatory
Aug 13, 2009
an Inspiron 8500. I have increased the memory to 2Gb, added a wireless N card and put in a 160Gb HD. It runs Win 7 RC ok with it's Mobility Radeon 9000 32mb but was thinking of putting in a 9600 128mb.
My question is if you're not going to be doing any gaming is the heat sink mod mandatory to use the 9600 in the i8500? Looking mainly to use some of the Win 7 eye candy features. Found a place on the net selling new (supposedly) 9600's for $100, which is what used ones go for on Ebay.
Now this was something I was not happy about. There is a large gap from the left fan (fan 1) to the CPU's heatsink from before. Then there was now a gap between the CPU and GPU's heatsinks. You can see in the picture above the screwdriver that is clearly visible (click the image for the full-res version).
In my history of custom cooling back in the 80s and 90s, there is one thing I learned that always remains constant: airflow is key. So my task would be to modify the airflow to force all air through the heatsinks by not allowing any to escape the airflow path through any gaps.
Aluminum Foil Shrouds
I accomplished this by using a few pieces of kitchen aluminum foil, scotch-tape, and additional AS5. There are multiple reasons for this. First for safety I evaluated the entire area and found no electrical components or circuit boards anywhere near this area. You do not want a piece coming loose and short-circuiting things!
Second is having aluminum foil allows the heat to transfer from one copper pipe to the other (just a tad though, too thin really to do a massive amount). That may not have been the best idea at first because CPUs usually run cooler than GPUs from my overclocking experience. But considering how freakin' high my CPU temps were before I even began, I could only see this as helping to offload some heat to the GPU's heatpipe - even if just a tad amount, anything had to help.
I also closed down the air escaping on the left side of fan's outlet to the CPU's heatsink, as well as the gaps between the two heatsinks. Now all air is forced by the fan trough the CPU heatsink, and then through the GPU's heatsink where it than only has room to exit the back vent.
I got a defective C640, completely dead, no charging and a charged battery did not work either.
I found a bad solder joint at one of the DC filters located under the PCB just under the DC-jack, easy to resolder . Found also that the videoboard was loose. Now it is working.
But then I had a strange problem, when I put down the cpu heat sink the fan stopped, and when I just lift it a litte bit it started!? I could not solve this until I installed the speedfan program and marked the Dell square under configure > options and rebooted?
Then I have a leftover, a plastic piece L-shaped 2+3 cm with an hole at one end,
I'm not sure if others are aware, but I have recently found out that the contact between the heatsink and the GPU and chipset are made of a metal-foam material, while the CPU's is copper with thermal paste. After doing some research, it's said that these "high-performance foam heatsink" provide "high thermal conductivity, high internal surface area, and the connectivity of the voids". I'm not sure I'm buying into this since my idling temps are about 60C while my 9300M in my Asus U6V idles at 49C and even my 9800M GS in the Asus G71G idles at 60C.
Has anyone else seen these metal-foams used in other laptops and do you think this decision of using foam heatsinks is due to lower production costs? I personally would have preferred solid copper/aluminum w/ thermal paste rather than a piece of foam
Top red circle = chipset heatsink; lower right red circle = GPU heatsink
I've been recently applying Arctic Silver 5 paste to my CPU/GPU according to the guide found on this forum. After that the temperatures not only did not drop they actually are slighlty higher. The problem may be that I haven't use the lint free cloth tough I did took care not to leave any lint on the surfaces. Anyway, I decided to redo a whole operation with much more care. Unfortunately as I opened my XPS M1530 one of the screws heads was broken in a way that I could not use any of my phillips screwdrivers on it. How can I remove it now & more importantly what are the dimensions/sizes of the screws that are used to attach the heatsing to the GPU/CPU as I may have to buy one to replace it & don't seem to be able to find that info anywhere?......
With all software issues decided as not the problem, I am trying to decide what piece of hardware needs replacing or is even fixable.
The Dell when first turned on looks like a tetris screen, lots of vertical lines and some horizontal, lots of colors. Next boot up will be more lines not as distinct and a white background. This second screen will stay with me through several more power offs, power on.
sometimes I will end up with the BSOD stop code which supposedly is a memory problem but the memory checks okay. Finally when the laptop is really warmed up, it boots normally and will work for the entire day. I removed the bezel and keyboard but have no idea of what is "normal"
If a cable had been evidently loose or cracked, that would have helped but all I see is a sys board which appears to have a slight film on it (normal?) The display cable is wrapped with electrical tape where it goes into the display unit. Is this normal? If anyone has had their 8500 apart and took photos, I'd appreciate access to them.
It came from a library and looks very clean. Booting however indicates problems. Sometimes it will boot to the login screen but mostly there are lots of vertical lines, error messages I can't read, etc.
I was able to get into the BIOS once and I was checking boot order. That seems fine. I tried to get into safe mode several times but was not successful.
Is the presence of those colored lines, bars more indicative of a bad video chip or could it just be a driver problem.
I have two apparently identical Inspiron 8500's. Intel Pentium 4-Mrated @ 2.4 Ghz.
One runs at 2.4 Ghz as shown in system properties, CPU-Z and other utilities.
The other runs at only 1.196 Ghz max, shows 1.196 Ghz in BIOS. Bios version A08 apparently the latest offered.
I've tried swapping batteries, power supplies and cooling fans. The fans and grills are clean, and the BIOS proves this isn't an issue of temperature or something that changes after bootup. I've installed speed switch XP, which also shows 1.196Ghz and nothing can be set in that program that changes it either.
I've downloaded the "Speedstep" software update from Dell ... no solutions there. It doesn't step down or up, just runs at max of 1.196 Ghz, which is of course noticeably slower than its twin.
i would like to upgrade my video card, if it is possible and if it is worth it. my 1720 has the mobile intel 965 express chipset family. ive seen sigs (dr650se and someformofhuman) stating that they have the nvidia 8600m gt and was wondering if this is compatible with my 1720.
also i found out through this forum that i can upgrade my cpu (which is the measly t5450 1.66 ghz) to the beastly t9300, and add a 2nd hard drive (which is my first step in upgrading this dell because i only have a 160 gb drive).
i was looking for a new laptop until i came across this forum and found out the possibilities of my dell. i decided to stick with this and just upgrade it! thanks for the insight, and thanks in advance for all the help that i will be asking for!
1.I really didn't find much info on the (now not so) new white unibody Macbooks, expect some items for sale. And please, don't tell me that just buy the aluminum model for the extra $200, my question is strictly from an engineering point of view: heat. We all know aluminum Macbooks are quite hot, right? But how does the white unibody compares to the aluminum regarding heat issues?
2.What might be the reason that the whole bottom of the white unibody contcts the table beneath it, compared to the aluminum model, which has four rubber contact points on the four corners?
3.On the other thread I read a dedicated graphics card does not really add to battery consumption. Can you confirm that?
My main usage profile is office, web and seeing (HD, if available) Youtube videos. This one is rather a 15" vs. 13" Pro question, and half hypothetic. Let's say, all things are being equal on two models, the processor none the least, the only differences are one model has the integrated Nvidia, the other the integrated Intel plus discreet Nvidia combo, which one would serve me better, regarding performance and battery life? The discreet graphics would at least turn on when playing the HD videos?
4.Running native Windows (7 or XP) still suck on Macbooks, because of the drivers?
I cleaned out all of her vents and applied AS5 to the heatsink. Suddenly her processor gets really hot, it can go up to 70 degrees with barely any load at all.
When I closed RMClock, the processor reached 85C and the computer showed a pop up stating that temperature limits were approaching. I have no clue what is going on. I took the computer apart yet again and found nothing wrong, the heatsink was making perfect contact with the processor.
I am so confused. The fan is working properly but it won't speed up until the processor reaches 76C. I have had to use IK8fangui in order to keep the temperatures down, making the fan go at full speed when the processor reaches 64C.
Currently, with just basic web browsing, her computer is idling at 60C. I removed her processor and put it in my Studio 15 and saw normal temperatures of 40C idle and 65C load when undervolted.
I have an M1710 with a GO 7950 GTX video card. I also have a Dell 30" monitor that runs at a native resolution of 2560x1600 but the 7950 GTX will not go to full resoltuion. I would like to find a solution to allow me to run my monitor a full resoltuion.
Could I possibly install a Go 8700M card? Would it fit into the 1710 case.
just got a few questions regarding upgrading my 9400. Currently has 2.0 ghz core duo and 7900gs at 460/700.
if a Core 2 Duo T7500 cpu and a FX2500 512mb video card will slot in with no problems? Im assuming a bios update and i know the fsb wont function at 800mhz, but other than that, it should be ok?
According to a Dell Rep at least.. This is mostly for the people who have the SXPS 16 with the 3670. I was speaking with a dell rep today and she told me that if I were to buy a 4670 and called tech support.
I could ask for their help to install the video card without voiding warranty. I don't know if this is true..
but does anyone know where to get a 4670 besides Dell's site where it's $109
If I bought m1730 with geforce 8800m can I upgrade it later to get the geforce 9800m? If yes, do I buy the video card and install it myself or I buy the card and dell technician will come to my house and install it for me?
I bought my XPS laptop a couple of years ago and got it with the 128 mb GeForce 8400M GS.
I read on a couple of different websites that you could upgrade the XPS videocards on the XPS.
I went to the Dell website upgrade section and when I entered my service tag number, video cards wasn't an option to upgrade; though motherboards were.
Is it possible to upgrade the videocard to the 256 mb GeForce GT; which I should have purchased to begin with? Do I have to buy a new motherboard and put the 256 chip on it? Lastly, is the 256 the only video card I can buy to replace the 128?
A couple days ago my E1705 laptop screen started flickering then shut off on me. I restarted my computer but then screen would still not turn on then i found out that my video card was fried.
I bought my E1705 back when Dell only offered the Ati x1400 and the 7800 geforce go cards and i currently have the 7800.
i have searched around and seen that the 7900 gtx go could be a replacement but everyone who talks about it as a replacement came with a later model E1705 with the 7900 gs installed already
I have a xps m1730 that is equiped with geforce 9800 sli already. I want to know that in case that I want to upgrade the video card, what card I can put in for this laptop.
If i get the vostro 1710 from dell. Can't I just pull the 8600M GS card and upgrade to the 8600M GT or higher video card. I don't think the are welded on the motherboard?
Has anyone even tried this? Asking cause I saw on ebay that the are selling the 8600M GS and 8600M GT for laptops and was wondering.
if anyone has tried to put a 7950GTX from an M1710 into the Precision M6300. My boss wants me to order one for him but he wants to know if he can put in that card for gaming reasons.
I want to upgrade the DELL vostro 1700 video card (8600M GT). I was thinking for a GeForce Go 7950 GTX (possibly SLI) or a 8800 GTX (again, possibly SLI). Perhaps evena Quadro FX 3500M could be suitable (if there are modifications of drivers in order to play with games).
or are the sockets different on the new HP ATI vid cards . CPU is plenty fast , X-9000 , a new faster vid card would really extend the life of the laptop .
a hp dv4-1114nr with an integrated video card! Anyways, I am curious as to what video card it will support if any, and any info that on which would be best for him to get.
i just recently bought this laptop and was first satisfied with it's features.
But then.... 64MB of system video memory?
Come on Acer. And so I was thinking if I could add some graphics like buying a decent video card for it.
I heard that video cards for laptops are in PCI express.
Can my Acer use it?
IF and only IF this Acer Aspire doesn't have the ability to use a new video card, is there any other way I could improve its graphics like getting some of the built-in shared memory and putting it in the video?
Just bought one of these ACER ASPIRE 7720G laptop's from ebay afew days back. It comes with the Nvidia Geforce 8400M GS, but i'm wondering if it's possible to upgrade this card with something that packs more of a punch.
If it is possible, what would be the ideal card for this setup?
The processor is the Intel® C2D T7300 Processor, 2 gb ram, 250gh hd space.
