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arctic silver

post #1 of 32
4/17/06 at 12:35am
Thread Starter 
Ok i think i want to go ahead and apply artic silver to my cpu/gpu but never done this before.......

So just a few pointers would be nice.

1. Looked at the website and places to buy them etc and there are a few different ones... which one should i buy? I thought just artic silver 5??

2. The cleaning solution is it worth getting their one? Does it work better than acetone?

err any other pointers would be nice. Going to find a good guide for it! Presume its one of those things once you have done it once it is easy enough!

thanks
Ed
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post #2 of 32
4/17/06 at 1:00am
as5 is what you want you really dont need the cleaner, rubbing alcohol will work just fine.
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post #3 of 32
4/17/06 at 1:14am
AS5 is good. I used AS ceramique and didn't have any problems, but I am anxiously awaiting the 7900 so I can check how my work actually went. I checked my desktop CPU job and that went well, but is probably the easiest.

Tips.
1. Follow the sticky link here for upgrading the GPU
2. Read the guide on AS home site regarding the compound you use.
3. Do it when you have some time and won't get distracted. It isn't terribly long, but it is still a good idea so you aren't rushed.
4. Keep the area clean. The last thing you want is some hair or other garbage messing up your work.
5. Go slow and be sure on what you are going to do
6. If you have a home system, do a pretest on that. I put it on my desktop CPU and Alienware laptop CPU before going to the XPS.

FWIW, the best results seem to have been on my CPUs. The GPU temps dropped some, but not as much as the 3 CPUs that I put it on. One of the reasons I want to open her up and check how it went.

I bought the extra cleaning compounds and liked them, but something cheaper would work just as well.
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post #4 of 32
4/17/06 at 2:03am
i was about to post the same thing.

i've used as5 on cpus and gpus before, so i'm not too worried about the actual application.

the thing that i'm curious about is exactly what parts i need to remove from the m170 to get to the gpu.

also, on dell's site, it says you have to take out the entire graphics card, but on the sticky it says you only have to take off the heatsink? which one's right?
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post #5 of 32
4/17/06 at 2:06am
Take out the graphics card. To remove the heatsink, you will need a star driver. I think #1 if I am correct. You can not get it off any other way. So don't tear apart your laptop until you have that part!
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post #6 of 32
4/17/06 at 7:17am
so all i have to do is take out the graphics card?

i don't have to take out anything else?

on the dell site it says you have to take out the keyboard and a bunch of other stuff.

sorry for being such a noob i just want to make sure i know what i'm getting into before i open up my new m170.

also, i'm not familiar with the star driver. i read another post that said you needed a torx size t-8 driver from home depot.

do i need the star driver, the torx, or both?

thanks for the help.
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post #7 of 32
4/17/06 at 7:36am
http://www.notebookforums.com/showthread.php?t=104203

Here's shoman's guide for removing the graphics card, you have to take out the keyboard, monitor and palm rest to get the card.

Star and Torx drivers are the same thing, you'll need size 8.
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post #8 of 32
4/17/06 at 11:00am
Thread Starter 
hey thanks thst guide looks really helpful!!
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post #9 of 32
4/17/06 at 12:42pm
Thread Starter 
Do people here apply it to the gpu/cpu core as well as the heat sinks using As5 or just the core?? the tutorial on the website says using as5 only the core.
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post #10 of 32
4/17/06 at 12:51pm
It's personal preference. Standard AS5 application would have you put it on the core only and rub just a smidgen over the heatsink to fill any micro crevices/holes.
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post #11 of 32
4/17/06 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
i just spoke to a rep about my screen(separte issue) but thought i would ask about warrenty and AS5...well he said applying it voids your warrenty..i thought i didn't. He kept going on about fixed removable parts....why the hell do they put instuction in the manual to remove the stuff if it voids your warrenty!!!
mmmmm was a bit suspicious
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post #12 of 32
4/17/06 at 2:27pm
Ignore the ignorant. It won't void your warranty. Only time it would is if you screw something up.. but who would honestly call and tell dell..

You: Hi, I was removing my video card to apply AS5 and I snapped a heat pipe.

Dell: Sorry sir, but that is not covered under warranty.

You: Ok, thank you. Click.

NOBODY! That was an extreme FOR INSTANCE. As long as you take your time and follow the instructions, you should not have any issues what so ever.
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post #13 of 32
4/17/06 at 2:33pm
Thread Starter 
Thanks! phew! it sounded strange to me! plus i don't think i am quite violent enough to snap a heat pipe! lol
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post #14 of 32
4/17/06 at 2:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by eddyg
Thanks! phew! it sounded strange to me! plus i don't think i am quite violent enough to snap a heat pipe! lol

Just the thought of somone VIOLENTLY snapping a heat pipe is funny to me. I can imagine it now..

HAAAAAA YAHHH! SNAP!
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post #15 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:01pm
my small tube of as5 is about 10 months old. will it still work or do i need to buy a fresh tube?

also, the core of my 7800gtx in my xps is most likely not making contact with the heatsink, right? that, plus the dissipation power of as5, is why this is a must, right?
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post #16 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:06pm
1 - No. As long as the lid is on you should be fine.

2 - Dell uses a pad that fills a gap and makes contact. I never removed mine or AS5ed the 7800 that is in my laptop. I did do it on the 6800 though. As far as I know, you can't remove that pad or else there will be a gap that not even AS can fill.
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post #17 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:10pm
any thermal compound - arctic silver or not - can't effectively fill in a larger gap like what would be left by removing the pad. I know some ppl have removed pads and replaced them with copper shims, AS5 between the gpu, shim, and heatsink.
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post #18 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:15pm
ok, so should i leave the pad connected to the heatsink, apply the as5 to the gpu's core, then reapply the heatsink and pad to the gpu?
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post #19 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:17pm
You can do that.. or AS the gpu core, pull off the pad and AS the heatsink. Put the pad back on and both sides are now ASed. At least, that is how I did it on the 6800. By the time I got the 7800, I just didn't care anymore to do it so I left it.
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post #20 of 32
4/17/06 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
sorry.. not quite getting people here... are you saying that you should not remove the pad off the GPU as there is too big a gap for as5 to fill there putting on as5 onto your gpu at least on the m170 is useless?

edit: things happending too fast for me... sorry... get it now
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