IBM T40 passive GPU cooling

[titanium]

Hello!

I am new to this forums.

Recently I bought my t40 from second hand guy. I fell in love with this laptop. Really it is a great laptop.

So i was reading on the internet that this models have problems witf GPU chip . Mine works fine.

So i figured out what if I install a passive heatsink on the gpu.

Here is the heatsink:



I used a thermal tape to attach the heatsink on the gpu.

So this is how does it looks now:



So now i am thinkig was this good idea to do or it was bad. I didnt find out anything like this on the internet.

And here is a screen of temperatures (tp fan control):


As you can see from the picture the gpu temperature is 39 degrees and im on battery.

Is this good?

Tnx for answers in advance

Sorry, for my bad english

[sktn77a]

What were the GPU temperatures before you added the heatsink? The Radeon 7500 didn't have a heat problem and didn't require additional cooling. If not designed/installed correctly, you may actually be insulating the GPU and increasing the temperatures!

[titanium]

Im not sure what were the temperature before. So what are the normal temperatures for the gpu. But I am sure that the heatsink is hot. So in the end the temperature is going from the chip to the heatsink. So this is good.

So you are saying i shouldnt be worried about that the gpu will fried like in other T series.

Tomorrow i will run laptop on AC power and I will post the gpu temperatures.

Tnx for answer sktn77a

[ajkula66]

Welcome to the forum, titanium!

The main reason for the T4x/R5x GPU failures is not ATi chips overheating (getting fried as you would put it), but their detachment from the motherboard as a result of solder joints getting weakened by constant heating/cooling cycles.

Personally, I don't believe that a heatsink like yours will do anything to alleviate the aforementioned problem, but if it works for you, that's great.

[craigmontHunter]

I found enabling powerplay on ac is the best way to control the temp(search the forms) 39 is about right for when powerplay is on, so I don't know how much the heatsink is affecting it. Something to watch for is that you don't actually pressure the chip to break the solder joints withe the extra weight, and the possiblity of hitting it with the keyboard. I think powerplay is the best way to control temps

[sojourner]

Well, there are certainly a number of opinions here. I think it is brilliant! Wanted to do the same some years ago. Have the heatsink but couldn't find thermal tape. Where'd you buy it?

BTW checked the GPU temp on my T41, it's 51c and CPU is 46c. I have to imagine the heatsink you installed is making a big difference!

[titanium]

When i come home from school I will run my laptop on AC power for about an 3 hours and report the temperatures.

The thermal tape i bout in the shop named Conrad. 5x5cm of tape for 10€. But i heard that a lot of ppl is using red double sided TESA tape.
Here is the picture: http://shrani.si/?16/dH/18kjZXYD/dsc01795.jpg

[RealBlackStuff]

TESA 4965 tape in USA: http://www.tesatape.com/feature/tesa_49 ... 409,1.html
Not cheap though: http://www.nhsmediastore.com/tesa4965do ... 2x55m.aspx
Thermal tape as we know it: do a Google with thermal tape, and pick your choice.

[sojourner]

TESA 4965 tape in USA: http://www.tesatape.com/feature/tesa_49 ... 409,1.html
Not cheap though: http://www.nhsmediastore.com/tesa4965do ... 2x55m.aspx

Sheeze, some sale huh?

Thermal tape as we know it: do a Google with thermal tape, and pick your choice.

Yeah, as much as I use google (which is a lot), didn't think of it this round. Thanks!

BTW, if anyone has some tape they can spare for an old poor man (approx 2.25 sq. in., 14.5 sq.cm) please let me know . Would love to try the heatsink too!

[poshgeordie]

A very interesting project, however as someone who reflows graphics chips for a living I'm not sure if it will prevent the graphics chip unsoldering problem.

IMHO it's V important how you carry and move the laptop around day to day, to prevent any motherboard flexing - this leaflet is a reminder on how to correctly move and carry a laptop.

[derick]

Three months ago,after reflowing the GPU with professional machine I install a passive
heatsink too.But,I used normal thin tape only.Heatsink is small 25x25mm and around 6mm depth.A little keyboard pressure is also present.After 2 month of hardly daily usage GPU problem was back!I found,that problem is right upper corner of GPU.(near to DVDrom)Than I gave between the corner and keyboard a small rubber valve, centered to this problematic corner.Still,no problem.
I have the second spare reflowed motherboard.My friend has a profi automatic machine in work with adjustable temp and pressure for BGA chips.But,I will tested this unit,how long will be lived.After dead it will be reflowed again.
(sry for my eng)

[titanium]

Hello guys.

Ok I was testing laptop (on AC power) now for 4 and a half an hour. I was watching movie for the whole time and i was browsing on the net and watching youtube.

While i was watching movie the gpu temperature dindt go over 51 degrees. The cpu is was higher. (because it was like 80% in usage all the time)

No while I am writing this post, gpu temperature fell down to 46 degrees.

Here is the picture while i was browsing and watching movie (tp fan control):



P.S. - just notice, about that tesa tape i was reading on OC forums. So if they are using it, I can use it for this gpu which is noting to compare OC graphic cards.

[ThinkRob]

It's kinda hard to measure the efficacy of this without a good idea of the loads/temps that you were experiencing before the modification...

Just my 0.02c.

[titanium]

Yeah i know. But i posted here to compare with other users that are using T4x models?

Soo if anybody have T4x models tell me the temperatures, so i can compare them.

Tnx for the reply!

It would be nice to post temperatures other user which are using the T40 models!

[Tasurinchi]

Yeah i know. But i posted here to compare with other users that are using T4x models?

Well, my T43p as a complete different graphic card than yours, but here are my temps after around two hours of installing and customizing win7 ultimate:

[Norway Pad]

Tasurinchi, a little sidetrack question: What application/control system do you access to see the fan control and the temparatures? Or is this a separate thing to download and install?

[ajkula66]

that's thinkpad fan control...

[Tasurinchi]

What application/control system do you access to see the fan control and the temparatures?

Ajkula66 was faster than me!

Appart from TP fan control I also installed NHC, looks quite good but I couldn't find temperature controls for the GPU, but it was late and I was tired, I'll dig into it more during the next days.

Cheers