!!!!#####***Note PLEASE READ***#####!!!! Opening your notebook may and probably will void your warranty and if you are inexperienced with electronics and laptop repair in general you may cause serious damage or even potentially ruin your device. IF you decide to attempt this method to deal with overheating in your device you assume ALL liability or responsibility for any negative results or harm to your device. You proceed at your own risk should you attempt this procedure.
This is my experience with overheating in the VN7-591G. The first few paragraphs are how I got to the point of reapplying Thermal Compound. The latter part is more factual data. If you wish to avoid the fluff and my venting you may skip to the results and my joyful celebrating to the first paragraph marked with ***.
Regards,
Eli
Hello fellow VN owners, specifically hello to my brothers and sisters that own a VN7-591G. I recently purchased my Nitro with high expectations and moderate concerns. When I received my Nitro in the mail it was like Christmas. I tore it open (not really I carefully opened the package) and coudn't wait to take a test drive. I downloaded the benchmark for FFXIV and ran it with a smile and results in the 10k range (Extremely well performance). Now I had done a ton of research and was well aware of the core running at 90+C and thought to myself I sure hope mine won't do that... To my dismay immediately the machine was running extremely hot and thermal throttling was kicking in anywhere from 1-50% on a consistent basis every few seconds... I thought "OH NO, now I have a return waiting to happen..) And I don't mean RMA, I mean return! Why have a machine that is not able to run it's full potential.
My experience in dealing with and solving the overheating/thermal throttling.
I tried Intel XTU, first undervolting, then underclocking, then both... Same results, but not as bad but still thermal throttling.
Next I tried RW Everywhere... that was a joke at best (IMO) because it was ridiculously loud and still didn't make that much of an improvement...
Finally I broke down and decided I was going to try to repaste the CPU and GPU with some good paste. After much research and debate I decided on GC Extreme. At the last minute a good friend of mine with a ton of experience with high end laptops told me he ALWAYS uses AS Ceramique 2 for his notebooks. I asked him why and he told me that the consistency of the paste seems to always work better for him in notebook application than any other compound. So I got the ASC2. Since I have to access the bottom of the board I decided I might as well upgrade RAM as well.
The process...
While getting into the machine was not the easiest notebook I have worked on, it also wasn't the worst. The best part IMO was the minimal screw downs. Acer did an EXCELLENT job putting this machine together in a straight forward easy to remember assembly process. I remove the heatsink and fans to quite a surprise.
At this point I wished I had taken pictures, but I just wanted my machine to work right..., but this had to have been the WORST application of thermal compound I have ever seen! It was a HUGE MESS, with paste all over the place, it was as much as 3/4 of the way across all the board the chip is soldered to and not only that but the paste was VERY SPOTTY on the chips themselves. With the CPU being the worst. So I spend about an hour cleaning the boards because the paste was smothered onto the nodes that surround the chips and I didn't want to leave it there. After I am satisfied the chips are clean enough they are ready to go back together I reapply the Ceramique 2. Carefully put the machine back together, turn it on, fire up Intel XTU to run preliminary benchmark and monitor difference in temps.
*** Temps before with stock thermal compound.
Running at Stock Speeds with Fan Speed Auto No Undervolting
CPU Idle: 1-2%CPU Usage = 60-70C
CPU Full Load (No GPU) 99% CPU Usage = 90-100+C Minor Thermal Throttling 1-10%
CPU + GPU "Full Load" 25+% CPU Usage 80+% GPU = 95-100+C Major Therml Throttling 50% VERY FREQUNTLY
Temps AFTER reapplication with new Artic Silver Ceramique 2
Running at Stock Speeds with Fan Speed Auto No Undervolting
CPU Idle: 1-2%CPU Usage = 45 - 50C
CPU Full Load (No GPU) 99% CPU Usage = 70 - 75 C No Thermal Throttling
CPU + GPU "Full Load" 25-80+% CPU Usage 80+% GPU = 85-90C No Thermal Throttling
Now I have to make one very important note before I leave this for now. Ceramique 2 calls for a BREAK IN period of 25 Thermal Cycles ( CPU/GPU idles up to warm, then full load to hot, idle back to warm, then cool fully to ambient temps).
At 0 Thermal Cycles My unit only ran about 5C cooler than before. I was extremely disappointed I listened to my friend. He failed to mention to me the break in period and laughed when I mentioned it to him. xD
Anyways I am now at 15 Thermal Cycles and very happy with the results so far. I am seeing a 10C drop under full load without using a cooler underneath. It's even better with one. I expect to see another 2-7C drop in max temp under full load (consistent testing conditions)by the time the compound has fully broken in. I think a 10-15C drop to make load temps in the 75-80C range are more than acceptable. Further temp drops can be achieved through undervolting and underclocking as well. Plus with the temp drops you can overclock your GPU and try to pull more out of it since it seems to have it's resources pooled to 100% frequently.
I am now very happy with my purchase. Ive also upgraded to 16GB RAM and added an evo 850 SSD. Extremely snappy even with mulitple CPU hungry apps open simultaneously. I will write a more formal review as I have time, probably this weekend.
If your VN7-591G is overheating this may be a cause to investigate further with technical support or an Acer authorized repair facility. I think undervolting and underclocking alone show marginal results at best with stock Thermal Compound and poor application from the factory. I really hope this can help someone else! If you have any questions feel free to shout!
My last words. I want to clarify that while I think Acer did do a horrible job with the application of the thermal compound I really think the overall design and efficiency of this machine is marvelous. And the biggest pro for me was the price. With similar comparing competitors models around 25-50% more. No doubt this is probably the most value per dollar in a gaming capable notebook.
Regards,
Eli
