[GL702VM & similar] Solution to Performance issues / Overheating / Throttling / Whine

[onjax]

Hi guys, I bought GL702VM and was upset with its ability to handle games and high load. I had immediate temperature jump to over 85 jump and throttling / frame drops in games. So I decided to understand how to improve things, even though, I already lost my warranty due to my experiments, but at least I can answer for everyone, that:
- the main problem of this notebook is inefficient, insufficient cooling system with too thin fans, too small heatsinks, vent holes in a wrong places (aside, not above the fans).

To prove this, I first changed the thermal interface to liquid metal. That doesn't solve the issue. This proves, the thermal contact is ok, but heat dissipation is bad. Second, I ran stress tests with back cover removed - helped a lot, about 15-20 degrees off. The proves that air intake is wrong in this system.

I also removed an antidust tape with holes covering all the intake holes. That helped by around 5 degrees and also brought down air noise.

Then I came to idea of downvolting CPU and GPU, thanks to devs of ThrottleStop and MSI Afterburner, we can do this with relative ease.

The result: Fan noise reduced by half. Temp drop is huge. More speed due to ability of CPU/GPU to properly boost to max speed.

For your information - CPU is responsible for about 30% of heat, GPU - for 70%. So best idea is to undervolt the GPU, but for best results go for both.

THE GUIDE - CPU
Variant A - Install Intel Xtreme Tuning Utility

• Go to Advanced Tuning tab and Change Dynamic CPU Voltage Offset to negative value (move slider to the left). -100mV is a good starting point. Leave Mode to Adaptive.
  
• Apply changes.
  

My CPU holds -150mV well.

Variant B - Install Throttle Stop 8.3 or above

• On main window click FIVR button
  
• Under CPU Core Voltage move Offset Voltage slider to the left. -100mV is a good starting point. The lower value the less heat.
  
• Click Apply. On the same window you can save settings to make them apply every time you start the app.
  

THE GUIDE - GPU

• Download and Install MSI Afterburner 4.3 or above
  
• In settings turn on Unlock voltage control and Unlock voltage monitoring
  
• Close MSI Afterburner
  
• Download my Voltage Profile for GTX 1060
  
• Extract profile to some folder and then copy file to "C:\Program Files (x86)\MSI Afterburner\Profiles". Click continue as Administrator when Windows asks permission to write.
  
• Run MSI Afterburner, click on profile 1 (out of 5). Then press Ctrl+F. (1 - least heat, but may be unstable for some... 2, bit more voltage etc till 5.)
  
• You will see my Voltage Curve (screenshot). What you'll see that it's flat until 1050mv. that means. 1050 will never be used, so will never be used any voltage except 831mV @ 1860 MHz and below.
  
• Click apply to test this curve
  
• If this curve is not stable for you - edit it to your taste: Click on 831mV dot and move it lower, so that lower freq will be used for that voltage, and for 1860 freq next available voltage will be used. Etc. Work with leftmost voltage dots to make everything stable.
  

This curve drops heat of GPU by at least 30%, which is huge.

THE GUIDE - COIL WHINE
Workaround described here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/975530

Perform only these steps as Administrator:
1. At a command prompt, run the following command:
reg add HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Processor /v Capabilities /t REG_DWORD /d 0x0007e066
2. Restart the computer.
3. Run ThrottleStop v8.3 or above and uncheck C1E. Click save.

In theory, it will make CPU a bit hotter while system is idle, because it disables some advanced C-states, but i didn't notice that in monitoring app.
That solved like 99.9% of the noise, and in addition, disabling C1E in ThrottleStop solved noise issue completely.

[edbert]

GolFer wrote:

i'm not sorry you still have 230w egg boilers that can't out-perform a toaster.
I hope you all learn, and next time decide on something built more accordingly.
I learned just in time, and it seems most of you didn't.

You know...my last three "gaming laptops" were all MSI brand, they always felt cheap and looked like they were designed for 13 year old, but I never once had an issue except I lost the keyboard backlights on one after about 18 months.

When it came time for a new one (12 cores and a 1070) I decided to go with Asus. I've been a huge fan of the company since I bought a MB from them in ~1996. Every MB I've owned since then (at least a dozen) was Asus brand, even 2 of my 3 video cards are Asus. So I puchased a GL703GS-DS74. I eneded up returning it after about a week due to non-stop BSODs. Well the second one did it too, and now the 3rd. The reseller will not allow another return.

Asus says I can send it in for service at my expense, but this is not a service problem it is ENGINEERING.

I think this will be the last Asus product to ever enter my house, I am so mad I could spit.

[TornaD-oz]

telael85 wrote:
Hello,

im running 307 too and have no Problems.

My Settings:

CPU undervolt -120 @2,8Ghz, Tubo disabled
GPU runs ab 850 @1850

1 Hour GTA 5 = Temps GPU 59° // CPU max. 68°

Im happy now. Have the G702VSK with 2 Fans (CPU and GPU Fan and not the 3 fan in the middle)

Did you drill the case / change thermal paste? Also, can you please share your GPU curve? I'm trying to stay on the safe side and have a flatline at 1690, but seen lots and lots of people going higher than that. I'm not sure if it's necessary since most games can hit 100 fps without issues.

---

[/HR]

GolFer wrote:
I learned just in time, and it seems most of you didn't.

Yes, most of the people here missed their RMA window. Or, frankly, live in a country where RMA is not an option. You have zero reason to blame us instead of blaming ASUS. Enjoy your first world privileges and let us wallow in the guerilla warfare.

[GolFer]

TornaD-oz wrote:



Yes, most of the people here missed their RMA window. Or, frankly, live in a country where RMA is not an option. You have zero reason to blame us instead of blaming ASUS. Enjoy your first world privileges and let us wallow in the guerilla warfare.

okay, then i'll adjust by saying, I hope others don't fall into the affordable hotbox trap that i, and like many others, have

[TornaD-oz]

GolFer wrote:
okay, then i'll adjust by saying, I hope others don't fall into the affordable hotbox trap that i, and like many others, have

I agree with you. Never in my life have I spent so much time fixing, adjusting and testing an out-of-the-box device. I'd suggest to anyone reading this and thinking about buying one of these laptops to think again and buy something else.

[telael85]

just changed the thermal paste. The "old" one was terrible ...

[GolFer]

telael85 wrote:
just changed the thermal paste. The "old" one was terrible ...

I use AS5 in almost everything I own, and it made negligible difference in my FX502VM. A degree or two, or three, if that. The wonderful creation that is the "affordable" mid-range laptop was then easily dealt the "i was made like ****" card, over, and over, and over.

but it's okay, because no matter what, they made it, for a good string of time, people were sucked into buying it, and now they're moving on, and leaving everyone in the dirt.

look, i'm not being biased - other manufacturers really screw things up for other people, too. take for instance, MSI - they have a ****ty GPU hardware fix wherein you send it in for crashing after a ertain voltage spike, and they "fix it" by NOT replacing the GPU, and limiting your frequency curve, and pinning it, non-adjustable, to... i think... 1400 mhz or something like that. pretty stupid fix, right?

anyways, the biggest problem here is there's next to nothing that can be done, so taking off the bottom, and flipping your laptop upside down, and using an external keyboard, mouse, and monitor, is about the best you can do for something as terribly made as these machines.

[TornaD-oz]

GolFer wrote:
look, i'm not being biased - other manufacturers really screw things up for other people, too. take for instance, MSI - they have a ****ty GPU hardware fix wherein you send it in for crashing after a ertain voltage spike, and they "fix it" by NOT replacing the GPU, and limiting your frequency curve, and pinning it, non-adjustable, to... i think... 1400 mhz or something like that. pretty stupid fix, right?

Before buying GL702VS, I used to have ASUS G750JX. It's price was roughly the same at the time and for all its years it performed without issues, I didn't even know the word "overheating" before selling it for the fresher gear. So naturally I thought that ASUS is a trustworthy brand, which makes reliable, premium-quality laptops. Man was I wrong...

As for my strange new overheating issues, it's probably because CPU wants more power than AC can supply, not sure. Going to stay on disabled Turbo for the time being.

[revnja]

TornaD-oz wrote:
Before buying GL702VS, I used to have ASUS G750JX.

My story is similar. I bought an Asus G74SX and it ran flawlessly back in the day and was built very solid and had very premium features for the price when it released. It still works to this day and I've never had a serious issue with it. I upgraded to a G75 series, same deal. I was tempted by the GL702VSK as it had a GTX 1070 and I bought it for $1199 brand new.

It's being delivered back to the retailer I bought it from tomorrow. In no way should it be a requirement to repaste or even worse, drill holes in the case of a laptop out of the box to get it to work.

I've since bought an Acer Predator 15 with a GTX 1070 which has more premium features and the thermals on it are excellent. I wish I had done more research here before I wasted my time buying the Asus. Their thermal 'solution' is just a real hack-job and I can't imagine the GL702 lasting for nearly as long as my G74SX did, should I had kept it. Why they're STILL letting retailers sell this obviously flawed model is a sign that serious players should look elsewhere.

TL;DR -- If you're here researching whether or not to buy one of these on the cheap, skip it -- with a little research you can find better models in the same price range and be much happier in the long run.

[Tri4C3]

Bran187 wrote:
A while back someone replaced the default thermal compound on the VRM/memory with thermal pads. Does anyone remember what thread/page that was?

I repasted with MX4 a while back, and for a while my temps were improved but they are slowly getting out of whack again. I'm going to repaste again (probably with something from thermal grizzly) but this time I want to throw thermal pads on the VRM/memory.

When I opened it up the first time, some of the VRM/memory modules were not even making any contact. The original thermal compound was just sitting perfectly untouched from the factory in some spots.

Video tuto please

[FastM]

Hey TornaD, your fans are on auto?

those are great results. Nice job.

I did holes exactly like you, i keep my fans boosted to 40%, definitely louder but i can run my gpu at 900mV @ 1873mhz stable with temps under 70c*