Overclocking X1400/Laptop Cooling Solutions?

[kingofthesouth]

Hey guys,

Just before I start, my computer specs are on my signature

And I was wondering, even though I know I shouldnt (Im stubborn so im responsible for any damage i cause), how much I can overclock my card without melting/destroying my computer? I am currently using ATI Tray Tools and using the max overclock tests and didnt know that I should limit the artifacts, i suffered a blue screen with "hardware faliure". What should be the maximum amount of artifacts I should allow?

The default clock speeds are:
GPU: 432MHz
Memory: 396MHz

And I am currently running at:
GPU: 470MHz
Memory: 410MHz

I also use I8kfanGUI which helps me turn on the fan always on high whenever I am playing games overclocked (I underclock when I do other things). Is there anyway I can find out the temperature of my X1400? I dont think it has a temperature sensor, but I think some other forum has someone saying they can tell the degrees the X1400 Mobility was running.

Currently my temperatures for my CPU are:
Gaming: Around 40-55 celsius maximum
Idle: from 25-45 degrees

Also, are there any very effective laptop cooling solutions (without having to dismantle my laptop)? Are those laptop cooling pads any good? Could i use something like a desktop fan, place it next to the heatsink and power it using USB? Or would that blow hot air back in?

[cHiNgY1788]

a gain in overclocking the GPU is minimal
don't touch the GPU

on laptops, you generally cant overclock CPUs

to cool laptops you can get a laptop cooling pad, its basically a stand with fans mounted underneath circulating air

[l337_GuY]

Getting artifacts isn't good, you will eventually fry your card. I know you say "Im stubborn so im responsible for any damage i cause" , But I would suggest you get better cooling like a cooling pad before overclocking it again or else you will find you have a useless laptop if you keep it going.

[kingofthesouth]

Lol ok. How many artifacts should i limit ATI Tray Tools to have during overclocking? I think last time i hit about 350 artifacts when overclocking my memory and then i got the blue screen of death which i suppose is a realtively fatal thing xD. I wont do anything with it till i get a cooling pad.

Also, after overclocking, should I leave my laptop to cool for about an hour (or more?) before i start doing anything else e.g. gaming/surfing?

Would underclocking the CPU help the temperatures of the insides of the laptop when im running my X1400 overclocked?

Thx for the answers guys!

[cHiNgY1788]

again, i suggest not overclocking video cards, especially laptop video cards as you cannot even direct case fans onto the video cards

CPU is already automatically underclocked when idle, i think its called speed step on intels and cool and quiet on AMDs, you can use RightMark CPU Clock Utility (RMClock) to get more control over throttling your Laptop CPU

[kingofthesouth]

If i shouldnt overclock, is there anything much else i can do to max out the power/increase frame rate of my games? Im already using NGO ATI Driver v1.72.

If there is anyone who has OC their X1400 on a Dell 6400 pls tell me how your scores went.

[l337_GuY]

Easiest way is get a desktop PC.. Laptops just don't cut it for gaming.

[stang10001]

unless you get something like an alienware

[l337_GuY]

Even those won't let you play games for hours on end.. Better performance on a desktop and much more manageable.

[cHiNgY1788]

I think the Pioneer DreamBook Power D90 is the ultimate gaming laptop
17" screen
Quad Core Processor
Dual 8800GTX in SLI
and 3 7200RPM Sata drives in RAID or 3 SSDs in RAID

[photolady]

Even so, if you use it for hours, you will still have a heat problem. Laptops were not made for gaming, they were made for business usage. They were not made to run hours on end without them having problems doing so.

[kingofthesouth]

Yeah i know. I chose this laptop for portability. I dont think i'll push the card any more than it is then.

Yea my brother has a spare desktop that i may be able to put a 8800GT OC 512MB or something in it. Thanks for the advice guys!

[photolady]

Does the spare desktop have a PCI-e slot in it? Without that slot the 8800 won't work there either. And if it does have a PCI-e slot, it better have a more powerful power supply with the correct amperage on the 12v rails.