Recomended hardware upgrades for laptop (e.g. cooling, etc).

My laptop is fine for now as far as I can tell. It's a 1-year-old HP Compaq 6710b with 1.8Ghz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 112 GB hard disk space (two-thirds free).

However, after making some simple and fairly inexpensive upgrades to my desktop, I'm left wondering if there are any particular upgrades that people in know make to their laptops to improve performance and to increase longevity. I keep mine on probably 16 hours on most days, so it's seeing a lot of use.

In particular, what my options to increase/improve cooling? (Are the ~$20 "cooling pads" with fans on them worth it?)

Should I try to clean the insides of the laptop the way I do with my desktop because it accumulates dust inside - I open the side panel, wipe off the dust, and spray it with dust-off. What about battery maintenance? (I keep the laptop plugged in pretty much all day/night except when I'm traveling).

 

Addressing your question on laptop coolers:

The Antec Notebook Cooler has given me great results over the years. My laptop is built more for gaming (I travel alot), and I put burn marks on a pair of pants one time before I started using the cooler. Since using it, my laptop temps have drastically reduced.

I also agree with Halo, in that, you could use an additional 1-2 Gigs of RAM. Depending upon what you use it for, you could also look into upgrading your video card. But, seeing as how you have a desktop, I probably wouldn't recommend it.

 

I use passive cooling on my laptops. I have them on something that lets the air flow under them. Even something as simple as putting the notebook on two pieces of wood with space between the boards to let the air flow under would do a bit to help the hot air escape.

 

On RAM upgrades:

I think I could go up to 4 GB max (2 slots). Cost aside, would there be any reason not to add RAM? What's a good price the type of RAM cards I'd need, and what are the normal places to check for deals? (Newegg? Ebay?)

Below is info concerning my laptop's memory per Lavalys' Everest diagnostic software:

[ Motherboard ]

Motherboard Properties:
Manufacturer Hewlett-Packard
Product 30C0
Version KBC Version 71.2A

[ Processors / Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7100 @ 1.80GHz ]

Processor Properties:
Manufacturer Intel(R)
Version Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7100 @ 1.80GHz
External Clock 200 MHz
Maximum Clock 1800 MHz
Current Clock 1800 MHz
Type Central Processor
Voltage 1.1 V
Status Enabled
Upgrade None
Socket Designation U10

[ Memory Devices / DIMM #1 ]

Memory Device Properties:
Form Factor SODIMM
Type DDR2
Type Detail Synchronous
Size 512 MB
Speed 667 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Data Width 64-bit
Device Locator DIMM #1
Manufacturer Hyundai Electronics
Serial Number 0000401A
Part Number HYMP564S64CP6-Y5

[ Memory Devices / DIMM #2 ]

Memory Device Properties:
Form Factor SODIMM
Type DDR2
Type Detail Synchronous
Size 512 MB
Speed 667 MHz
Total Width 64-bit
Data Width 64-bit
Device Locator DIMM #2
Manufacturer Hyundai Electronics
Serial Number 00001019
Part Number HYMP564S64CP6-Y5

--------[ Motherboard ]-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Motherboard Properties:
Motherboard ID <DMI>
Motherboard Name Hewlett-Packard HP Compaq 6710b (GF938AT#ABA)

Front Side Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel AGTL+
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 198 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 791 MHz
Bandwidth 6325 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties:
Bus Type Dual DDR2 SDRAM
Bus Width 128-bit
DRAM:FSB Ratio 10:6
Real Clock 329 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 659 MHz
Bandwidth 10542 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties:
Bus Type Intel Direct Media Interface


--------[ SPD ]---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ DIMM1: Hynix HYMP564S64CP6-Y5 ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Hynix HYMP564S64CP6-Y5
Serial Number 0000401Ah (440401920)
Manufacture Date Week 25 / 2007
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type SO-DIMM
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-667 (333 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 333 MHz 5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 20-35-4-5-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-28-3-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 200 MHz 3-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 12-21-2-3-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
Product Information http://www.hynix.com/gl/products

[ DIMM3: Hynix HYMP564S64CP6-Y5 ]

Memory Module Properties:
Module Name Hynix HYMP564S64CP6-Y5
Serial Number 00001019h (420478976)
Manufacture Date Week 25 / 2007
Module Size 512 MB (2 ranks, 4 banks)
Module Type SO-DIMM
Memory Type DDR2 SDRAM
Memory Speed DDR2-667 (333 MHz)
Module Width 64 bit
Module Voltage SSTL 1.8
Error Detection Method None
Refresh Rate Reduced (7.8 us), Self-Refresh

Memory Timings:
@ 333 MHz 5-5-5-15 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 20-35-4-5-3-3 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 266 MHz 4-4-4-12 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 16-28-3-4-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)
@ 200 MHz 3-3-3-9 (CL-RCD-RP-RAS) / 12-21-2-3-2-2 (RC-RFC-RRD-WR-WTR-RTP)

Memory Module Manufacturer:
Company Name Hynix Semiconductor Inc.
Product Information http://www.hynix.com/gl/products


--------[ Chipset ]-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[ North Bridge: Intel Crestline-GM GM965 ]

North Bridge Properties:
North Bridge Intel Crestline-GM GM965
Intel Platform Santa Rosa
Supported FSB Speeds FSB533, FSB667, FSB800
Supported Memory Types DDR2-533 SDRAM, DDR2-667 SDRAM
Maximum Memory Amount 4 GB
Revision 0C
Package Type 1299 Pin FC-BGA
Process Technology 90 nm
Core Voltage 1.05 V
In-Order Queue Depth 12

Memory Controller:
Type Dual Channel (128-bit)
Active Mode Dual Channel (128-bit)

Memory Timings:
CAS Latency (CL) 5T
RAS To CAS Delay (tRCD) 5T
RAS Precharge (tRP) 5T
RAS Active Time (tRAS) 15T
Row Refresh Cycle Time (tRFC) 35T
RAS To RAS Delay (tRRD) 4T
Read To Precharge Delay (tRTP) 5T
Four Activate Window Delay (tFAW) 17T
Write CAS Latency (tWCL) 4T
Refresh Period (tREF) 7.8 us

Error Correction:
ECC Not Supported
ChipKill ECC Not Supported
RAID Not Supported
ECC Scrubbing Not Supported

Memory Slots:
DRAM Slot #1 512 MB (DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM)
DRAM Slot #2 512 MB (DDR2-667 DDR2 SDRAM)

 

On laptop cooling:

I'm looking at the various chill/cooling pad options (I'm thinking 1-2 fans combined with a curved out shape).

The only other options are various "air extracting fans" (installed in front of the laptop's "airing grill"), "system blowers" and other fans that fit in PCI slots. What's the word on these?







links:
http://cgi.ebay.com/WHY-big-laptop-...yZ116346QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/SYSTEM-BLOWER-C...ryZ80149QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD4VQQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Cooler-Fan-...oryZ3673QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD4VQQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-Cooler-Fan-...oryZ3673QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD4VQQcmdZViewItem

Below are the current temps from my laptop as reported by Everest. They are slightly elevated now as I have the laptop on my lap, albeit separated by one of those metallic paper holder drawers (my improvised chill pad) to give it some breathing room:

--------[ Sensor ]------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sensor Properties:
Sensor Type Analog Devices ADM1021 (SMBus 4Ch)

Temperatures:
Motherboard 44 °C (111 °F)
CPU 50 °C (122 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #1 55 °C (131 °F)
CPU #1 / Core #2 54 °C (129 °F)
Hitachi HTS541612J9SA00 42 °C (108 °F)

Voltage Values:
CPU Core 1.29 V

 

Did I F--up?



Per the suggestions in this thread I upgraded to 4GB (2GB x 2) of RAM, but my system only shows 3GB??? (actually "2.99 GB of RAM" via control panel -> system, and 3063MB via Everest).


I ordered OCZ 4GB (2 x 2GB) 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5400) Dual Channel Kit Laptop Memory (at $53.99 after rebate + shipping, they were the cheapest that I thought would fit my needs) as replacements for the Hynix (Hyundai) 1GB (2 x 512MB) 200-pin DDR2 SO-DIMM 667MHz (2Rx16 PC2-5300S-555-12) memory cards. The only feature difference besides size and brand that I noticed between the old and new SDRAMs was the nominal peak transfer rate (5300S old vs. 5400 new), but I thought that was just semantics anyway.

Any ideas of what's going on, and whether this can be fixed? i.e. can I get the memory up to 4 GB with these SDRAM cards?

 

I used HP instant help via chat service... the tech guy said I would need to upgrade to the 64-bit version of windows to get 4 GB - currently I'm running the 32-bit version of windows, and that such an upgrade would require a full reformat of the hard drive and so forth...