HP Pavilion dv7-1020us Upgrade and Cooling Mod

I got a hold of an old HP Pavilion dv7-1020us that was having video stuttering problems. Generally, it worked, but the occasional video lag was starting to get out of hand. Since it's an old computer, my first instinct is to open it up and clean it out since it's out of warranty and the thermal compound needs to be upgraded anyway. Here's a picture of what I found.

Horrifying, isn't it!
 First thing's first, specifications. You can find the specifications here.


Product Name: dv7-1020us
Product Number: FF214UA
Microprocessor: 2 GHz Intel Centrino Processor Technology featuring Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Microprocessor Cache: 3 MB L2 Cache
Memory: 4096 MB (2 dimm)
Video Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
Hard Drive: 320 GB (5400 RPM)
Multimedia Drive: Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD±R/RW Double Layer
Display: 17.0” diagonal WXGA+ High-Definition BrightView Widescreen Display (1440 x 900) 
Fax/Modem: High speed 56K
Network Card: Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Wireless Connectivity: Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN
Sound: Altec Lansing
Internal speakers
Keyboard: 101 key compatible
Pointing Device: Touch Pad with On/Off button and dedicated vertical Scroll Up/Down pad
PC Card Slots
•1 ExpressCard/54 Slot (also supports ExpressCard/34)

External Ports
•5-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards, MultiMedia cards, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro, or xD Picture cards, Supports adapters
•4 USB 2.0
•1 VGA
•1 HDMI
•1 eSATA
•1 RJ -11
•1 RJ -45 (LAN)
•2 Headphone out/Stereo
•1 microphone-in
•1 IEEE1394 Firewire
•Expansion Port 3
•Consumer IR

Power
•90W AC adapter
•8-Cell Lithium-Ion (47Whr)

What's In The Box
•HP Remote Control
•TV Tuner
Under the primary access panel, you have access to the primary hard drive. There's a SATA slot for a 2nd hard drive. The dv7-1020us doesn't come with an extra hard drive caddy so you'll have to find it from HP Parts or on eBay. On eBay, search for "hp dv7-1000" and look for a caddy similar to this one. Also, the dv7-1020us is preconfigured with 3 antennas for the WLAN. The preconfigured Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN only uses 2 of the antennas. This computer is AMAZING! It's got 3 miniPCIe slots! There's 1 free miniPCIe slot.

The HP Pavilion dv7-1020us comes apart easily for an HP Pavilion notebook computer. Meaning, although there are a lot of screws, there are about 5 types and are easily grouped together vs the earlier models that had many different screws.

To me this is the half way point because I can see the full motherboard and the only thing holding it down are a few screws. It's at this point that I have to prepare myself because it's clear that the mother board is upside down, meaning that I have to COMPLETELY disassemble the notebook computer to access the heatsink and fan assembly.

Here's the motherboard removed from the bottom case. You can see that the dv7-1020us heatsink cools 3 different processors. In this case, it's the Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor P8400 (3M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB), NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT, and Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family Graphics Processor. The mainboard is the Mobile Intel® PM45 Express Chipset. According to the Intel ARK, the PM45 chipset can support Intel Core2 quadcore processors: Intel® Core™2 Extreme Processor QX9300 (12M Cache, 2.53 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB), Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q9100 (12M Cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB). Although it would be very cool to be abled to use the Intel Core2 Extreme QX9300, I'm not sure it would work in the dv7-1020us notebook computer. The Extreme processors are never a sure thing. As of 2013-12-26, the Intel Core2 Extreme QX9300 is available on eBay for approximately 180 USD. However, I am confident about the Intel Core2 Quad Q9100. As of 2013-12-26, the Intel Core2 Quad Q9100 is available on eBay for approximately 100 USD.

Finally, notice the heatsink. It's covered in dust.

Close up of the heatsink. This is why in my opinion it's important to have a cooling pad underneath the computer. The cooling pad helps push dust way from the cooling vents when it's sitting in one place.

Heatsink cleaned.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor P8400 (3M cache, 2.26 GHz, 1066MHz FSB)

Northbridge chipset controller

Nvidia GPU

I took a picture of the Southbridge chipset controller to show you that it's not cooled whereas the Northbridge was cooled. I have had issues on other computers where this processor does over heat. Using a cooling pad and a 0.5mm copper shim helps keep this processor cooled. See further down below.

I've cleaned the original thermal compound and removed the thermal pads on the Northbridge controller and NVidia graphics processor and replaced it with Artic Silver 5 and on the Northbridge controller and graphics processor, I used a 0.5mm copper shim to fill the gap between the heatsink and the graphics processors. NEVER use a copper shim between the processor (NOT the graphics processor) and the heat sink. The computer WILL overheat. Also, I've used a thermal pad and a 0.5mm copper shim to cool the chipset processor. Generally, the thermal pad is mildly adhesive and sticks well to both the processor and the copper shim. I use this technique in many cooling mods and I've not had one fall in the past 2 years.

Finally, I reassembled the HP Pavilion dv7-1020us upgraded the hard drive to the Crucial M500 120GB SSD, here from Amazon. Also the original Bluray BD-R/RE has gone bad. I need to either replace it with a replacement from eBay here. Or I can replace it with a 3rd hard drive by using a optical drive bay hard drive caddy here on Amazon. Be sure to look for a replacement 12.7mm optical drive or caddy if you're not using original parts or replacement parts. The problem with the optical drive bay hard drive caddies is that they don't have the molding so it'll pretty ugly.

2015-03-22 Update

Recently I was asked about the thickness of the thermal pad that I use. I use the High Performance Thermal Pad for Playstation 3 on amazon.com. It measures approximately 1.5mm.

Below is a picture of the 1mm copper shim. I usually don't use this one, because I prefer the 0.5mm copper shim. I find that the 0.5mm copper shim fits most applications.

See the 0.5mm copper shim below.