How much thermal paste should be applied to a laptop CPU?
How much thermal paste should be applied to a laptop CPU?
As often I've done this on a desktop CPU, I haven't tried it on a laptop before. I have an old Thinkpad Ivy Bridge laptop and want to upgrade its CPU from i3-2120M to i7-3612QM. After that, I plan to donate it. It's in nearly new condition with minimal use. It feels like a waste to just throw it away.
Regarding the heat spreader, I'm curious—should I only apply the TIM to the tiny chip, or should I cover the whole substrate as well?
The procedure mirrors that of a desktop. Only sufficient material is used to fill the tiny pits and scratches on the mating surfaces. The result appears hazy, suggesting there may not be enough. Applying too much pressure indicates insufficient coverage.
The procedure is identical to a desktop operation. Only sufficient material is required to fill the tiny pits and scratches on the mating surfaces. The result should appear hazy, suggesting there isn’t enough. Applying too much pressure indicates excess.
The amount of thermal paste needed for a laptop CPU is typically minimal, applied to cover the center and allow the cooler to spread it evenly over the CPU's die or IHS.
For an old Thinkpad Ivy Bridge model, upgrading from i3-2120M to i7-3612QM, you should confirm if your laptop supports the 7-3612QM model.
Are you using the correct thermal paste for this upgrade?