I have queries regarding altering the thermal paste on my laptop.
I have queries regarding altering the thermal paste on my laptop.
Hello everyone,
I just took apart my laptop to change the thermal paste.
There was thermal paste only on the processor. Next to it, there's another small square, I assume the chipset? There was no thermal paste on it, just a small piece of rubber. This small square (graphics chipset?) isn't in contact with the metal plate, so it's not cooled by the fan. I watched teardown videos of this PC (ACER i3-6100 processor), and there's no thermal paste there, only on the processor.
The problem: The thick paper that acts as a cushion between the copper tube and the small square has disintegrated. What can I replace it with?
I don't know what this material is and whether I should buy some or if I can use something else instead. I assume it's to avoid direct contact with the copper tube?
Thanks.
It seems the second die functions as the chipset. Typically it is placed separately on the board, but in this generation it is integrated into the same package.
The thermal pad you mentioned is a square component used to improve heat transfer, similar to thermal paste, though thicker.
You can find more details here: https://en.wikichip.org/wiki/intel/cores/skylake_u
Thermal pads are available in different thicknesses, so it's important to order the right one for proper contact after replacement.
Do you have a specific model in mind?
It's an Acer Aspire E17
You're correct, it's just a thermal patch, but I can't measure its thickness.
I'm confused about why they opted for a thermal patch rather than thermal paste—I don't get the design.
The main issue is measuring the thickness; if it's not identical, does that matter?
Thanks.
It should be sturdy enough for proper contact, yet not so thick that it blocks the CPU or thermal paste from making direct contact. If any unpressed area remains, assess its depth. Alternatively, use a moldable material like eraser or putty in excess, place the CPU cooler on it, remove it, and measure again. Based on the result, choose a slightly thicker option.
where it isn't crushed, it measures precisely 1mm, but 0.5 when crushed. That's why I requested a 1mm thermal patch. I'm confused about its purpose—it seems less effective than thermal paste.
doesn't slide out with gravity the laptop is portable and in transport the internals may be subjected to centrifugal forces so paste would swish around like in a blender. Plus the smaller chipsets are not so easy to put screw mounts over and it's just cheaper production wise to have the thermal pad connect to the heat pipe and sink array they are often compactified to fit in so has to share with several components where your desktop has individual vrm, cpu, gpu and chipset heat dissipation devices. There is a lot less space for airflow too so all the heat has to be drawn into that one all encompassing array which exhausts the heat assisted by the fans through one vent. simply no room for anything else in the compact design.
Chipsets produce relatively little heat. However, this is more likely due to the CPU core and chipset being at different heights. The cooler design hints at this, possibly being taller, which creates space for the pad while maintaining contact with the heatpipe.