Liquid metal applied to Predator Helios 300
Liquid metal applied to Predator Helios 300
Is it safe to use it? I was considering the Thermal Grizzly conductonaut, which is made from galium. I’m not sure what materials are in my heatsink and whether it would work. If not, what thermal paste should I choose—conductive or not? I want the lowest temperatures possible without damaging my PC and without needing to replace the thermal paste often. This isn’t about overclocking, but about keeping temps down as much as possible and possibly giving the GPU a slight boost in very low temperatures. Please help me! Thank you!
Liquid metal in a laptop can be somewhat risky. My suggestion is to look for videos demonstrating its use. You'll need to cover the chip areas that aren't the core. Some individuals apply conformal coating, while others use clear nail polish. The main issue with liquid metal is its conductivity; even a small spill or excessive application leading to leakage can cause serious problems.
The Helios model features copper at the contact points, making it suitable for using Conductonaut there.
I tried Arctic Silver 5 on my Helios 300, and it works reasonably well, though it doesn't stand out as exceptional. A solid application should provide good results for a long time. Unlike engine oil, which requires regular replacement every few thousand miles, a quality thermal paste with proper use can last at least a year, if not longer.
I don’t overclock my CPU, but I did push the GPU to stock speeds of 1060. Under heavy synthetic stress testing, I experienced minimal thermal throttling—undervolting didn’t help, and my GPU remained stable. For gaming, I usually run at a moderate setting and rarely exceed 80°C. I’m unsure how much liquid metal would affect that performance.
If you decide to try it, my only recommendation is to watch a tutorial first and proceed cautiously. Please let me know your experience with temperature after using it. I’m considering the option myself now.
Justin from Beauvais suggests checking out videos on how liquid metal is applied. He recommends covering the chip parts that aren’t the core and warns against splashes or excess, as liquid metal is conductive and can cause issues if it leaks. He mentions using conformal coating or clear nail polish as alternatives. He also shares his experience with Arctic Silver 5 on his Helios 300, noting it’s acceptable but not exceptional. A well-applied thermal paste should last a long time, similar to engine oil, lasting at least a year or more. He advises against overclocking the CPU and mentions minimal thermal throttling under heavy stress. For gaming, he usually stays below 80°C. He recommends watching a video first and applying it slowly, asking for feedback on temperature changes. He also shares concerns about alloying with copper heatsinks and suggests this only be considered under specific conditions.
Only the Thermal Grizzly conductonaut and certain liquid metal products are based on gallium, and they will mix with your copper heatsink, which can decrease heat dissipation over time. You'll have to reapply it repeatedly, and eventually replace the broken alloy heatsink, adding more layers each time. I would only suggest this under strict conditions, as it is not ideal for ihs or laptops. I’ve read this somewhere, but I’m not sure if it’s accurate. I actually believe liquid metal doesn’t dry out, which makes me question the credibility of that website comment. Still, I wouldn’t risk it. Are we certain it won’t alloy? What kind of coating could maintain performance without affecting it? Also, undervolting to -120mV really helped my system’s performance. That’s true, but it happens slowly—likely requiring a reapplication in about 6 to 9 months. You’d need to polish the copper with a fine abrasive afterward to remove any damaged areas. If too much is affected, you might have to replace the entire cooling assembly. Liquid metal will eventually dry up due to reaction, not because of evaporation, but the copper alloy it forms will too. So you’ll need to swap it out from time to time. While liquid metal can be problematic and require frequent maintenance on a laptop, its performance benefits might justify the effort for some users. If you decide against it, high-quality thermal paste is enough. The standard thermal material is poor quality—similar to toothpaste—and often applied unevenly. In my experience, they used excessive amounts, causing the paste to spread off-center on the CPU. I can’t recommend anything better than improving cooling in other ways. In my view, they compromised on the cooling system. I’ve seen others remove paint from cooling plates and heat pipes to boost performance, so alternatives exist. Well, I’m glad you managed with undervolting. My system became unstable around -80mV, and the temperature changes didn’t improve stability. In fact, temperatures stayed the same or worsened, so I’m keeping my CPU stock unless I lose the silicon chance.