Your laptop uses thermal pads to help dissipate heat.
Your laptop uses thermal pads to help dissipate heat.
Hi, I'm dealing with an MSI GE62 6qd APC running under high load. The temperatures have been rising even when the fans spin at full speed. It's been seven years since I last replaced it, so I'm planning a refurbish while also swapping out the thermal pads. The main challenge is figuring out the right size and thickness for the pads. I'm open to advice on thermal paste and pads, but I won't use liquid metal because I want to avoid damage or needing to redo this every year.
Liquid metal poses significant challenges and dangers. Pads remain a questionable option unless you've handled a similar device before—details aren't typically shared publicly. The safest approach is to use a micrometer for precise measurements, aiming for 0.1mm accuracy rather than the finer 0.001mm. Measure pads only after opening the device. For dimensions, purchase pads in bulk and cut them yourself instead of relying on pre-cut sizes that may not match your requirements exactly.
Artic Mx-4 thermal paste offers excellent performance at an affordable price. It worked well on my laptop, resulting in slightly lower temperatures compared to the original thermal paste. For thermal pads, you can measure thickness with a caliper on pads that seem uncompressed. On eBay, you can find pads in different thicknesses without needing expensive brands like Thermal Grizzly.
if it isn't designed with Liquid metal in mind putting liquid metal will prob kill the board due to leak and there is not really any way to know which pad each laptop use if you have calliper messure it or go to the a computer store like Microcenter and they measure it for you
Typically reapplying works just fine. The pads don’t really improve or last longer by swapping them out. The main reason to replace them would be if something breaks and you can reassemble it, which doesn’t matter much. They’re not needed for important or heat-sensitive parts anyway. Laptops usually rely on paste instead of pads. Any good paste will outperform the dried-on residue left behind now. I also use Noctua NT-H1 and Arctic Grizzly when available—they spread well and hold up over time.
How effective is the Noctua NT-H1 for your setup? I’ve seen warnings on Reddit and a YouTube video advising against it because of pump-out issues, where thermal paste leaks between the die and cooler, leading to elevated temperatures after several months. Noctua claims both NT-H1 and NT-H2 are suitable for laptops, though users report otherwise. I didn’t want to jeopardize my gaming laptop, but I’ve used two MBP boards with NT-H1 and one needs a refill using MX-4, likely due to this problem. I already had another refilled with MX-4 and temperatures improved noticeably—no more thermal throttling. I’d have suggested the paste, but I was focused on what I wrote.
I've applied this on several laptops over the years without any problems, both for myself and my clients. I tend to work more traditionally, spreading the paste evenly across the surface. My thoughts suggest the problem comes from using the drop method, which I don’t like much. I clean my Thinkpads annually and track temperature changes before and after switching pastes. So far, no noticeable difference. The longest period I used NT-H1 was on a Xeon processor from 2009—about ten years without issues. Though I wouldn’t strongly recommend it, the client was unmotivated, and I only noticed the change when they requested an upgrade. After that time, the paste felt much drier but not as brittle as regular paste after short use. I’m also testing Thermal Grizzly and KPX, but I haven’t seen long-term results yet. For extended operations, Arctic Silver remains a solid choice (performs well and is hard to remove). Just be careful with its conductivity.
I've applied the spreading technique around 2019 with my 9800X, 10980XE, and now my 5950X to ensure proper expansion. So far, temperatures remain stable without noticeable rises. I also monitor MSI Afterburner+RTSS during gameplay to track temps, usage, and performance metrics. Previously, I used Artic Silver 5 (even a tube from about five years ago) and it still worked well. It seems the paste isn't conductive.
They say it becomes more conductive with use compared to typical modern adhesives. Regardless, it performs well for extended projects. It isn't the top choice by current standards for thermal conductivity.