HomeThis guide explains how to apply new thermal grease on a laptop processor (CPU).
Thermal grease (aka thermal compound or paste) has to be applied on the top of the processor before you install the heat sink. Thermal grease helps to conduct heat more efficiently.
In some laptops you can remove the heat sink without removing the CPU fan. In my case, I had to remove the fan first.
In most cases, the heat sink is secured above the processor by four screws. You’ll have to remove or loosen those screws.
Carefully lift up the heat sink.
In my example the heat sink covers two chips: CPU and ATI chip. It’s not very common. In many other laptops the heat sink covers only the processor.
The ATI chip thermal grease is different, it looks like a blue chewing gum. I’m not going to replace the ATI chip grease today because it appears to be soft and looks normal.
The CPU grease, on the other hand, looks dried out and feels very hard. The CPU thermal grease definitely has to be replaced.
Thermal grease was so dried out that I had to use a flathead screwdriver to remove it from the heatsink.
NOTE: I would suggest using something softer, maybe a piece of plastic because the screwdriver makes scratches.
Clean the heat sink and CPU with 99% alcohol and soft cloth.
Both, the heatsink and CPU are clean and ready for new thermal grease.
Apply a small drop of new thermal grease on the top of the processor. Apply just enough to cover the CPU chip (black square in the center).
Finally, install the heat sink and secure it by tightening screws in the order 1-2-3-4.
May 19th, 2013 at 10:23 am
Hi,
I personally think that you put way too much thermal paste on the CPU chip. Indeed the idea is to get a layer of thermal paste between the copper and the chip as thin as possible to maximise the thermal transfer. If you put too much of it, thermal conductivity will be limited, and you will only get small results.
You need to put a small dot of thermal paste on your CPU and GPU chip, that way, you’ll get the most efficient heat transfer possible from your CPU to the heat-sink.
If you are worried about spreading issues on the chip with that much a small area of initial coverage, keep in mind that you will screw the whole thing later, and the pressure applied by the screws will spread the thermal paste.
Otherwise, keep up your wonderful work.
Cheers.
April 27th, 2013 at 8:06 am
@ Animesh Mishra,
Most likely it’s happening because your laptop heatsink clogged with dust. The dust kills normal airflow inside the heatsink and the laptop overheats.
First, I would try cleaning the heatsink and cooling fan. Blow off the fan and heatsink with compressed air and see if it fixes the problem.
April 26th, 2013 at 1:30 am
hi
I have HP-Pavilion-DV6-6116-TX laptop.i want to reduce its heat as it is generating horable heat..can u help me for reducing the heat of mine laptop
February 21st, 2013 at 12:00 am
sir i have hp pavillion dv4 1506tx laptop which thermal grease shoul i use …cheap and best
plz give link to buy
January 21st, 2013 at 3:08 pm
@Rajneesh,
Any of the following: AS5, ICD7, Shin Etsu will be fine.
December 24th, 2012 at 2:46 am
respected sir
my laptop is compaq presario CQ42. Which thermal greece should i apply…!!! Are all thermal greece the same and how much cost of greece .
September 11th, 2012 at 7:25 am
@ omnomnom,
Apply just a small drop. It should be enough to cover the CPU chip in thin layer when the heatsink installed.
September 10th, 2012 at 7:21 pm
I have a Compaq Presario CQ61. I bought thermal paste and it has an integrated CPU. Obvious. Now I want to apply my thermal paste and was wondering; I read online too much and too little can damage the CPU. Should I apply an even, medium covering or is too much better than too little?
August 7th, 2012 at 10:54 am
I will donate as soon as I can find the part and try to replace it . I have a compaq presario
C776NR notebook pc. I removed one of the covers on the back. It is the heat sink and copper tube that is so hot. The battery is okay, but I bought the pc in 2004. Their is a number on the heat sink # AT029000100 square box. but what is so hot is the copper tube that is expose and goes under the cove to I guess to the fan. What I don’t know if there is another sensor that fell and making that hot ? I don’t know if the grease will solve the problem are do I need the part. I need to locate the part and theati thermall grease. any help on that.
thank you very much victor louisiana
June 4th, 2012 at 2:01 am
i just removed my fan and then those 4 bolts above cpu
just
to remove dust
i see thermal paste is dried
now m facing sudden failure after 20-25 minutes
is it due to thermal paste
mine notebook iball i1422 is a 2007 modal so wat u thing the problem