Change thermal paste on msi laptop. How to change thermal paste in a laptop: the immediate process

Over time, the factory thermal paste of laptops (netbooks) dries out and hardens to a terrible state. The more the thermal paste has dried, the harder it will be to remove it later. Dried thermal paste becomes completely non-thermal conductive, heat cannot be removed from the elements, which leads to constant overheating of the processor and video card and can cause their failure.

Therefore, if you notice that your laptop or netbook has begun to heat up significantly more, try not to delay cleaning the cooling system and replacing the thermal paste with new one.

In this article I will talk about disassembling and replacing the thermal paste of the MSI U210 netbook.

Symptoms of MSI U210 netbook: strong heating of the case, noise of the fan, charges every time (you need to move the plug) and slow operation of the system.

Unscrew all the bolts from the bottom.

After all the bolts are unscrewed, remove the top cover and disconnect the hard drive.

Now you need to remove the keyboard. To do this, turn the netbook over and open the top cover. The keyboard, in addition to the unscrewed bolts, is held on by small latches. Carefully move them away with a screwdriver and lift the keyboard.

We can begin to remove the lower part of the netbook case and remove the cooling system. Turn the netbook over and remove the lower part of the case. After that, unscrew and remove the cooling system.

We remove the old thermal paste from the heat pipes and from the processor. Since it is not possible to simply wipe off the thermal paste, due to the fact that it is very dry, you need to soak it in alcohol several times. After each soaking, carefully wipe the processor with a cloth until the old thermal paste is completely removed.

As usual, I use KPT-8 paste. Some may be against it, but the paste has proven itself well, does not dry out over time, and you can buy it in almost any radio store.

Regarding charging.
The owner of the netbook inserted the charger with great diligence and got caught on the wire several times. As a result, the plastic connector crumbled and the solder on the back side of the connector fell off. The connector was successfully soldered, and the plastic part was glued.
We collect the netbook and return it to the owner.

After replacing the thermal paste, the netbook began to heat up significantly less and stopped slowing down.

A portable device, a laptop, that is comfortable in all respects, still has a number of disadvantages. The cooling system, which is far from perfect, is considered to be a kind of Achilles heel of compact computers, the efficiency of which is limited over time by another unfavorable factor - the influence of the external environment. In particular, laptop air intake grilles and filters inevitably become clogged with dust particles, which, in turn, negatively affects the efficiency of heat dissipation. Replacing thermal paste in a laptop is inevitable, determined only by the time frame and the quality of the substance used. However, let's take a closer look at such an important and responsible maintenance process, and also understand the main operational issues.

The art of anticipation, or When is it necessary to replace thermal paste in a laptop?

Yes, it is the timely detection of a deviation from the norm (meaning the general moment of using a laptop) and the immediate steps taken to resolve the problem situation that will help you avoid all sorts of computer troubles. In order to understand that a laptop needs preventive maintenance, you don’t have to be a specialist. However, the main signs of a malfunction should be known, so to speak, “by sight.”

Diagnostics and monitoring: your assistants

Even those users who know how to change thermal paste in a laptop will not rush into disassembly without a thorough analysis. Unfortunately, the Windows operating system in all its editions does not have integrated tools for high-quality monitoring of system temperature indicators. The only solution can be considered viewing the current degrees generated by some system components through the BIOS.

The CPU temperature is considered normal if, when idle, the temperature varies between 30-45°C. Operation at load - 50-65°C.
GPU in passive mode - 50-55°C, in active mode - up to 85°C.

Install the free PC Wizard program and you will always be able to monitor the temperature readings of “hot” system components.

Alarm list

So, here is a price list of unpleasant surprises that most users so often encounter and which are rarely corrected. It is likely that you have already encountered something similar in practice. Nevertheless, for a beginner, this is invaluable information, familiarization with which may lead him to the question of how to replace thermal paste in a laptop.

The accumulation of dust in the ventilation holes of the device prevents the passage of air in both directions.
There is obvious noise from the cooling fan, as well as a continuous cycle of intense rotation in any mode of operation of the laptop.
Some body parts of the device become very hot even during short-term use.
Spontaneous shutdown.

Of course, this list can be significantly expanded. However, the last of the danger signals requires immediate attention on your part.

How to change thermal paste in a laptop: the immediate process

Before you begin practical actions, you need to prepare a simple tool: a thin Phillips and flathead screwdriver, an unnecessary bank card, a regular paint brush, alcohol and a small piece of fabric. Definitely buy thermal paste. Yes, and remember: you shouldn’t skimp on quality.

Planned retreat

It doesn’t really matter what modification your laptop is. The only thing you should pay attention to during the dismantling process is the design features of the product. In other words, be careful during the disassembly process, since the mounting screws and various fasteners may differ slightly in their location from the models that will be discussed below. In order to ensure that replacing thermal paste in a laptop occurs without negative consequences, it is worth studying in more detail the issue of the features of your device.

Step #1. Removing the battery

As a rule, the battery in laptops is secured using special latches that open with a slight force on the fixing element: pressing or moving to the side. Usually there are two locks.

Step #2. Removing body segments

To get to the cooling system of a laptop, you often need to disassemble almost the entire device, as they say, down to the last screw. However, replacing thermal paste in a Lenovo laptop can be done using a completely different scenario. It is enough to unscrew just one protective cover, and access to the radiator is open. It is worth noting that most modifications of laptop computers hide the cooling system quite deep in their chassis, so a universal plan of action will look like this:

The back of the laptop has several compartments that are covered with plastic or metal casings.
You must unscrew the screws carefully, as there is a risk of stripping the threads.
In some cases, the optical drive can be easily removed by unscrewing just one bolt. By the way, replacing thermal paste in an MSI laptop is done without removing the DVD/CD recorder.
Ultimately, you need to remove all external components of the system: RAM, hard drive, wireless modules.
The final step is to unscrew all screws. Be careful, as a missing bolt may be securing a removable component of the laptop, which will be discussed in the next paragraph.

Step #3: Detaching the Keyboard

At this stage, you should be more than careful, since the button module is connected to the laptop system board using a cable. The risk of damaging this connecting element is incredibly high if you are not careful.

Typically, the keyboard unit is secured using latches located around the perimeter of the module. However, the location of the clamps is individual for each modification. Carefully “sink” the screwdriver in the area of the upper edge of the keyboard, and at the same time pry it up until it comes out.

Step #4. Disabling internal device connectors

When it is necessary to replace the thermal paste in an Acer laptop, you need to completely disassemble the laptop. Therefore, after dismantling the keyboard in the opened area, you should disconnect all the contact cables and unscrew the fixing screws.

Step #5. Disconnecting the main body parts

When all the bolts are unscrewed, you need to use careful movements (prying with a credit card) to separate the upper part of the plastic frame from the lower one. Next, you need to dismantle the system board to perform the following steps.

Step #6. Removing the cooler and radiator from the motherboard

Replacing thermal paste in an HP laptop is only possible if the cooling unit is completely removed from the motherboard. However, this condition is relevant for the vast majority of modifications of laptops.

To remove the heatsink and heatpipes from the motherboard, you usually need to remove four screws in the CPU area and two in the graphics chip area. Depending on the manufacturer and model of the laptop, the fixation pattern may be completely different.
At the same time, there is a certain mandatory algorithm for screwing and tightening the bolts with which the cooling system is fixed. The manufacturer marks the removable part with numbers that indicate the sequence and order of unscrewing.

Step #7. Cleaning and lubricating the fan

Using a brush, remove dust deposits from the part. A drop of machine oil into the inside of the rotating element will soften the movement of the fan blades and save you from extraneous noise in the future.

Step #8. Blowing the radiator and removing residual traces of thermal paste

Remove the tape from the side ribs of the cooling segment and use a vacuum cleaner to clean the internal compartments of the “refrigerator”. The contact areas of the radiator with the CPU and GPU must be thoroughly wiped first with alcohol, then with a dry cloth. Replacing thermal paste in a Samsung laptop can then be considered high quality when the silicon surface of the component reflects mirror cleanliness.

Step #9. Correct layer and installation of the radiator in place

There is no need to think that the more “binder” you put on the parts, the better. This is a delusion, and even more dangerous (in terms of implementation)! Squeeze a little thermal paste onto the surface of the cleaned part and use a credit card to spread it in a thin layer over the entire surface.

Attach the cooling system segments to the motherboard according to the marked scenario. Do not neglect this recommendation, since if you skew (fix two bolts on one side and then on the other), there is a high risk of damaging the silicon surface of the processor. And the paste will lie unevenly. The result is inevitable overheating.

Step #10. Reverse process - installation

Replacing thermal paste in an Asus laptop is done in the same way - according to the instructions above. However, this brand of laptop is incredibly demanding when it comes to assembly. Therefore, before disassembling a portable device, do not be lazy to sketch out a schematic drawing of your laptop (as you disassemble, the screws are placed in the corresponding graphically displayed place). This is necessary so that the reverse assembly process does not cause any difficulties, since often during installation the screws do not correspond to the place where they are screwed in. By the way, some manufacturers apply markings to the fixation points identifying the type of fastener.

As you can see, replacing thermal paste in a laptop is, in general, not a complicated maintenance process at all, but nevertheless it is incredibly responsible and requires a lot of attention from the user.

How much easier everything would be if owners of portable computing equipment followed a few simple rules:

Do not use the laptop in a room with high humidity.
Cold environments or hot weather can also be detrimental to your laptop, especially if exposed for long periods of time.
When operating the compact device, make sure that the air intake outlets are not blocked by foreign objects.
Perform preventative maintenance on your laptop in a timely manner.

Depending on the intensity of use of the laptop, the thermal paste may need to be replaced within a year. However, now you know exactly when it is necessary to resort to such a radical method of maintenance. All the best!

Prices are 15% lower than purchase prices due to the purchase of components directly from manufacturers
Express diagnostics of MSI laptops within 15 minutes - 0 rub.
Urgent laptop repair - from 30 minutes
Official warranty for laptop repairs - up to 6 months

If your MSI laptop starts to slow down or turns off spontaneously, then the reason for this may be that the device is overheating. Several methods are used to effectively troubleshoot problems:

Clean the device. This is a good method that is most effective for recently acquired equipment.
Purchasing a special cooling pad.
Replace thermal paste. This method helps reduce the temperature of the video card and processor by up to 10 degrees. It is usually used when cleaning does not give the expected result.

When the need arises to replace thermal paste, the owner considers two options for resolving the issue. One of them is self-replacement. Such a procedure without the necessary knowledge and experience imposes risks on the performance of the equipment. A reasonable user will not risk his laptop and trust the specialists.

Prices for MSI laptop repair services

The experienced technicians of our service center will quickly replace the thermal paste in your MSI laptop. This professional procedure will relieve you for a long time from problems that arise when the device overheats. After the procedure, high-precision equipment will test the device and determine its current performance. After successful completion of the service, you will receive a warranty document for up to 6 months.