How To Remove Thermal Paste – Apply and Clean off

January 16, 2022

You might be thinking, “Is it really important to learn how to remove thermal paste and re-apply it”? The answer is yes. A good thermal paste is one of the most important components of a PC or Laptop. However, most computer users do not realize it until it’s too late. I myself did not have any idea about what a thermal paste is and what it does until I had to send in my Predator Helios 300 in for service due to overheating issues.

How To Remove Thermal Paste Title

It’s only later that I realized, nowadays, it’s actually quite easy to remove and reapply the thermal paste by yourself instead of spending an outrageous amount at a service center. I’m writing this guide so that if you want to learn how to remove thermal paste from your laptop, you don’t have to look any further. I’ll take you through the basics of it, and suggest some good thermal paste products as well!

What Is A Thermal Paste?

A thermal paste is a silvery-grey substance that is applied between the CPU and the heat sink to reduce temperature. As you know, a CPU produces a lot of heat while it’s working. This is especially true when you run intensive tasks like gaming or video processing.

How To Remove Thermal Paste Example

The thermal paste absorbs this heat from the CPU and transfers it to the heat sink, so that the heat can be carried away from the computer hardware. This keeps the CPU cool and efficient.

Why Is Thermal Paste Important?

Like all electronic devices, CPUs and GPUs get damaged when they work under high temperatures for prolonged periods of time. Temperature ranging from 40-60 degree Celsius is considered safe during normal loads, and 70-75 at high loads.

Once the temperature crosses 90 degree Celsius, your CPU will start to ‘throttle’, which means that it will reduce its clock speed and run at a lower efficiency to reduce the heat produced. At 100 degrees, most computers will automatically shut down to prevent further damage.

CPU Overheating

A thermal paste helps in keeping the CPU cooler by transferring all the excess heat away from it. Most PC/laptop manufacturers use basic thermal paste that will dry out within a few weeks of usage. So, it is important that you remove this dried out paste and apply a fresh coating of a high-grade paste. This will keep your CPU (and your PC) healthy and last significantly longer.

How To Remove Thermal Paste And Re-Apply

Now I’ll give you step-by-step instructions on how you can remove the existing thermal paste on your computer and re-apply it. Here is what you’ll need – A microfiber cloth, rubbing alcohol, and cotton swab.

Note – It is important that you switch off your computer and unplug all the power cords. In laptops, remove the charger as well as the battery. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO SERVICE THE COMPUTER WHILE IT’S ON.

1) How To Remove Thermal Paste

Step 1: Gain access to your computer’s heat sink and processor. Since different manufacturers will have different designs, you can refer to your device manual to find the location of these components.

Manual

Step 2: Once you find the processor, you’ll notice a silver substance spread on it. This is the old thermal paste. If you don’t notice anything, it means there is no thermal paste applied to your CPU. However, it is still advised to clean it before applying a new paste.

Old thermal paste

Step 3: Use the microfiber cloth and gently rub the surface of your CPU, trying to get rid of as much of the paste as possible.

Step 4: Dip a portion of the cloth in the rubbing alcohol and wipe away the rest of the thermal paste. Make sure you do this slowly and gently, so as not to scratch the components.

Using cloth - How To Remove Thermal Paste

Step 5: You can now use the cotton swab (dipped in rubbing alcohol) to remove any remaining trace of the old paste.

2) How To Apply New Paste

You’ll need a new, good-quality tube of thermal paste for this.

Step 1: Make sure the CPU is connected to the motherboard. Take the tube of thermal paste and apply a pea-sized amount on the center of the CPU’s surface. You only need a small amount, so don’t overdo it.

Applying thermal paste

Step 2: Install the CPU Cooler (the one with the heat sink) over the CPU. Apply a tiny bit of pressure from the top down, so that when the cooler gets in contact with the CPU surface, it will spread the thermal paste evenly.

Step 3: Once the cooler is installed, check the sides to see if any of the paste has leaked out. You can use the cotton swab to remove any paste on the side of the CPU.

You’re done! You can now reassemble your computer and turn it on. You’ll see the difference in temperature immediately! Good thermal paste will usually last quite a while, so you only have to reapply them once every 5-8 years. However, if you notice unusual temperature spikes in your PC, you can always check to see if the thermal paste has dried out.

Best Brand Of Thermal Paste

Here are some of the best brands of thermal paste that you can purchase for your PC or Laptop. These brands are highly reviewed, provide excellent cooling, and will last for a long time.

  1. ProlimaTech PK-3 Nano Aluminum
  2. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut
  3. Cooler Master MasterGel Pro v2
  4. Arctic MX-5
  5. NAB Cooling NB Max Pro
  6. Noctua NT-H1
  7. Gelid GC-Extreme
  8. Dow Corning/DOWSIL TC-5625

Conclusion

I hope this guide has given you a good understanding of what thermal pastes are and how they are important for any computer. I’ve also taken you through the entire process of how to remove thermal paste and reapply them. Invest in a good thermal paste today, and I promise that you will reap the rewards when your CPU works smoother and more efficient than before.

If you have any doubts or queries, let me know in the comments below and I will respond as soon as possible!


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