Questions on laptop thermal paste

[Froug]

I was wondering if laptops need a different type of thermal paste than those who have a PC. I have not replaced my thermal paste (nor cleaned my laptop of dust lmao) in 2 and a half years, because in the past I was really no good at technology and I was scared I'd break something. But now, I have acquired better knowledge and will start cleaning and replacing my thermal paste.

 

However, I would like to ask if there is any limitation on what thermal paste you can use? For example, I looked at the Noctua NT-H1 and the Arctic MX-4 for my thermal paste. Also, how long should I wait to replace them again?

[Alesek]

you can use any thermal paste you like. you can even go with liquid metal if you are careful enough

[Phentos]

There is no arbitrary restriction or limitation on what thermal paste you can use. 

 

I've used Kryonaut paste on my laptop CPU and GPUs a couple years ago to get its psychotic temps under some semblance of control. I use the same paste on my rig's CPU as well.

[meenmeen1103]

The only difference is laptops generally get moved around more, so I definitely would completely avoid liquid metal but that's about it. I put arctic silver 5 in my laptop years ago and it still does fine. Could likely use re-paste but hardly gets used anymore. MX-4 would be great, probably best replaced every 2yrs or so of moderate/heavy use? I'd just do it once temps start looking higher than usual

[genexis_x]

Some paste are not suitable for laptops due to low mounting heatsink pressure. For instance, TG Kryonaut, Noctua NT-H1 and Arctic MX-4 will dry out quickly. Best non conductive paste is probably Gelid GC Extreme and IC Diamond (for uneven heatsinks), TG Conductonaut for LM.

[Froug]

1 hour ago, ZM Fong said:

Some paste are not suitable for laptops due to low mounting heatsink pressure. For instance, TG Kryonaut, Noctua NT-H1 and Arctic MX-4 will dry out quickly. Best non conductive paste is probably Gelid GC Extreme and IC Diamond (for uneven heatsinks), TG Conductonaut for LM.

If the paste dries out, how dramatic would the temp decrease be? Surely the rise in idle/load wouldn't be too bad if the paste dries out?

[genexis_x]

33 minutes ago, Froug said:

If the paste dries out, how dramatic would the temp decrease be? Surely the rise in idle/load wouldn't be too bad if the paste dries out?

No idea, ask @Pendragon or @D2ultima. IMO it should be worse than stock paste.

[Pendragon]

4 hours ago, Froug said:

dramatic would the temp decrease be? Surely the rise in idle/load wouldn't be too bad if the paste dries out?

if your computer overheating? no? paste probably didn't dry out. 

[D2ultima]

Wot?

 

Kryonaut won't dry out unless your heatsink is really terrible O_O

[Greenish]

On 24/04/2018 at 7:09 PM, Froug said:

I was wondering if laptops need a different type of thermal paste than those who have a PC. I have not replaced my thermal paste (nor cleaned my laptop of dust lmao) in 2 and a half years, because in the past I was really no good at technology and I was scared I'd break something. But now, I have acquired better knowledge and will start cleaning and replacing my thermal paste.

 

However, I would like to ask if there is any limitation on what thermal paste you can use? For example, I looked at the Noctua NT-H1 and the Arctic MX-4 for my thermal paste. Also, how long should I wait to replace them again?

Thermal paste is thermal paste

[genexis_x]

13 minutes ago, Greenish said:

Thermal paste is thermal paste

Not the case in laptops. There are thermal pastes that are not suitable in some cases.

[Greenish]

Just now, ZM Fong said:

Not the case in laptops. There are thermal pastes that are not suitable in some cases.

Yes but 99% of thermal pastes are suitable for laptops

[Froug]

21 hours ago, ZM Fong said:

Not the case in laptops. There are thermal pastes that are not suitable in some cases.

Example ples

[genexis_x]

18 minutes ago, Froug said:

Example ples

See above

[Froug]

38 minutes ago, ZM Fong said:

See above

Oh whoops, didn't see

[TLCH723]

Lets me also ask a question or two about paste in laptop.

 

Should you use the same paste/LM on both CPU and GPU?

And what are the chances that LM leak around CPU? GPU?

[genexis_x]

1 hour ago, TLCH723 said:

Should you use the same paste/LM on both CPU and GPU?

And what are the chances that LM leak around CPU? GPU?

I would say LM on CPU and non conductive paste like Gelid GE Extreme on GPU. LM will not leak out if it's applied properly. If you're not confident with LM then GE Extreme for CPU.

 

@Pendragon