A list of the best thermal pastes of 2020 has been published

Have you noticed that your laptop is starting to slow down and freeze? There may be several reasons for this. One of them is dust getting inside the system. As a result, overheating occurs.

@africarising.tv

You can clean the insides from dirt, purchase a special cooling pad and change the thermal paste. All these measures are designed to reduce the temperature inside the unit and improve its operation.

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.

Preventive actions

To cool the system, laptops usually draw air from below through special openings. If you hold the device on your lap or put it on a soft sofa, the air flow will be complicated. In addition, the cooler can draw in small lint and dust particles from the litter. If a fluffy cat or dog lives in the house, then particles of fur can also get inside.

Therefore, it is recommended to keep the laptop on a table or any other smooth surface or stand. You can cut the board to the size of your laptop computer and place it under it while you work.

Make sure that the laptop is not turned on when you are not using it. Because even in this state, the fan will continue to draw in air, and with it dust particles from the environment.

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 on a video card

Replacing thermal paste on a video card is practically no different from the replacement process on a processor.

On a PC, first of all, you need to remove the video card. Disconnect all wires that are connected to the video card connectors. Usually it is attached to the body with two bolts - unscrew them. Next, on the PCI slot into which it is inserted, you need to bend the latch and remove the graphics module.

• A radiator with a cooler is also adjacent to the video card processor. To remove it, you will need to unscrew the bolts or bend the clamps.
• If there is dust inside the case and on the board, be sure to remove it with a brush or a can of compressed air.
• To remove old thermal paste, you will need a cotton pad and alcohol. Carefully remove the layer of dried paste.
• Make sure the surface is completely dry.
• Apply a uniform and thin layer of the same thermal paste as on the general processor. We do this using a plastic card.
• We put the structure back together and insert it into the PCI slot.

Well, that's all, this process is not as complicated as it might seem.

To ensure better cooling of the laptop's video card processor, disassembly will also be required. The graphics module is located on the motherboard and is covered by a cooling system (cooler, copper tubes for heat removal). It all comes apart easily; the old paste can be cleaned with alcohol and cotton wool. A thin layer of thermally conductive mixture is applied.

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.

How to properly apply thermal paste to a processor - Intel method

On the Internet you can find different methods of applying thermal paste. For Intel processors, there is a vertical line method that helps to optimally reduce the temperature.

There is an opinion that Intel processors heat up unevenly. For example, only some cores become hot, or in areas close to the integrated graphics unit (iGPU).

Thermal paste is applied in a vertical line across the inscriptions. The quantity is small.

The next step is to lightly cover the processor with a radiator. Then we look at how the layer is distributed over the surface. It is worth noting that after pressing with the radiator, no air bubbles should form. If the cooler is correct - exactly “original” - then such air pockets will not form.

Some useful tips

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 routine preventative maintenance on your laptop.

Depending on the intensity of use of the laptop, the thermal paste may have 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!

Execution steps

The first step is to unscrew and remove the back cover of the device. It is important to understand that this will void your laptop's warranty. Disconnect the device from the power supply, remove the battery and unscrew the bolts. Try not to lose the bolts so that after the procedure you can return everything to its place.

Removing the cover, you will see all the “insides” of the laptop. What interests us most is the video card. In most cases, developers screw it with 4 bolts, pressing it to the radiator. Unscrew the bolts and carefully pull this component out of the connector.

The next step is to clean the chip and heatsink from old thermal paste. Experienced users say that if thermal paste is applied incorrectly, the opposite effect can be achieved. As you can see, this is not a case where you can’t spoil the porridge with honey. The product must be applied to a previously cleaned, degreased surface (use a utility knife to remove old material).

If you want to do everything correctly, do not overdo it with the amount of thermal paste. For application, you can use any available product. Computer parts stores may offer a special spatula, but in practice you can do it with your finger. The product is applied exclusively to the chip, and the layer must be quite thin. It is advisable to rub it evenly over the surface, without going beyond the edges of this element.

To prevent devices from overheating, it is advisable to get rid of dust accumulated inside during use. Gently brush the parts of the laptop to remove dust. It is this that is the main enemy of technology: by getting into cracks and corners, it prevents the coolers from spinning and cooling the device.

Reassemble the laptop in reverse order:

• screw the video card back to the radiator;
• install the back cover;
• insert the battery;
• connect the device to power.

Rules and procedure for replacing thermal paste

The paste must be changed with the utmost care; it should not be smeared on electronic components and tracks, since it is a conductor due to the inclusion of metal chips. If you do not follow this rule, a short circuit may occur, which will cause the failure of important components of the laptop.

It is better to prepare all the materials and tools necessary for the work in advance. You will need:

1. The thermal paste itself;
2. Slotted and Phillips screwdriver;
3. Unnecessary plastic card;
4. A stationery knife and a soft napkin.

When choosing a rag or wipe for removing thermal paste, immediately discard materials with abrasive properties or those that leave pellets when used. Surface scratches and foreign inclusions due to poor removal of old material can significantly impair heat transfer.

Rating of the best thermal pastes

Which thermal paste is best for you?

As you can see, there are a large number of thermal pastes available on the market now, and many of them are suitable for maintaining the temperature of a gaming system:

• If you are a beginner , you can use the Innovation Coolin graphite thermal pad. Even though it doesn't provide very cold temperatures, it still keeps the system cool enough for gaming and everyday use.
• If you are looking for a thermal paste that is tested and guaranteed to keep your system cool? Arctic Silver 5 is the thermal paste for you.

Composition, properties and features of choosing thermal paste

Its multicomponent composition includes fillers from microdispersed powders of metals and their oxides, and synthetic and mineral oils are used as a binder.

We list well-proven brands of thermal pastes:

• KPT-8,
• AlSil-3,
• Titan Silver Grease,
• Cooler Master.

The main property of thermal paste for laptops is its high thermal conductivity, much better than that of air. Therefore, when a layer of this material is applied to the junction of the processor and the radiator, normal temperature conditions for the laptop are ensured. Without thermal paste or with old “stiff” substance, the processor will simply burn out.

A signal for the need to change the old thermal paste can be severe overheating of the laptop processor, even under a relatively light load.

You can choose both domestic brands (KPT-8 and AlSil-3) and foreign ones. According to their characteristics, they are identical, but imported ones are slightly more expensive. An additional advantage of domestic pastes is their relative ease of application, since the latter have a more liquid consistency.

If desired, the thermal paste recommended by the processor manufacturer can be found on its website. Usually the results of tests and testing of various pastes are posted there, specific recommendations are given on how to change them and choose the composition. Also try to purchase only high-quality materials for replacement, avoid too cheap ones, as they may turn out to be counterfeit.

Make sure that the composition of the paste is completely homogeneous - the presence of lumps and foreign inclusions in it is unacceptable, since air layers can form that impair thermal conductivity.