Laptop heating up even after applying new thermal paste

[hmunster123]

I applied new thermal paste to my laptop because it was overheating. It worked great for about two weeks now it's overheating again. Any advice appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Karsten75]

check the air ducts and so on for dust build-up. Dust acts as an insulator and impacts heat transfer. Also, applying thermal paste on a laptop and making sure the heatsink (and often thermal pads) are applied correctly is a very complicated process. You probably made some mistakes, especially if your cooling solution involves thermal pads.

 

[hmunster123]

What are thermal pads? What should I do once I open the laptop again? Also why was it working fine for two weeks and start heating up again?

 

[velo3100]

It is most likely dust build up. The reason why your laptop seemed fine is that the paste probably was able to take the heat away for that long. The paste maybe dried up by now which would explain the laptop having the high temp.

 

[hmunster123]

It is most likely dust build up. The reason why your laptop seemed fine is that the paste probably was able to take the heat away for that long. The paste maybe dried up by now which would explain the laptop having the high temp.

 

[hmunster123]

Why would it dry up so fast? What should I do?

 

[K6-II]

Most likely the fan is dying, I noticed this with my laptop too, after a while the fan starts wobbling while it spins the best solution is to get another heat sink

 

[velo3100]

Most likely the fans are dying as they wear out as time goes by. I would make sure that they are not broken.

 

[hmunster123]

Most likely the fan is dying, I noticed this with my laptop too, after a while the fan starts wobbling while it spins the best solution is to get another heat sink

 

[hmunster123]

The fan and heat sink are separate I think, wouldn't I just buy another fan? The fan spins

 

[velo3100]

For laptops, I don't think it is very easy to install a new heatsink. My best suggestion is buy a new fan and install it in your machine assuming that there is no dust build up and see if it makes any difference.

 

[K6-II]

The fan and heat sink are separate I think, wouldn't I just buy another fan? The fan spins

Yes, just go for the fan solo

 

[hmunster123]

For laptops, I don't think it is very easy to install a new heatsink. My best suggestion is buy a new fan and install it in your machine assuming that there is no dust build up and see if it makes any difference.

 

[hmunster123]

I hear the fan running, why would I replace it?

 

[K6-II]

I hear the fan running, why would I replace it?

Well of course you can hear it running, the fan works the question is is it working properly, laptop fans are very sensitive
the plastic bearings in laptop fans don't last forever and if your fan is emitting a loud whine (which it didn't when you first got the laptop) it's probably time to replace it

 

[hmunster123]

There is no whine, it seems to be running smoothly.