Laptop overheating is one of the most common problems that users encounter after 2-3 years of active use. Most often the reason for this is worn out thermal pads (thermal pastes in solid form), which lose their elasticity, dry out or even turn into dust. Unlike thermal paste, they cannot simply be "updated" - they require a complete replacement. But don’t rush to take the device to a service center: with the right approach, you can perform the procedure yourself, saving up to RUB 5,000.

In this article, we'll walk you through the entire process from A to Z: how to choose the right gaskets for your model (e.g. ASUS TUF, Lenovo Legion or MSI GF63), what tools are needed, how to carefully disassemble the laptop without damaging it chipset or video card, as well as how to check the result after assembly. We will pay special attention to typical errors, due to which many users get the opposite effect - even greater overheating. If your laptop suddenly turns off under load or the cooler runs at maximum even in simple tasks, this instruction is for you.

Signs of wear on thermal pads: when is it time to change them

Thermal pads are a heat-conducting material based on silicone or graphite that fills the gaps between radiator and laptop components (CPU, GPU, VRM modules). Unlike thermal paste, they do not dry out, namely deform over time due to constant heating/cooling cycles. Here are the key symptoms that it’s time to replace them:

  • 🔥Laptop turns off spontaneously during gaming, rendering or stress tests (such as AIDA64 or Prime95).
  • 🌀 The cooler works on 100% rpm even with minimal load (watching YouTube, working in Word).
  • 📉 The temperature of the processor or video card under load exceeds 95–100°C (the norm for most models is up to 85°C).
  • 🛠️ Visible on the radiator or chips white/gray coating - these are the remains of destroyed gaskets.

If at least one of the points is familiar to you, do not delay replacement. Prolonged overheating reduces service life battery, may lead to chip peeling (especially on video cards NVIDIA series GTX/RTX) or even fire in extreme cases. For example, in laptops HP Omen And Acer Predator VRM modules next to the GPU often suffer - their overheating leads to a drop in performance.

⚠️ Attention: If your laptop is under warranty, replacing the thermal pads yourself will void it. In this case, it is better to contact the service center, even if they ask for 3000–5000 rubles for the work.
📊 How often do you clean your laptop cooling system?
  • Once every 6 months
  • Once a year
  • Only when it starts to warm up
  • Never cleaned

Which thermal pads to choose: types and characteristics

There are three main types of thermal pads on the market, and the choice depends on thermal power your laptop and budget:

Type of gaskets Thermal conductivity (W/mK) Benefits Disadvantages Price (per sheet 100×100 mm)
Silicone 1.5–6 Elastic, easy to cut, non-conductive Low thermal conductivity for powerful laptops 200–800₽
Graphite 5–15 High thermal conductivity, thin (0.1–0.5 mm) Fragile, conduct electricity (!) 500–1500₽
Metal (aluminum based) 7–20 Better heat transfer, durable Thickness from 0.5 mm, difficult to adjust 1000–3000₽
Hybrid (silicone + graphite) 8–12 Combines elasticity and thermal conductivity Dear ones, it's hard to find in stores. 1200–2500₽

For most gaming laptops (ASUS ROG Strix, MSI Raider, Lenovo Legion 7) optimal choice - graphite spacers 0.5–1 mm thick with thermal conductivity 10–12 W/mK. For office models (HP Pavilion, Dell Inspiron) enough silicone for 3–5 W/mK. Please note thickness: if you install gaskets that are too thin, the radiator will not fit tightly; if they are too thick, heat dissipation will deteriorate.

Popular brands:

  • 🏆 Arctic (series Thermal Pad) - reliable silicone gaskets.
  • 💎 Thermal Grizzly (Minus Pad 8) - graphite with thermal conductivity 8 W/mK.
  • 🔥 Coollaboratory (Liquid Ultra) - metal for extreme cooling.

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Before purchasing, measure your old gaskets with a caliper or ruler. If this is not possible, watch a disassembly of your model on YouTube (for example, search for "Lenovo Legion 5 thermal pad replacement").

Necessary tools: what to prepare in advance

To replace thermal pads, you will need not only new material, but also specialized tools. Without them, the risk of damaging your laptop increases significantly. Here's the full list:

  • ⚒️ Screwdriver set (Crusades) PH00, PH0, straight 1.5–2 mm, and also trivings for MacBook).
  • 📏 Vernier caliper or a ruler for measuring the thickness of gaskets.
  • 🔪 Plastic picks (for carefully prying off the lid).
  • 🧴 Isopropyl alcohol (90%+) and lint-free cleaning wipes.
  • 🎨 Thermal paste (For example, Noctua NT-H2 or Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut).
  • 📦 Antistatic wrist strap (or at least a grounded surface).
  • 🔍 Magnifying glass or flashlight for inspection of small parts.

If you have a laptop with soldered memory (For example, Apple MacBook Pro or Razer Blade), additionally prepare hot air station or a hair dryer to soften the glue. For models with two radiators (like ASUS Zephyrus G14) may be needed hot melt adhesive for fixing gaskets.

⚠️ Attention: Never use metal screwdrivers to pry plastic latches! This leads to chips and cracks on the body. As a last resort, wrap the tip of the screwdriver with electrical tape.

Unplugged the laptop and removed the battery|

I took pictures of the location of all the cables and screws|

Prepared an antistatic surface (or touched the radiator to remove static)|

Checked that all the tools were at hand|-->

Step-by-step instructions: how to replace thermal pads

The replacement process can be divided into 5 key stages. We will consider a universal algorithm, but note: in some models (for example, MacBook Air M1 or Dell XPS 13) disassembly may vary greatly due to non-standard radiator mounting.

1. Disassembling the laptop

Start by turning off the power and removing the battery (if it is removable). In laptops Lenovo ThinkPad or HP EliteBook The battery is often hidden under a cover, so first unscrew all the screws on the bottom panel. Be careful: some screws may be hidden under the rubber feet!

Use a plastic pick to carefully pry the lid off, starting at the corner. If the cover does not budge, check that all screws are unscrewed. In models Acer Nitro 5 And MSI Katana Hidden latches around the perimeter are often found.

2. Dismantling the cooling system

Disconnect the cooler from the motherboard (usually this is the connector FAN1 or CPU_FAN). Then unscrew the screws securing the radiator. Inspect them carefully: in laptops ASUS ROG screws are often used spring washers - don't lose them! Remove the heatsink and clean it of old thermal paste with alcohol.

3. Removing old gaskets

Old thermal pads are usually easy to remove - they either crumble when touched or stick to the chips. If the gaskets are stuck, carefully pry them off with a plastic card. Do not use metal objects — the risk of scratching the chip is too high. After removal, clean surfaces with alcohol.

4. Installing new gaskets

Cut out new gaskets using the template of the old ones (or using a stencil from the Internet). For accuracy, use a utility knife and a metal ruler. Gaskets must fit tightly, but do not protrude beyond the edges of the chips. The most critical areas:

  • 🔥 GPU (video card) - usually requires thick spacers 1–1.5 mm.
  • ⚙️ VRM modules (batteries) - thin gaskets 0.5 mm.
  • 🖥️ Chipset (south/north bridge) - often forgotten, but it also heats up.

5. Assembly and testing

Apply new thermal paste to the CPU/GPU (a layer as thick as a grain of rice), install the heatsink and secure it with screws. Twist them up criss-crossto avoid skew. After assembly, turn on the laptop and check the temperatures in HWMonitor or Core Temp. If after 10 minutes of inactivity the CPU heats up 50°C, it means something went wrong.

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The most common mistake is incorrect gasket thickness. If temperatures increase after replacement, check whether the new materials are too thin/thick.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users sometimes make mistakes that ruin all their efforts. Here are the most common:

  • 🔧 Retightening the radiator screws → leads to deformation of the motherboard and detachment of chips. Tighten the screws with a force of no more than 0.5–0.6 Nm (use a torque screwdriver if available).
  • 🧊 Using gaskets that are too thick → impairs heat dissipation, since the radiator is not pressed tightly. For example, in MSI GF65 optimal thickness for GPU - 1 mm.
  • 🔥 Forgetting about thermal paste → gaskets do not replace paste on CPU/GPU! Always apply a fresh coat.
  • ⚡ Statics → even a small discharge can cause damage RAM or SSD. Wear an antistatic wrist strap or periodically touch a grounded surface.

Another common problem is incorrect assembly order. For example, in laptops Acer Predator Helios First you need to connect the cooler to the motherboard, and only then fix the radiator. If you do the opposite, you can break the cable.

What to do if the laptop does not turn on after replacement?

If your laptop does not respond to the power button, check:

1. Connecting the battery and power supply.

2. The cooler cable is connected correctly (sometimes the BIOS blocks startup without it).

3. Presence of a short circuit (inspect the motherboard for foreign screws or broken gaskets).

If the problem persists, reset the BIOS by removing the battery for 30 seconds (on most motherboards it is located next to the RAM slots).

Testing after replacement: how to check the result

Simply assembling the laptop is not enough - you need to make sure that the replacement is successful. To do this:

  1. Check idle temperatures: Start the laptop and leave it for 15-20 minutes without load. Normal for CPU - 35–50°C, for GPU - 40–55°C.
  2. Conduct a stress test: use Prime95 (for CPU) or FurMark (for GPU) for 10 minutes. The temperature should not exceed:
    • 🔥 Intel Core i7/i9 — 85–90°C.
    • 🔥 AMD Ryzen 7/9 — 80–85°C.
    • 🎮 NVIDIA RTX 30/40 series — 75–80°C.
  • Listen to the cooler: if it starts to work quieter or turns on at maximum less often, the replacement was successful.

    • If temperatures remain high, possible reasons:

    • 🔄 The pads are too thin/thick.
    • 🧴 Too little/too much thermal paste.
    • 🌀 The radiator is not pressed tightly (check the screws).
    • 🛠️ The heat pipe in the radiator is damaged (a new cooler is needed).

    For an accurate diagnosis, use ThrottleStop (for Intel) or Ryzen Master (for AMD). These programs will show whether throttling (automatic reduction of frequencies due to overheating).

    FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions

    Can I use thermal paste instead of thermal pads?

    No, thermal paste is not suitable for replacing gaskets. It is designed to fill micro-gaps between flat surfaces (for example, the processor cover and heatsink). Gaskets are needed for components with uneven surface (VRM modules, chipset), where the paste will simply leak out or dry out in a month.

    How often should thermal pads be changed?

    Service life depends on the material and operating conditions:

    • 🟢 Silicone - once every 2–3 years.
    • 🔵 Graphite - once every 3–4 years.
    • ⚫ Metal - once every 4–5 years.

    If you use your laptop in a dusty environment or play games frequently, check the gaskets once a year.

    Is it possible to wash the radiator with water?

    Yes, but with caution:

    1. Remove the radiator and cooler.
    2. Wash it with warm water and soap (no aggressive detergents!).
    3. Dry with a hairdryer in cold mode or leave for 24 hours at room temperature.
    4. Do not wash the radiator without removing it from the laptop - there is a risk of short circuit!

    What to do if after replacement the laptop begins to heat up more?

    Possible causes and solutions:

    • 🔧 The gaskets are too thick → replace with thinner ones.
    • 🧴 Too much thermal paste → remove excess and apply a new thin layer.
    • 🌀 The radiator is not pressed → check the screws and spring washers.
    • 🛠️ Thermal tube is damaged → the cooler needs to be replaced.

    If the problem persists, return the old gaskets and contact service.

    Do I need to change thermal pads when replacing thermal paste?

    Not required, but recommended. If the pads are outwardly intact (not crumbling, have not lost elasticity), they can be left. However, in 80% of cases, when replacing the paste, the gaskets are already worn out - their thickness decreases by 20–30%, which impairs heat dissipation. If you have already disassembled your laptop, it is better to change everything at once.