Cooling, cleaning the laptop and replacing thermal paste (liquid metal) - if the laptop is overheating

Overheating of a laptop is a common problem faced by users, especially gamers, programmers and professionals working with resource-intensive tasks. High temperatures can lead to decreased performance, throttling and, in the worst cases, to the failure of the laptop. In this article, we will take a detailed look at methods for cooling a laptop, cleaning it and replacing thermal paste, including the option with liquid metal.

Why is my laptop getting hot?

Before we start cleaning and replacing the thermal paste, let's look at the main causes of overheating:

  • Dust accumulation – worsens heat dissipation, reduces the efficiency of the cooling system.
  • Old thermal paste – dries out over time, worsening thermal conductivity between the processor (CPU), video card (GPU) and the cooling system.
  • High loads – demanding games, video processing and rendering overload the processor and video card.
  • Poor ventilation – using a laptop on soft surfaces (bed, sofa) blocks air intake.
  • Cooling system malfunction – fans may not work properly due to wear or mechanical damage.

How to cool a laptop?

Before disassembling your laptop, try a few ways to reduce the temperature:

  1. Using a cooling pad – special stands with fans help improve air circulation.
  2. Cleaning the air vents – remove dust from the air intakes with compressed air or a vacuum cleaner.
  3. Changing energy settings – in Windows you can reduce the maximum performance of the processor.
  4. Updating drivers and BIOS – Sometimes manufacturers release updates that improve thermal management.
  5. Reducing the load on the system – close unused programs, reducing the load on the processor and video card.

If these methods do not produce results, it is worth cleaning the cooling system and replacing the thermal paste.

Cleaning your laptop from dust

Cleaning is an important step that helps to avoid overheating and extend the life of the laptop. To do this, you will need:

  • Screwdriver (Phillips or Torx, depending on the laptop model).
  • Compressed air can.
  • Brush with soft bristles.
  • Alcohol wipes or isopropyl alcohol.

Cleaning process:

  1. Turn off your laptop and disconnect the battery (if possible).
  2. Unscrew the back cover and carefully remove it.
  3. Hold the fans and blow them out with compressed air.
  4. Clean the radiators and internal components from dust with a brush.
  5. Check heat pipes and cooling system for damage.

After cleaning, you can proceed to replacing the thermal paste.

Replacing thermal paste: regular or liquid metal?

Thermal paste serves as a heat conductor between the processor, video card and cooling system. Over time, it dries out and loses its properties, which worsens heat dissipation.

Regular thermal paste – a standard option that is easy to use, does not require special conditions and is safe for components. Examples: Arctic MX-4, Noctua NT-H1, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut.

Liquid metal – a more efficient option with high thermal conductivity. However, it is electrically conductive and can cause a short circuit if it gets on the contacts. Examples: Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut, Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra.

How to replace thermal paste?

  1. Remove the cooling system by unscrewing the screws from the radiator.
  2. Remove old thermal paste from the processor and heatsink with alcohol wipes.
  3. Apply a small amount of new thermal paste to the center of the processor.
  4. If using liquid metal, apply it with a brush or cotton swab (very thinly).
  5. Reinstall the cooling system and secure the screws diagonally.
  6. Assemble the laptop and test its operation.

Checking the temperature after replacing thermal paste

To ensure cooling efficiency, use temperature monitoring programs:

  • HWMonitor
  • AIDA64
  • Core Temp
  • MSI Afterburner (for gamers)

Run tests under normal load and stress tests to ensure temperatures have dropped.


If you have no experience in disassembling laptops, it is better to contact professionals. Service center RudService will help you perform high-quality cleaning, replace thermal paste and diagnose overheating, ensuring a long service life for your device.

Conclusion

Overheating of a laptop is a serious problem that can lead to decreased performance and even component failure. Regular cleaning, replacement of thermal paste and temperature control will help extend the life of the device and avoid breakdowns. If you want to achieve maximum cooling, use liquid metal, but only if you have experience, as its use requires caution.

By following these recommendations, your laptop will work more stably, quieter and longer!

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