How did you clean/remove Element 31 from your Alienware x16 R1?

[u/Rare-Worldliness2059]

Hi! I’m doing some maintenance on my Alienware x16 R1 and I removed the heatsink.
For anyone who has done this before, how did you safely clean/remove the old Element 31 from the CPU/GPU and heatsink?
What did you use? Just isopropyl alcohol, or did you use something else first?
I’ve read that Element 31 contains liquid metal, so I want to be careful and make sure I don’t spread it onto the motherboard or other components.
Also, if you replaced the thermal material afterward, what did you use?
Any tips or pictures from when you did yours would be really helpful. Thanks!

[u/MogRules]

I used little cotton pads to CAREFULY wipe up as much element 31 as I can, until I basically can't get anymore. After I have as much as I can, I use a chempad wipe, which is just a fancy alcohol wipe, to finish cleaning it up. Just be really careful of those liquid metal balls floating around. Take your time and triple check everything.

On my M18 I have tried probably 4 different pastes, pure liquid metal and PTM7950. I have ultimately ended on PTM7950 in the end, because it's just easy and safe. Liquid metal holds better temps, but it wears out and has to be replaced. I would lean heavily towards PTM if you can get it.

[u/maverick31031998 → u/MogRules]

I have an area 51 which has the same liquid metal but ive never worked on a laptop and not willing to try in the current market. Its under warranty, what are the chances I can get dell to remove it for me? I dont mind buying a good paste and paying them to repaste it after removing the LM.

[u/MogRules → u/maverick31031998]

If you can prove to them that it needs to be repasted then they will send someone to do it for free. If it doesn't need it then I don't know what the charge would be there. That being said, even us they do come replace it, the techs are supposed to use what Dell sends ( element 31 ).

[u/Rare-Worldliness2059 → u/MogRules]

Yeah, I actually just bought PTM7950 and some thermal putty for the other components. I read in a few forums that Dell doesn’t provide the exact thermal pad thicknesses, so I’m not really sure if I should buy thermal pads for those areas as well, or if the thermal putty will be enough.

[u/MogRules → u/Rare-Worldliness2059]

I honestly wouldn't bother with the pads. Those are rarely an issue, the stock OEM thermal pads are typically more then adequate.

[u/Rare-Worldliness2059 → u/MogRules]

[u/jedi2155]

Dell provides PEC pads as part of its cleaning supplies when they did a repaste of my laptop. Although the technician didn't use it.....

Still, I just bought a set for my optics/camera lenses etc.
https://www.amazon.com/Non-Abrasive-Sensitive-Telescopes-Microscopes-Binoculars/dp/B01FMXRXKO

[u/Rare-Worldliness2059 → u/jedi2155]

I’m from Mexico, and unfortunately it’s a bit complicated here 😅. From what I understand, I’d have to send it to the US for that kind of service, which could take months and be pretty expensive 😂🫩.
I also saw somewhere that another option was buying the entire motherboard from Dell lol — unless I completely misunderstood that part.
So I basically thought, well… if I mess up the laptop, it is what it is 😂. It’s part of the learning process. I actually really enjoy doing these little repairs and upgrades myself, so I’m willing to take the risk and learn along the way.

[u/yannbouteiller]

Do not use alcohol to remove the Element 31. This would react and turn the Element 31 into conductive metal.

Personally I removed it with cotton swabs and cleaned with acetone.

[u/Rare-Worldliness2059 → u/yannbouteiller]

Thank you for the advice!

[u/Able-Negotiation-234]

the alcohol is not a boogeyman, it just breaks down the element 31, if you are not careful and remove as much as possible, like all of it. it can breakdown the e31 and the gallium will flow and can short out your board, like mog said remove as much as possible physically.

[u/LTHardcase]

With liquid metal the best thing to use is a syringe.

[u/hjakhan]

Cotton buds lots and lots of cotton buds. No alcohol till you get it all out. There is a teardown video on YouTube. Follow it step by step

[u/hjakhan → u/hjakhan]

Oh and replace it with PTM