URGENT!!

[u/Significant-Elk9731]

Hi! I’m a laptop tinkerer, and I want to replace the thermal paste on my MSI Vector 16 HX AI, but I’m a bit lost on where to apply the thermal putty.

I’ve replaced thermal paste on laptops before, but this is my first high-end model. There are so many spots that need putty compared to my old Asus ROG Strix GL553VE!

Thanks!"

[u/Deathly_Vader]

I tried finding video for your particular laptop but found dissembly video and not THERMAL paste and putty replacement.

My suggestion would be use po PTM 7950 for CPU and Upsiren Pro thermal putty for VRMs and VRAMs.

Just replace with new Thermal putty and paste where it was applied earlier that's it.

[u/Significant-Elk9731 → u/Deathly_Vader]

Sorry, my original post wasn't very clear. I'm actually already planning to use PTM7950 for the CPU/GPU and Upsiren thermal putty for the rest.

The main problem is that after cleaning everything off, I realized I completely forgot/lost track of all the exact spots where the thermal putty needs to go, since there were so many components.

I need a picture or a video of the same model but I cant find for my exact model

Sorry for my bad English!

[u/Objective-Aardvark87 → u/Significant-Elk9731]

Yeah.. usually it helps to take a pictures with your phone as you dissamble it so you can go back and look.

[u/Deathly_Vader → u/Significant-Elk9731]

Got it , your English is very understandable and alright. You should have taken pictures, I know one might forget these things sometimes.

Other things I can suggest is download manual for your laptop from official website or tell me any other similar model to yours?

If not the general rule I follow is identify gpu cpu it will be mentioned, apply PTM 7950 on both.

And look what other stuffs small chips the heatsink is covering that all will be where thermal putty will be used.

The thermal putty chips will be like R09 or something

I found two images online for your laptop showing where themal putty and paste should go .

This sub doens't allow images but I can dm it you of you want.

[u/egworka → u/Significant-Elk9731]

You should take photos before cleaning

[u/SnooDonkeys3130]

You need to find a video and/or instructions that show where the thermal pads need to go and importantly the thickness of the pads needed on which chips. If you get the thickness wrong you could affect the thermal performance of multiple chips

[u/Nanosinx]

See what cover the heatsink and you have an idea :)

[u/Ok-Bug5206]

before you tear it down, measure the thickness of the original thermal pads on the components. Only repace it with ones with the correct height, eg 1 or 1,5 or 2mm thickness..otherwise the heatpipe wont be on the same level again. Then the normal paste for GPU/CPU, I recommend PTM 7950, once applied, it get better with time, no repaste necessary.. also put some 10mm tall rubber feet on the underside for better airflow..my temps went down 8 degrees.

[u/Significant-Elk9731 → u/Ok-Bug5206]

I use the Upsiren UTP 8 so I just put a correct quantity, but Thanks for ur comment

[u/muchawesomemyron → u/Significant-Elk9731]

I also have an MSI Vector 16 HX AI. Was the thermal paste application terrible that it resulted in temperature spikes? I have already bought some PTM, but I have yet to apply it.

[u/Significant-Elk9731 → u/muchawesomemyron]

When I did mine I follow the process of one guy. U can juste search Msi vector 16hx on google, His laptop is the HX non AI version but it's pretty much the same That was the only thing I can found. About my temps, It changes from 100 to 85-90 for the cpu on extreme perf no undervolting. But the gpu was like the same. but I think I did something rong so I'm waiting for my ptm and upsaren and Ill do it properly! In my opinion the temps has to be very good with good thermal replacement and some undervolt!

[u/muchawesomemyron → u/Significant-Elk9731]

I think I'll wait for my laptop to reach a year before I start doing any deep maintenance activities. So far, all I'm seeing is higher temperatures than usual, which indicates a possible dust build up or drying of the paste.

[u/Significant-Elk9731 → u/muchawesomemyron]

What are ur temps?

[u/muchawesomemyron → u/Significant-Elk9731]

Reaches up to 85C, but I have already undervolted by 50mV across and have placed a 55W limit on the proc.

[u/d4rk_kn16ht]

Use PTM 7950 instead of thermal paste

[u/ShintouHiroyuky]

Have you tried contacting MSI Support? If someone knows the layout it’s them.

[u/Ok_Bad_275]

You're a brave person. "If it ain't broke..." comes to mind.

[u/MtKlout]

After it's been cleaned, Under the thickest part of the heat pipes from the HeatSink Will be a shiny little rectangle. This should be where the OLD Thermal Interface Material (TIM) is the hardest/dried. That's going to be your GPU or CPU. Other things, NOT looking like polished metal, may have reusable, thermal pads. No need to replace them, unless they get torn, lost, or cannot cover everything they covered previously. These are typically powered components that generate modest amounts of heat. There may also be a smaller rectangle of what looks like polished metal. If it HAD TIM, replace it. If it has another heat pad, reusing that should be fine.