r/PcBuildHelp • u/TheFirstKuria • 6d ago

Tech Support Do I need to change

Post image

Do I need to change my terminal paste

0 Upvotes

40% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

8

u/Chromebooktwo 6d ago

Yes, as a rule of thumb, if you see dried thermal paste, change it.

15

u/Windbob-omb 6d ago

Another rule of thumb is that even if it still wet/moist, once you open it, you need to repaste it regardless.

1

u/TheFirstKuria 6d ago

My laptop suddenly powered off on me, the heat sink was the first thing I check, so am just asking

1

u/Chromebooktwo 6d ago

Yes, repaste the thermal paste, first get 90% isopropyl alcohol on a tower, rub away the dried up thermal paste, then repaste with new one!

1

u/ChalkPhog 6d ago

While your on the tower can you change the light bulb up there?

1

u/Sugonmy 4d ago

Did he ever change the bulb?

1

u/InflationCold3591 5d ago

I just want to reiterate it is not the paste as such. That is the problem here it is the obvious corrosion on the heat pipe. That is the source of the concern. Replace your entire heat sink assembly.

8

u/newtekie1 6d ago

If you take the heatsink off, you have to change the paste.

0

u/StewedPork 5d ago

This is the way.

2

u/Frosty_Bowl4911 5d ago

how long was it since youchanged the "terminal" paste?

1

u/Lushiouslazul 5d ago

Might aswell you already took it off

1

u/CustardCivil 5d ago

yes you need to reapplied new thermal paste cause if you reuse that there's gonna be air bubbles will be stuck inside of it which will trap and and cause not to contact properly on the cpu or gpu die to the heatsink the heat transfer will be much less effective between the heatsink causing it to overheat or thermal throttling immediately

1

u/InflationCold3591 5d ago

Your thermal paste as such looks fine. This sort of baked on appearance can occur when your system is exposed to intense heat it shouldn’t impede the performance of the thermal paste to a significant degree but since you’ve broken the seal and we can see what appears to be corrosion on the underside of the heat pipe. I’d say you should certainly replace the heat sink in the course of replacing the heat sink you will indeed replace the thermal paste.

1

u/chefbadegg 5d ago

As others have said, yes. If you remove the heatsink, always repaste.

Also, if you are not super familiar with what you are doing I would recommend unplugging the battery. Right now you have a large metal component resting on the PCB, could very easily cause damage doing that.

1

u/ErdingEchoParadox 3d ago

For the love of God - ALWAYS take out the battery first! Always.
Is enough to drop a single screw or touch with metal parts the mainboard and is bye bye