Removing factory thermal grease?

[ZomgDSM]

So im going to be opening up my Macbook Pro to replace a dead fan.

I rember seeing a thread on how apple applied too much thermal grease on the heat-sinks. I was going to re-apply new grease, much less than the factory, either way my question is..
Is there any special way it should be removed other than a paper-towel? Dont need to damage anything :]

 

[melmation]

grease and fans

Hi,

I don't think you should go near the thermal paste on any laptop due to the fact that if you try to remove it you may damage the cpu. If you manage not to damage the CPU, then you might end up not applying the new grease properly and could cause the cpu to super heat and therfor die.

I hope you research this more before you attempt it. Maybe someone will reply here and give you advice or maybe Google it for half an hour and try to find someone who has done it before.

Sorry if I come accross a bit authoratitive (sp?) but I have damaged a CPU before by merilly wiping off paste, re-applying it (in a hurry) and then bye bye processor.

Anywho, I just wanted to ask you a question, something I have been wondering for a while. What model fan are the fans in a MacBook pro? I was just wondering as I am worried about when my fans might one day die, and if so, it would be great to have a spare set on standby to switch over.

Thanks in advance, and sorry to be asking you a question on your question, Mel.

 

[ZomgDSM]

Well here are a few things for you to consider
Well 1st i hope you used a grounding strap, id assume so.
Anyway, heres how much apple applies.

Quite comical if you ask me.
Thermal paste is used merely to fill the microscopic differences in the 2 metals, should be applied as thin as a piece of paper, like this...

People have not only notice temp drops when doing this, but significant ones, along the lines of 30C difference.

Great job apple <thumbsup>

 

[ZomgDSM]

Fans
http://www.ifixit.com/Products/MacBook-Pro-15-Inch-1-83-GHz-Fans/74/63

 

[Geeky1]

Use a paper towel to wipe off the old grease, use a q-tip to get any excess out of the spaces between all the little surface mount components on the chip packages. Use rubbing alcohol (99%) and q-tips to clean the chips until the q-tips stay white after cleaning the chips. Don't get any thermal compound on the board (clean it off carefully if you do)... Judging by the color it's a metallic compound which will likely have some electrical properties which could cause problems if it bridges any exposed connections.

 

[Kash]

I would agree with everything Geeky said except for the paper towel. Get yourself a lint-free cloth. You wouldn't want the paper towel to snag on something and then leave a little bit behind, now would you?

 

[Geeky1]

I would agree with everything Geeky said except for the paper towel. Get yourself a lint-free cloth. You wouldn't want the paper towel to snag on something and then leave a little bit behind, now would you?

Very good point. My experience has been that any lint left by the dry paper towels is picked up by the alcohol-soaked q-tips, but it's a very valid point that I never really gave much thought to.

Personally, I stopped recommending using cloths (though I use microfiber cloths myself) to people after a couple people complained that the thermal compound stained them.

 

[ZomgDSM]

Actually going to use this to clean
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2759

 

[Kash]

Well of course thermal compound stains, that's why you use Q-tips...

And that Arctic Clean stuff is great. But keep in mind that you still have to use some sort of cloth to take off the bulk of the material before applying that cleaner

 

[melmation]

Wow!!

That is an insane ammount of thermal paste to apply to anything in a coputer!!! WOW! How could Apple think that's right?

Well, thank you for the link to the fans, much appreciated.

Hmmmmm.

I am now thinking I want to change the thermal paste on my Laptop, especially if there is a 30 degrees difference!! that is insane. I would just be way to scared to do it though incase I would not apply it right and burn out the processors.

Still....

 

[Geeky1]

That is an insane ammount of thermal paste to apply to anything in a coputer!!! WOW! How could Apple think that's right?

They may be taking the cheap and easy way out of fixing a larger problem.

Also, something to keep in mind if you do decide to reapply the thermal compound: whether it damages the computer or not, whether it lowers the cpu temperatures by 3 degrees or 30, it voids any warranty you have with Apple.

 

[ZomgDSM]

I have no warranty, and id rather take the risk and lower temps by a ton rather than it always be hot. I should have this done early next week and ill report back, although posting before/after temps would be pointless in my case because i only have 1 fan working also.

 

[Geeky1]

I agree. If I didn't have 3 years left on my warranty, I'd do the same thing. But I had to warn you and anyone else reading this that might have a warranty.

 

[ZomgDSM]

Heres another post for the bored.
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=199840

 

[Matrix]

A word of wisdom to anyone considering this:

I removed Apple's huge amount of paste, applied the proper paper-thin layer of ArcticSilver5, and gained at best, MAYBE 1C off my temps - hardly worth disassembling my MBP for.

My MBP idles between 43C-53C with fans at 2000RPM, and under load goes to 85C before the fans speed up. Ultimately I get about 75C under load with the fans maxed out at 6000RPM.

That's just the way the 2.4GHz C2Ds run...be careful about the low temps you see people post - 99% of them are referring to slower CPUs without realizing it.

-TM

 

[ZomgDSM]

Mines the 1.83Ghz

 

[Geeky1]

Matrix, could you do me a favor? I'm curious about something. Post the CPU and heatsink temperatures with the CPU loaded?

I want to know if the heatpipe temperature is closer to the temp. of the CPU core itself than it was as the machine came from the factory. Thanks.