My laptop has started running hot—around 70°C during normal use and over 90°C while gaming—and its performance seems worse than when I first bought it. It uses liquid metal on the CPU, so I'm unsure whether I should leave it alone, replace it with fresh liquid metal, or switch to regular thermal paste. I'm a complete beginner at laptop disassembly, and I'm concerned about damaging anything.
While opening it for cleaning, I'd also like to add a second SSD and upgrade the memory from 16GB to 32GB by installing another 16GB stick. What specifications should I match when choosing RAM, and are there any compatibility considerations for the SSD, such as PCIe generation?
The laptop has an Intel Core i7-12700H, an RTX 4050 Laptop GPU with 6GB of VRAM, 16GB of DDR4 memory, and a 1TB drive. I'd appreciate beginner-friendly advice on safe cleaning, useful tools, checking the BIOS and cooling system, and finding the correct disassembly instructions for this particular model.
2 Answers
Those temperatures are not automatically abnormal for an i7-12700H. Around 90°C under a heavy game can be within its designed operating range, so I would not replace the liquid metal just because of that. Start with less risky steps: clean the intake and exhaust vents, make sure the fans are working properly, update the BIOS, and consider reducing CPU power or undervolting if the laptop supports it. Also check whether the real problem is throttling, dust buildup, background software, or simply reduced performance from game settings.
Do not attempt a liquid-metal replacement as your first laptop repair. Liquid metal is electrically conductive and a tiny spill can damage nearby components. Regular paste is safer, but replacing the factory liquid-metal interface may reduce cooling performance because the system was designed around it. Follow the exact service manual for your model and use proper precision screwdrivers, plastic pry tools, an ESD-safe workspace, and labeled containers for screws.
For memory, match the existing module’s DDR4 type, speed, voltage, and form factor as closely as possible. The manufacturer’s compatibility list is the safest reference. For an additional NVMe SSD, check what size and PCIe generation the free slot supports; a PCIe 3 drive will work in many systems, while a PCIe 4 drive is appropriate if the slot supports it.
I would strongly advise leaving the liquid-metal cooling assembly alone unless you have researched the exact procedure for your laptop and already have experience with this type of work. The CPU’s maximum junction temperature is about 100°C, so brief readings in the 90s during demanding games are not necessarily dangerous. If performance has declined, verify that the fans are not clogged and check for thermal throttling before opening the heatsink.
Switching from liquid metal to ordinary paste can put the cooling system outside its intended thermal design. A high-quality phase-change material such as PTM7950 may be a better alternative than standard paste, but even that may not perform as well as a properly installed factory liquid-metal interface. For a first repair, upgrade the RAM or SSD only if you can access them without removing the heatsink, and use the laptop manufacturer’s teardown guide for the exact screw order and cable locations.
Adding a matching 16GB DDR4 laptop module is generally the simplest memory upgrade. Confirm the current stick’s speed and specifications with a hardware utility or the manufacturer’s documentation. For storage, verify the free slot’s physical size and supported PCIe generation before purchasing.
The main reason I suspected cooling is that the laptop feels extremely hot during demanding games and seems slower than it was when new. I’ll check for actual throttling and start with cleaning, BIOS updates, and monitoring instead of attempting a liquid-metal replacement.
It is also worth checking temperatures with monitoring software while looking at CPU and GPU clock speeds. A warm chassis or hot keyboard does not necessarily mean the system is throttling, and updating the BIOS can sometimes improve fan behavior and power management.