I have a Lenovo Legion 5 and I'm getting ready for a clean install of Windows 11 because my CPU is thermal throttling even at low loads, plus I've been dealing with NVIDIA driver issues. I recently did a deep clean of the fans, which involves removing the heat sink, and I learned that I should replace thermal paste whenever the heat sink is removed. A couple of years ago, I swapped out the fans but didn't replace the thermal paste at that time because I didn't know it was necessary. Now I'm wondering if that could be the cause of my current CPU issues.
I have two main questions:
1. If I order thermal paste today, should I wait to reassemble my laptop until it arrives, or is it okay to put it back together temporarily?
2. Do you think not replacing the thermal paste last time is a possible reason for the throttling I'm experiencing now? I've noticed the paste looks older and could be dried out.
Thanks for any advice!
3 Answers
Absolutely! Whenever you handle a heat sink, you should clean off the old thermal paste and apply new stuff. Use a bit of rubbing alcohol and a paper towel to clean both surfaces thoroughly. Proper contact is key for efficient heat transfer.
You really should replace the thermal paste, as any gaps or bubbles from the previous application can lead to overheating. While you might be able to get away without doing it, it's always safer to do a fresh application, especially since even small temperature changes can matter in performance. It’s a pretty straightforward process, too!
Yeah, if you remove or even lift the heat sink, it's best to replace the thermal paste before putting it back together. Breaking that contact can lead to uneven paste application or even air pockets forming. I'd recommend not running it until you have the new paste. You can either loosely reassemble it or keep it apart—it’s up to you. Just make sure it stays in a clean spot! Also, it’s likely that not replacing that paste contributed to your thermal throttling issues, especially since it's been two years and the paste could be dried out.
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