cleaning a laptop thermal pad?

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  1. foe
    Posts : 73
    Windows 7 x64
       #1

    cleaning a laptop thermal pad?


    I accidentally got some dust on one of my thermal pads. I probably could get a replacement, but I do not know were to order one or what specs to look at. Preferably I'd keep this one, but clean the now somewhat dusty surface. How should I do this, because I suspect cleaning it with alcohol will dissolve the pad as well?

    PS a better title would have been 'how to clean a laptop thermal pad?'
    if a mod would like to change this?
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  2. foe
    Posts : 73
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #2

    no idea's whatsoever?

    So I'll just have to try something?
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  3. Posts : 9,600
    Win 7 Ultimate 64 bit
       #3

    If you are talking about the stuff that's like a double sided piece of tape, I doubt you will be able to clean it without ruining it. You'll probabably have to remove it, clean the surface, and replace it with a new one or use thermal paste.
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  4. Posts : 250
    Windows 7 Home Premium x64 SP1
       #4

    As above.... you will be better buying a tube of Artic Silver paste..... clean of the heat sink and chip (i use a bit of tissue) then squirt a pea size blob onto the chip and replace the heat-sink, do not use anything abrasive or any cleaning chemicals though
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  5. foe
    Posts : 73
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #5

    I guess replacing the pad by paste is not such a good idea, since there will be much more space between the chip and sink. (a pad is thicker)

    *edit*

    Lady Fitzgerald said:
    If you are talking about the stuff that's like a double sided piece of tape,
    I don't think so, I does not seam that sticky (I'd have to check) and is way thicker then a piece of tape. It's a white sort of chewing gum like strip...

    *edit2*
    If I really had to replace it, what specs should I look for to make sure it'll match my hardware. Where should I order it? (I live in Europe).
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  6. foe
    Posts : 73
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #6

    *bump*

    Plz people, tell me what to do :S
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  7. Posts : 2,606
    Windows 7 Pro X64 SP1
       #7

    foe said:
    *bump*

    Plz people, tell me what to do :S
    If you're worried, replace it. You're correct that thermal paste would be of no use; the gap (when assembled) is much too large.

    What I can't tell you is where to get it, particularly in your home country. In the USA, it's not often found at retail. Electronics distributors (like www.digikey.com) may have hundreds of types available; you'd have to find one that matches the pads in your notebook. Such sellers may also have minimum order requirements.

    The last time I needed a pad replacement, I found a good-enough match at a dealer in PC coolers. I needed the pad to restore the stock heat sink to a graphics card: the GPU used thermal paste, but the RAM chips used pads. Worked out fine.
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  8. foe
    Posts : 73
    Windows 7 x64
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Well google does not help me the slightest bit.

    I guess it is a better idea to talk to a local PC workshop?

    If the thickness is the same I guess it is a fit, isn't is?
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  9. Posts : 1,711
    Win 7 Pro 64-bit 7601
       #9

    I had some fun with a couple of those things when I disassembled a dead TV DVD player. (that filty piece of trash)

    When they got dirty I did wash them with water and even used normal solid soap and they did not change shape nor dissolve, they got back to being sticky as when I took them away from the dead piece of trash.

    Now, the only thing I didn't test (how could I?) is if they were still thermally conductive as before, so I cannot really say washing them won't damage them.

    At least you know that other devices around you contain them as well, so you can... uhm... "borrow" them, or scavenge them if worse comes to worse.
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  10. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #10

    How did it get dusty in the first place? That's what I'm stuck on.
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