Note on the disclosure of information about thermal pads

We occasionally receive requests for the exact thickness of thermal pads used on the CPU, GPU, and power delivery (MOSFET) areas of our laptops. While we understand the interest in maintaining your device, we deliberately choose not to disclose these values. This article explains the reasoning behind this policy and the safer, recommended alternatives.

Potential risks

1. Lack of proper procedure and validation methods in DIY

Prior experience with desktop computers or older laptop models is not equivalent to working on tightly-integrated, high-powered, high-density gaming laptops. Misjudging the risk can lead to irreversible harm.

Successful thermal maintenance requires the right combination of tools (e.g. torque-limited screwdrivers), materials with validated properties, and hands-on experience with assembly tolerances and cold plate behavior.

End users typically lack access to OEM-grade pads and pastes, and may misjudge the mechanical sensitivity of large, shared heatpipe designs. Without a controlled process, even small errors (such as uneven pressure, overtightening or misplacing a pad by as little as one millimetre) can compromise the cooling system’s long-term reliability.

2. Pad thickness is an insufficient metric

Thermal pads are not defined by thickness alone. Their effectiveness depends on:

Hardness or softness (compressibility under pressure)
Material properties (thermal conductivity, long-term stability)
Mounting pressure and mechanical tolerances
Component height tolerances and surface topology

Even with a known thickness, using an aftermarket pad with the wrong compressibility can lead to poor thermal contact, uneven pressure, or even mechanical damage. Some zones and models also use thermal putty, which cannot be replaced with conventional pads at all.

3. Combined CPU+GPU heatpipe designs are unforgiving

Modern high-performance laptops use large, integrated cooling assemblies. A slight bend in one heatpipe can compromise contact on both the CPU and GPU cold plates. This is vastly more complex than upgrading a GPU thermal pad in a desktop PC.

A system may boot normally and show improved CPU/GPU temperatures after a repaste - but hidden components such as VRMs or ICs may suffer from insufficient thermal contact, leading to gradual, irreversible degradation, even weeks or months after the DIY procedure.

4. Support liability

Sharing pad specs potentially opens a long tail of support complications. We would be forced to validate or troubleshoot a wide array of user-selected materials and modifications and provide ongoing assistance with follow-up questions, debugging, error correction and potential damage mitigation - something we cannot realistically or responsibly do. See also: Warranty notice for DIY application of thermal paste

Balancing “right to repair” with risk/reward calculation

We generally support your right to repair. You are welcome to open your system, explore its internals, upgrade SSD and RAM, replace Wi-Fi modules and batteries. We provide FAQ articles, service manuals and support channels to help you in this effort.

However, for thermal system maintenance, the margin for error is much narrower, and the potential consequences significantly higher. Thus, we are not obligated to facilitate high-risk modifications by providing information that may lead to unintended damage.

Therefore, our official stance is: when in doubt, send it in.

Recommended course of action

1. Clean the cooling system

Before considering a repaste, follow our guide on cleaning fans and heatsinks (without removing the fans and thermal module) to remove dust buildup that may be impairing performance.

2. Collect sensor data to assess thermal behavior

Use HWiNFO64 to log temperatures during CPU and GPU stress tests (e.g. Cinebench, FurMark), as outlined in our articles:

3. Send in for professional service

If thermal issues seem to be present and are supported by logfile evidence, consider making use of our voluntary device check-up. Our service includes cleaning and thermal paste renewal - even after the warranty has expired. All work is performed using original components and validated procedures.

Click here to learn more: RMA return for a voluntary device check-up