I was replacing the motherboard on a HP DV2200 CTO laptop and found that the GPU used a Thermal Pad instead of Thermal Paste.
Is the pad reusable or should it be replaced? This is the first time I've run across this and could use some guidance.
I'd replace, you don't re-use old paste, or add fresh paste to old to make up the difference, well your not supposed to lol, I don't see a pad as being any different, and over the years I have always seen paste being better than a pad, that's my understanding anyway, I dare say many do actually do what your not supposed to without issue, but to do it "properly" you should always replace, not sure if the other guy's can say more, or have specific knowledge in this area, but this is what I do.
That's pretty much what I thought also, which is why I ordered the pad, thanks.
I can't use plain thermal paste as there is a small space between the heat sink and the GPU which the pad bridges.
I replaced the motherboard about a month ago and it died again but I reused the thermal pad and now I'm wondering if that contributed to the failure? I will definitely use a new pad this time.
I have found overheat problems with a lot of the Video chips on HP Pavillion laptops….. some don't even seem to have a copper heat sink fitted…. others seem to rely upon the thermal pad "sticking" the heatsink assembly into position….( and as you say they seem to be used to take up the slack….
I am always amazed when I have finished a video chip job on any of these laptops…..if it works first time…
I try and steer clear of them now…. the darn things take too long to fix…..(if I'm to make any money out of them….)
Other makes sometime run a bit hot but some of these HP Paviilions are something else…
Yes pads are certainly cleaner\easier to use, especially in tight areas, but unless the board looked scorched in that area, I wouldn't think the heat from that would of been the cause of this, so it's unlikely to have happened because you didn't change it last time, so although it may be possible in some cases, I doubt it here.
As paws said, there are definite heat issues in these, I have a vague memory of a user asking for help here about it, and it was a well known issue, so I suggested they go back to the makers to see if they will do the right thing, as being a known issue one would hope they would sort it, even after warranty has ended, but there you are at their mercy, but it wouldn't hurt to suggest such users use a cooler pad in conjunction with these units, it should help a lot with the heat.
Amen. I also am the proud owner of a HP DV9000 which was the subject of a class action suite for a crappy … err … poorly designed heat sync for the GPU. Almost evey one, without fail died after 2-3 years. Of course I got it used, for cheap and didn't do my homework so now I have a really nice laptop with a messed up display and it costs around $130 to replace the motherboard. I'll do it eventually, still hoping to find a cheaper one.
HP Pavilion dv9000
S/N: CNF7436ZKK
Model: GS723UA HP Pavilion dv9627cl NB PC US
p/n: GS723UA#ABA
Service Tag: dv9627cl
My 2c worth
Some Laptops require a thermal pad for the on-board video and thermal paste for the CPU.
A thermal pad should not be confused with thermal tape which is interchangeable and often used instead of paste. Depending on the quality of thermal tape, it can be preferable to cheap paste. Vis-a-vis applies of course.
📎photo_5.JPG
This cooler is from my laptop after cleaning out the dust.
The copper plate on the left is for the CPU and requires thermal paste or tape. The plate on the right (slightly recessed) sits just shy of the on-board video heat-sink and requires a Thermal pad of the right thickness, never thermal paste or tape.
In an emergency several layers of thermal tape seems to work OK as I had to order in a pad. I used 3 layers of high quality Japanese thermal tape for the four weeks it took the pad to arrive, and then never took the laptop apart to install the pad for 6mths because the temps were fine
Some Laptops require a thermal pad for the on-board video and thermal paste for the CPU.
A thermal pad should not be confused with thermal tape which is interchangeable and often used instead of paste. Depending on the quality of thermal tape, it can be preferable to cheap paste. Vis-a-vis applies of course.
