Acer Aspire 5742G GPU paste

So the short version of my question is where is the nvidia 520m gpu in the acer aspire 5742g and is it the same procedure as replacing the cpu thermal paste. More info below if you have the time.

I recently decided to replace the thermal paste on the cpu and gpu on my acer do to heat problems. The laptop has a 520m nvidia gpu but the manual doesn't tell me where it is located in the computer.

I can't really find a video about the gpu(everyone I find seems to focus only on replacing the cpu paste). Anyway what should I look for when I open up the computer(thermal paste is coming in the mail tomorrow).

I have only opened this acer to clean the fan but i know how to get to the cpu. Can anyone tell me where the gpu is located or direct me to a video/article thanks. Btw I have replaced the thermal paste on a couple of computers only the cpu but i'm assuming the gpu is the same deal correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks.

 

You will find another heat sink pipe attached to the GPU, normally they use a pad but I'm not sure whether it has thermal pad or thermal compound, once opened, remove the heat sink carefully to find out, if it's a pad you can re-use it, if there's no damage.

EDIT:
This video is for 5750G, I think your model should be similar to this, the GPU(arrow) seems to have thermal paste and the integrated graphics have the pad.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=maoRU9NhyJo

 

I have heard that sometimes the pad is required for the gpu to make contact with heatsink? Is that true? Hopefully I find old paste there and not a pad since I'd rather replace it anyway. Either way I just thought I 'd replace the paste on gpu while i was doing the cpu. However, the gpu temps are not really the problem so I 'm not too worried.

Just saw that vid. Thanks so much now I know what to look for. I just like to be careful lol. Anyway appreciate it... I'll probably just leave the integrated alone.

 

I just did a repaste on my 5742g yesterday. To access the CPU and GPU, you'll need to get the mainboard out. They're located at the bottom. It's really easy if you follow the repair manual located here: ACER ASPIRE 5742 5742G 5742Z 5742ZG SM Service Manual free download, schematics, eeprom, repair info for electronics

You may safely remove all pads on the CPU and GPU as they really don't matter. I suggest you disassemble the cooling fan as well and remove all dust in there. After that, my Aspire is now running fullspeed @ 85-90°C.

 

It's good to know the pads can be removed. Yeah, I actually did a test disassemble and cleaned the fan. Unfortunately my thermal paste won't arrive until tomorrow. Those temps you mentioned seem pretty hot. My i3 shuts down at 90 C. But I notice you have an i5 may probably be safe at those temps. Still is pretty hot though.

 

My TJ Max is 105°C, so 90°C is pretty safe. These are temperatures measured inside the CPU, the case probably has 35-45°C.

Before doing the thermal repaste my Aspire was set to 1800mhz instead of 2700mhz and I still had around 100°C while gaming!

 

I reach to 105 C with cpu and i think when the gpu reaches to 100 C the system shuts itself. So I am preparing to extend the copper pipe through empty cd-rom space outside the laptop - ending with a desktop cpu's giant cooler sink and fan. Not Aesthetically pleasing but for the sake of good game play, i need to do this. In mediteranean climate laptop is not good for gaming...
For example world of tanks game start with 60-70 fps when the pc is cool but max. 20 minutes later everything goes over 100 C degrees and fps drops to 5-10.