Safest way to dissamble G73JH to replace tim.

hello,
i recently ordered some icd7 to repaste my cpu and gpu. the local techs in my city charge 80-160$$ to disassemble and reapply tim and assemble back again. im thinking of doing it by myself but im scared that i might break something or like destroy a ribbon cable.etc
so im wondering what is the safest way? like any tutorials or anything and links please.
i have a g73jh-b1

 

Think of it this way, If you spend the 80-160$, it will get done correctly and you will not have to worry about doing wrong.

If you don't, you either save the 80-160$ or you end up breaking a part or the whole laptop and ruin a whole $1k+ laptop. --this is the one you should do if you do not want to risk breaking something or don't have the money to cover replacement parts/whole laptop if something goes wrong.

if you want to do it yourself, search google for disassembly videos and watch several different ones then find which one seems more comfortable for you then just do it. --this is the one i personally would do since i have disassembled a g60jx and other laptops before and have some sort of experience with doing so. I have not opened my G73JH yet but im going to repaste sometime before next year or sooner if i need it. (still running stock TIM).

 

Sorry but I disagree with the above if you want something done correctly do it yourself especially at that price if you broke something you could easily replace it as long as you make sure you are careful with the audio cable. I do not trust anyone to fix my laptop and I always do it myself and teach myself while doing so because it not only gives you the experience for the future you take care of your product when another will not as far as they are concerned its a job.

My guide is in my sig and there are plenty of others and it may not be a simple task but it is rewarding and if you follow the guides correctly you will apply ICD correctly to reap the best results.

 

Find the BTOtech video, its pretty straightforward. Watch it twice, take your time. I repasted my G73 a couple of times, and I also did my brothers. Both went off fine. The audio cable is really the only thing you might have a chance at breaking, so take it slow when taking off the top panel. Otherwise, be gentle, don't try to force things (except for the side of the bottom panel when trying to pop the motherboard out). Just seriously watch the video and you'll be fine. 20 minutes of video watching is way cheaper than paying someone to do it.

 

This is the BTOtech video mentioned above: BTOtech.com | G73Jh & G73Jw & G73Sw Disassembly Take Apart G73 g73jw service manual - YouTube

I would watch the video a couple of times and review Yiddo's guide to make sure you get the general concept of what you're doing. I'm assuming that you're not that experienced in taking computers apart, so here are some tips that'll help.

Firstly, go slow. If you have another computer or device that you can play the video on while you work this will make things much easier on you. Also, make sure you've got a clean workspace and a safe place to organize your screws(this makes reassembly much, much easier). If you don't have one already I'd highly suggest getting a small screwdriver set; I found mine for $6 at Walmart.

Also, be aware that there are several hazards and mistakes which could damage your computer. While modern machines are pretty well shielded, a good zap of static electricity or a strong magnet near your hard drive can brick your system,so be careful. I don't have an antistatic wristband, but I keep myself grounded by touching bare metal while I work on my machines.

To move onto G73-specific issues, this is generally a well-made notebook but Asus took the cheap route on a few things. The keyboard is basically taped onto the chassis using a strong adhesive; it isn't hard to bend the keyboard. It took a few tries for me to get the replacement right. Also, the speaker cable to the motherboard is extremely fragile, as well as a few of the other ribbon connectors(touchpad, keyboard, etc). I found a set of tweezers invaluable for helping to wiggle the connectors out. Once again, watch the videos and read the guides; if you know what to expect it'll make your job much easier.

I'm not saying this to discourage you; actually this is much the opposite. A repaste job can be done yourself if you're willing to take the time to learn how it's done. Plus, you can get it done far faster than waiting on a tech's backlog and you can ensure that you get the job done right and with care. Just read up on how to disassemble your G73 and how to apply the paste, go slow, and you'll be just fine.

 

Agree with Yiddo, don´t trust anyone with regards to your beloved G73JH!

I´ve had 3 RMA´s here in SE Asia, an everytime I delivered it to the "Professional ASUS RMA Shop!" - I was shocked seeing those laughing, giggling young kids who actually were the techs who would open up the inner sanctums of my G73JH!

Oh, and sure enough, it never worked out the first time, a second RMA, and a third was needed to fix the problems (still no KB lights though, gone forever..) , that the kids f*cked up themselves the first time.. Oh boy, what a nightmare, and now the 2 year warranty is over, and I will never, ever again have a "Pro Asus RMA Shop" trying to fix and repair anything, I´ll pay real pro´s to do that, thank you, Asus!

 

I hope your G73JH didn't end up with different screws installed... that'll be a nightmare...

 

I just repasted my G73JH with some Prolimatech pk-1 last night. I dont have any experience with disassembling/assembling desktops all the more laptops. Just watch the BTOtech video guide on dissassembly along with one of the guides you can find here for more details on certain parts. I had my girlfriend who has a steady hand remove the speaker cable. I might have been able to do it myself but i didnt wanna risk it being the clumsy oaf I am. Took me 3 hours since I had to keep repasting and removing the heatsink because I wasnt satisfied with the mount. Reassembly when youre done is considerably faster, 30 minutes tops. Just be careful. Everything is in the guide.

For those curious about my temps, I've topped out at 87C on furmark (mem temps, not the temps displayed by furmark) after 5 minutes. Compared to the 100+C i was getting within 30 seconds before I decided to quit the program. Needless to say I am one happy camper

If you do decide to do the repaste yourself, make sure you remove that metallic sheet thats taped underneath your touchpad. It fixes whatever touchpad issues you might be having. Touchpad works perfectly now

I strongly advise you to do the repaste yourself. paying $160 does not guarantee a successful repaste and something else might go wrong with your lappy. I'd rather blame myself for making a mistake rather than getting mad at someone else THEN blaming myself for relying on that person