Changing thermal paste on G51Vx

I need to change the thermal paste on my notebook but I really don´t know how to do it. I´m probably going to take it to a local specialist but since its quite a rare notebook where I live I´d like to have some information about the thermal paste change.
How should I approach it? By removing the back panel? (someone said it´s better to remove the keyboard and approach from there)
Can you recommend a good thermal paste and should I consider adding the copper heatsinks? (warranty is important so I definetly don´t want to void it)
Will the thermal paste change void the warranty?

 

Yes changing the thermal paste will void the warranty as there's a flimsy (flimsy as in if you breathe on it it'll probably rip ) warranty sticker on one of the heatsink screws.

 

As for changing the TIM, I'm not sure since I don't have a laptop. I'm still waiting on mine. As for the warranty, yes you void it the second you take it off.

 

If ASUS is still using the same little yellow labels that say "Warranty void if removed" or something that they stuck to all the internal assembly screws in the G1S series, then those labels can indeed be taken off. Funny thing actually, my brand new G1S came with a torn label inside. I called in and asked about it, and they pretty much told me not to worry about it. I eventually had to get a motherboard replacement, and it went through without a problem. To be honest, I've managed to take the label off myself without ripping it. It's not THAT fragile.

 

The G51VX does come with the flimy yellow sticker. Its actually pretty fragile though (in my case), sold my G51J to a friend and when he was using compressed air to clean the laptop the thing pretty much ripped, even though he wasn't even blowing directly onto the sticker.

Asus do say that its not something to worry about, but when it comes time that you may need to RMA its the technican who decides whether the warranty is voided and they CAN completely void your warranty if that sticker has been ripped (iirc this has happened to someone)

Of course nothing is set in stone, and its up to the guy handling your laptop to decide.

 

I don't think you can take off the keyboard without removing the back panel.

Here's a picture with the back panel off:


You can see where the cooling system is, with the heatpipes over the CPU and the GPU. Everything is right there when you take off the back cover.

 

Unfortunately, I can't take my GPU heatsink off. It seems to be stuck to the VRAM chips.

 

use a hair dryer on it for a few mins.

 

MX-3 did fantastic things for my G51 temps, and was easy to apply... Clean everything really well with rubbing alcohol, and then run a line of compound across the GPU, CPU, and NBridge cores, and you'll be all set. Just let the heatsinks spread the compound as needed. This applies for non-conductive compounds like MX-3. I wouldn't try it that was with AS5. But, I had bad luck with AS5 and this laptop, the GPU doesn't make a super tight fit with the heatsink, so a thicker compound is needed. Long live MX-3.

Temps dropped 10C+.

 

i´m going to let the stock paste replaced with MX-3 as well, instead of the AS5. i hope it will get my gpu temps under 95C

 

Thanks, I instead ran BOINC/SETI@Home on the GPU for a few hours and when it was nice and toasty, the thermal pads over the memory chips came off. I applied AS5, but I don't see much of a difference (it's been a week now, so it has had time to break in).

Also, my MX-3 is now almost solid! I bought the tube only some three months ago (I've had the AS5 for more than a year now), but the paste inside has changed consistency quite radically. It no longer spreads, just pops out as little pellets of hard clay.

 

put the tube of paste in a zip lock bag and let it sit in hot water to get it back to its proper consistency

 

Wow thanks, that worked. And now my GPU temp during Furmark (1920x1200) goes to 96C, instead of 101C!

 

I just got my laptop back with a new thermal paste. Arctic MX-3 reduced my GPU temp. from 102c (probably faulty paste) and 97c (stock paste but faulty gpu so not as powerful) to 88C. That´s 10 and more degrees with only new paste, no cooling pad or copper etc. I´m going to keep pushing my GPU trying to get a higher temp but so far no game or test has got it higher that 88.
I recommend Arctic MX-3 to anyone looking for a new thermal paste, it´s just unbelievable how much it reduced my temps.

 

It seems i cheered a bit too early after 2 hours of Left 4 Dead 2 it rose to 95C. it´s still way below than before and L4D2 was on full settings...