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    Is it safe to run a laptop without a heatsink / GPU?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Green Blockhead, Oct 21, 2014.

  1. Green Blockhead

    Green Blockhead Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am currently waiting for a replacement GPU for my Medion Erazer, but in the meantime I've put my previous (dead) GPU in the slot as a placeholder until the new one arrives. However, I didn't apply any thermal paste or padding to it because I didn't want to waste any on a dead component.

    But if running any GPU, dead or not, without paste and padding is dangerous (or so I've heard), would it be safe to run the laptop without the heatsink or GPU? The GPU doesn't make a difference anyway since it's dead, so removing it doesn't really make a difference. I'm more concerned about whether the GPU would heat up and burn the mainboard that it is attached to, which is why I thought removing the heatsink and GPU would be ideal. But I'm not so sure.
     
    Green Blockhead, Oct 21, 2014
    #1
  2. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    If your machine has switchable graphics (with a manual switch), then you can remove it and continue running on the intel iGPU..
     
    TomJGX, Oct 21, 2014
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  3. Qing Dao

    Qing Dao Notebook Deity

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    You are fine. The GPU will shut off even it gets powered on. The thermal protection circuitry really is that good these days, so no worry about your laptop having a nuclear meltdown.
     
    Qing Dao, Oct 23, 2014
    #3
  4. TomJGX

    TomJGX I HATE BGA!

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    If my option is available, its still safer....
     
    TomJGX, Oct 24, 2014
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