MSI Katana Thermal Paste Replacement & Fan Dust Cleaning! (Overheating/Slow FIX GUIDE), by Tech James on YouTube. 6 min 34 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 34 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Power off the laptop, unplug the charger and take the battery out if it is removable. Wait a few minutes so the heatsink and pipes are cool enough to touch.
Turn the laptop over and remove every screw from the bottom cover with a small Phillips precision screwdriver. Sort the screws by length so they go back in the right holes.
Slide a plastic pry tool into a corner seam and work around the edges to pop the clips. Lift the bottom panel away slowly, since the vents can catch.
Unplug the battery connector from the motherboard so nothing can short while you work.
Unscrew the fan and heatsink assembly in the numbered order stamped on the metal, usually 1 to 6. Lift it straight up and set it aside.
Hold the fan blades still and blow compressed air through the blades and the heatsink fins until no dust comes out. Short bursts work best.
Wipe the old grey paste off the CPU and GPU chips with a lint-free cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol. Keep going until both dies look clean.
Put a pea-sized blob of new thermal paste in the middle of each chip. Do not spread it, the heatsink pressure will do that for you.
Lower the heatsink back into place and tighten the screws in the numbered order, half a turn each, until they are snug but not forced.
Reconnect the battery, clip the bottom cover back on and replace the screws. Boot up and run a game to check the temperatures have dropped.
Tips and common mistakes
Never let a vacuum cleaner touch the motherboard, since static and loose parts can kill it.
Use 90 percent isopropyl alcohol or higher, because weaker grades leave water behind.
If the thermal pads on the memory and power parts are torn, replace them with pads of the same thickness.
Photograph the screw layout before you remove anything, so reassembly is quick.
Questions
How often should I clean the fan and change the paste?
About once every one to two years in a dusty room, or whenever the laptop runs loud and hot under light loads.
Do I have to replace the thermal pads too?
Only if they are cracked or torn when you lift the heatsink. Buy replacements in the same thickness in millimetres.
What if the temperatures stay high after the job?
Check that the heatsink screws are tight and even, and confirm the fan cable is plugged back in.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
