liquid metal gpu/cpu heatsink compound - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / beginners

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2025, 02:08:51 pm
content: I am trying to put liquid metal heatsink compound on my lappy gpu and cpu chips , I have cleaned both so they are spotless using IPA and cotton cloth ,I cant seem to make the new metal compound stick, Its like trying to spread oil onto ice , How is it done , is it some kind of voodoo needed?.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 07, 2025, 02:20:16 pm
content: To my understanding liquid metal stuff usually does not stick to the surface. That's the big issue plus any excessive LM pushed out at the corners might drop somewhere you don't want. Especially in a Laptop that might get shaken. Also make sure none of the parts that come into contact (intended or not) with the LM is aluminum.I never understood the usage of such exotic stuff. The 0.x°C lower temps compared to the normal stuff does not gain you anything.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 07, 2025, 02:25:40 pm
content: Basically you should put a droplet in the middle and spread it from the center with a cotton swab. But did you insulate the chip around the die and will you put a hermetic barrier preventing it from leaking? Another thing that you should avoid using it with bare copper heatsink as it will penetrate into it and screw up its surface. Overall I highly suggest not to use it at all is it often leaks even when applied at factory. Once it leaks, good luck fixing the board as it penetrates solder and creates a mush instead of it.

author: golden_labels
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 01:01:36 am
content: Quote from: Twoflower on June 07, 2025, 02:20:16 pmTo appeal to buyers, manufacturers are pushing the hardware and the thermal design to and beyond reasonable limits. It’s not about 0.1 °C difference in benchmarks, but handling power peaks in an enclosure already struggling to deal with TDP.

author: Twoflower
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 03:44:44 pm
content: Quote from: golden_labels on June 08, 2025, 01:01:36 amWith what result? Delay the thermal throttling for 0.x seconds? I'm a bit skeptical here. But hey, if someone thinks that's worth it, go for it.Just for the nerd factor: I remember seeing someone lapping the CPU and heatsink. Because he had access to the required tools. I do not remember if the person skipped the TIM as most of the TIM has worse thermal performance than pure metal (even better than liquid metal).

author: ME
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 03:57:02 pm
content: What the hell is TIM??.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 04:01:38 pm
content: Thermal interface material

author: Gyro
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: June 08, 2025, 05:58:44 pm
content: The chances of metering out a small enough dose of that stuff so that itjustfills the voids in the interface area and any excess is tiny enough to be capable of being safely held by capillary action is approximately zero. Any extra will take great delight in forming amalgams with other metals and generally causing shorts.The opportunities for encouraging 'phoolery' are limited in PC space, being composed of a few standard items, compared to audio. Such 'tweaking' products are fair game though. Sell them for a suitably high margin over perfectly adequate standard compounds, make a few inflated claims / videos and the gullible will beat a path to your door.Chuck it in the bin and very carefully clean up any residues before they ruin something. Then apply an appropriatelyTHINlayer of any sensible quality heatsink compound and you're done.