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Thermal pad installation guidelines

Follow the information in this section to identify the shape, location, orientation and installation procedure of the thermal pads.

Note
  • If a thermal pad is in any of the following conditions, replace the thermal pad with a new one.
    • The thermal pad is damaged or detached from the surface.
    • The new part to be installed is of different brand or form factor from the replaced one; the new part might cause thermal pads to be deformed or damaged.
  • Before replacing the thermal pad, gently clean the interface plate and the hardware surface with an alcohol cleaning pad.
  • Hold the thermal pad carefully to avoid deformation. Make sure no screw hole or opening is blocked by the thermal pad.
  • Do not use expired thermal pads. Check the manufacturing date on the thermal pad package and make sure it does not exceed 1 year. If the thermal pads are expired, order new thermal pads for proper replacement.

Thermal pad identification and location

Thermal pads on top cover (including top cover thermal pad kit and CPU thermal pad)



Pad indexReplaceable component touching the padPad orientation
1N/APink side facing outward
2Memory module in DIMM slot 1Pink side facing outward
3M.2 drives in slot 2 and slot 3Pink side facing outward
4CPU
Note
CPU thermal pad is an independent part, not included in top cover thermal pad kit.
Glossy side facing outward
5N/APink side facing outward
6N/APink side facing outward

Bottom cover thermal pad kit



Pad indexReplaceable component touching the padPad orientation
7N/APink side facing outward
8M.2 drive in slot 1Pink side facing outward
9N/APink side facing outward
10Memory module in DIMM slot 2Pink side facing outward

System board thermal pad kit



Pad indexReplaceable component touching the padPad orientation
11Memory module in DIMM slot 1Pink side facing outward
12M.2 drives in slot 2 and slot 3Pink side facing outward
13M.2 drive in slot 1Pink side facing outward
14Memory module in DIMM slot 2Pink side facing outward

Thermal pad installation procedure

Thermal pad installation procedure

  • 11 14 Memory module thermal pad on system board:

    1. Peel off the transparent plastic film on the gray side of the pad, and attach the thermal pad to the surface.

    2. Remove the liner from the ESD absorbent pad, and align the ESD absorbent pad with the thermal pad; then, stick the ESD absorbent pad to the thermal pad.

  • 4 CPU thermal pad:

    1. Peel off the transparent plastic film from the pad, and attach the thermal pad to the top cover.

    2. Remove the other plastic film from the pad.

  • Thermal pads except for 4 11 14:

    1. Peel off the transparent plastic film on the gray side of the pad, and attach the thermal pad to the surface.

    2. Remove the other plastic film from the pad.