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Thermal grease

The thermal grease must be replaced whenever the heat sink has been removed from the top of the microprocessor. Use the following information to replace damaged or contaminated thermal grease on the microprocessor and heat sink.

To replace damaged or contaminated thermal grease on the microprocessor and heat sink, do the following:

  1. Place the heat sink on a clean work surface.
  2. Remove the cleaning pad from its package and unfold it completely.
  3. Use the cleaning pad to wipe the thermal grease from the bottom of the heat sink.
    Note
    Make sure that all of the thermal grease is removed.
  4. Use a clean area of the cleaning pad to wipe the thermal grease from the microprocessor. Then, dispose of the cleaning pad after all of the thermal grease is removed.
  5. Use the thermal-grease syringe to place nine uniformly spaced dots 1 of 0.02 mL each on the top of the microprocessor or on the bottom of the heat sink. The outermost dots must be within approximately 5 mm (0.2 inches) of the edge of the microprocessor. This is to ensure uniform distribution of the grease.
    Figure 1. Thermal grease on the microprocessor
    Thermal grease on the microprocessor

    Figure 2. Thermal-grease syringe
    Thermal-grease syringe

    Note
    One tick mark on the syringe is 0.01 mL. If the grease is properly applied, approximately half (0.22 mL) of the grease will remain in the syringe.
  6. Install the heat sink onto the microprocessor. See Installing the microprocessor and heat sink (Trained technician only).