What Is Thermal Paste? - BreakFixNow | Laptop & Phone Repair Singapore

Q: How much does thermal paste replacement cost in Singapore?

At BreakFixNow, thermal paste replacement starts from $50 for a standard laptop CPU repaste, up to $120+ for a full thermal service including paste, thermal pads, and fan cleaning. Diagnosis is always free with no obligation to proceed.

Q: Will replacing thermal paste fix my overheating laptop?

In most cases, yes — especially if the laptop is more than 2 years old. Replacing dried thermal paste typically reduces CPU temperatures by 15–25°C under load, which stops thermal throttling and restores performance.

Q: What is the best thermal paste for laptops in Singapore?

Arctic MX-4 is the best all-round choice for most laptops in Singapore — non-conductive, long-lasting, and stable under Singapore's heat. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut offers slightly better peak performance but degrades faster in high-temperature environments.

Definition: Thermal paste (also called thermal compound or thermal grease) is a heat-conducting material applied between a laptop’s CPU and its heatsink. It fills microscopic surface irregularities to improve heat transfer. Over time — typically 3–5 years — thermal paste dries out and loses effectiveness, causing the CPU temperature to rise and triggering thermal throttling.

Why it matters for laptop repair

Dried thermal paste is one of the most common and most overlooked causes of laptop overheating. A laptop that ran cool when new but now runs hot and throttles under the same workload almost certainly has degraded thermal paste. Replacing it is a standard maintenance repair that restores factory cooling performance.

In Singapore’s heat and humidity, thermal paste degrades faster than in cooler climates. Laptops used in hot environments or run at high loads frequently should have paste replaced every 2–3 years.

How it works

Even highly polished metal surfaces have microscopic bumps and valleys — when the CPU and heatsink press together directly, air pockets form in these gaps. Air conducts heat very poorly. Thermal paste fills these gaps, creating a continuous thermal path from the CPU surface to the heatsink metal.

Most non-conductive pastes use a silicone base with metal oxide or carbon additives. For devices that remain too hot even after a standard repaste, two alternatives exist: liquid metal compounds (such as Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut) offer roughly 10× higher conductivity but are electrically conductive and require experienced handling; PTM7950 phase-change pads offer a cleaner, longer-lasting alternative to paste with 5+ year lifespan and no spreading required.

Shareable fact: Replacing dried thermal paste on a 4-year-old laptop typically reduces CPU temperature under load by 15–25°C — equivalent to the cooling improvement of going from budget to premium cooling hardware.

Common compounds used professionally

At BreakFixNow, Arctic MX-4 is used as the standard compound across all thermal paste services — non-conductive, reliable, and well-suited to Singapore’s climate. Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is available on request for high-performance builds and overclocking. Liquid metal compounds are reserved for specific high-TDP laptop applications where maximum thermal performance is required.

Thermal Grizzly

Brand overview: Thermal Grizzly is a German thermal solutions brand founded in 2014, known for producing enthusiast and professional-grade thermal interface materials. Their products are widely used by overclockers, PC technicians, and hardware reviewers worldwide. Thermal Grizzly compounds are available in Singapore through Lazada, Carousell, and Sim Lim Square retailers.

Product	Type	Conductivity	Best for
Kryonaut	Non-conductive paste	12.5 W/mK	Desktop CPUs, high-performance builds
Kryonaut Extreme	Non-conductive paste	14.2 W/mK	Extreme overclocking, LN2 cooling
Duronaut	Non-conductive paste	~14 W/mK	Long-term stability, infrequent repasting
Conductonaut	Liquid metal	73 W/mK	High-TDP laptops, desktop CPU delidding
Conductonaut Extreme	Liquid metal	100+ W/mK	Maximum performance desktop builds

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

Sub-brand definition: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is a non-electrically-conductive thermal paste with a thermal conductivity of 12.5 W/mK. It is Thermal Grizzly’s flagship non-liquid-metal compound, designed for high-performance desktop CPUs and enthusiast builds.

Thermal conductivity: 12.5 W/mK — significantly higher than budget compounds like Arctic MX-4 (8.5 W/mK), though real-world temperature differences are typically 2–5°C
Electrically conductive: No — safe for use near PCB traces and components
Lifespan in Singapore: Moderate — Kryonaut’s silicone carrier can dry faster in sustained heat above 80°C
Recommended for: Desktop CPU repastes, overclocking builds
Not recommended for: Laptop CPUs under sustained high load, GPU VRAM or VRM pads

⚠️ Singapore climate note: Kryonaut is rated to 80°C. In Singapore’s ambient heat, CPUs under sustained load frequently approach or exceed this threshold. See our full Thermal Grizzly vs Arctic MX guide for a detailed comparison.

Real example

A customer’s 4-year-old Dell Latitude runs at 95°C under light office work. Disassembly shows the thermal paste has completely dried and cracked. After cleaning and applying fresh Arctic MX-4, the same workload runs at 68°C — a 27°C reduction. No throttling, fan noise returns to normal.

Common mistakes

Applying too much thermal paste. A pea-sized dot in the centre is correct — excess paste squeezes out the sides and can contact components it shouldn’t.
Using electrically conductive compounds on laptops without masking. Liquid metal must not contact the PCB — use only with full Kapton masking and experienced technique.
Not cleaning old paste completely before applying new. Clean both surfaces fully with isopropyl alcohol first.