Repasting
The process of removing old dried thermal paste and applying fresh compound. Typically reduces CPU temperatures by 10–20°C. Recommended every 3–5 years, or immediately if your laptop is throttling.
Repasting is the service of removing the heatsink, cleaning off the old dried thermal paste from both the chip surface and the heatsink contact plate, and applying a fresh layer of high-quality thermal compound. The heatsink is then remounted and the laptop reassembled.
It is one of the most cost-effective thermal services available — the materials cost very little, the labour is straightforward on most laptops, and the temperature reduction is immediate and significant. Many laptops that were throttling severely restore full sustained performance after a repaste.
- Laptop is 3+ years old and running noticeably hotter than before
- CPU/GPU temperatures regularly exceed 85–90°C under load
- Performance drops after 10–15 minutes of sustained use (thermal throttling)
- Fan runs at maximum speed almost constantly
- Laptop shuts down unexpectedly during demanding tasks
- Laptop was never repasted and is over 4 years old (preventive maintenance)
DISASSEMBLE
Remove bottom cover and access the heatsink assembly
CLEAN
Remove old paste from chip and heatsink with isopropyl alcohol
APPLY
Apply fresh Thermal Grizzly paste in correct amount and pattern
TEST
Reassemble and run thermal stress test to verify temperature reduction
How much does repasting reduce laptop temperatures? +
Typically 10–20°C under sustained load on laptops with dried paste. The improvement depends on how degraded the original paste was — a laptop that was running at 95°C regularly may drop to 70–75°C after a quality repaste, fully eliminating throttling.
Is repasting risky for the laptop? +
In experienced hands, repasting carries very low risk. The main risks — stripped screws, broken plastic clips, connector damage — are minimised with proper technique. For thin and light laptops with complex disassembly, professional repasting is recommended over DIY to avoid damage during opening.
Should repasting and fan cleaning be done together? +
Yes — always. Since the laptop is already opened for repasting, cleaning the fan and heatsink vents at the same time adds minimal time but addresses all thermal issues in a single service. Repasting without cleaning can still leave airflow restricted by dust.
How much does repasting cost in Singapore? +
Repasting is available at Affordable Laptop Services using Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut as standard, combined with heatsink and fan cleaning. Free diagnosis, same-day service.
Repasting + fan cleaning restores full thermal performance. Free diagnosis, same-day service, 90-day warranty.
