Replace thermal paste on M1 Max?

[woolypants]

I've got to open my MacBook Pro 16in M1 Max for some maintenance (dodgy trackpad). It's out of warranty now.

I was thinking of replacing the thermal paste on the M1 Max chip, given that Apple tends to be heavy-handed with it. With the old Intel chips, this could often bring around a slight but measurable performance boost.

M1 Max chips aren't quite the same, of course, rarely reaching their thermal limit (in fact, I believe the fans aren't even spinning most of the time). But I was wondering if anybody's tried replacing the paste, and if it had any effect. Just to eke out a little more performance for us hobbyists who care about the kind of thing!

Ps. I used to run a Mac upgrade and repair business, so am no stranger to being inside computers.

 

[Bigwaff]

Ps. I used to run a Mac upgrade and repair business, so am no stranger to being inside computers.

What’s stopping you? Trail blaze!

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

Have you checked the temperatures when you run it? If it has no problems displacing heat, then there's no reason to do so. You mention the fans never kicking in.

 

[AlixSPQR]

Apple tends to be heavy-handed with it.

Not really, manufacturers apply a longlasting thermal paste, which is bulkier and firmer. Other pastes may dissipate heat a little better, but then you have to change it regularly, at least every six month, or so. If your M1 Max is running fine, leave it. Like any operation, you run the risk breaking something unintended.

 

[woolypants]

Not really

Evidence for your assertion?

Lots of people commented on this in the Intel days. I myself saw it many times. Thermal compound was applied so liberally that it ran over the edges of the die surface. SnazzyLabs did a video about it a few years ago. Reapplying the factory thermal paste caused lower idle temps and also marginally improve performance.

 

[AlixSPQR]

Evidence for your assertion?

Lots of people commented on this in the Intel days. I myself saw it many times. Thermal compound was applied so liberally that it ran over the edges of the die surface. SnazzyLabs did a video about it a few years ago. Reapplying the factory thermal paste caused lower idle temps and also marginally improve performance.

Evidence? Give me your address and I'll send some samples.

Nothing of what you're stating is new to me, I've seen it too. And I've bought Arctic Silver 5 and reapplied it following zealous attention to process and detail.

But, in retrospect, what I wrote makes more sense. Still, you can believe and do what you want.

 

[woolypants]

But, in retrospect, what I wrote makes more sense

You replying to my statement that Apple is heavy-handed with thermal paste:

Not really,

Also you in your next reply:

I've seen it too. And I've bought Arctic Silver 5 and reapplied it following zealous attention to process and detail.

I'm eagerly awaiting your third reply. Suggestion: maybe at this point you'll say thermal paste doesn't exist?

 

[Flyview]

So did you ever try replacing the paste? As long as the computer isn't thermal throttling at any ambient temps you work in, there should be no reason to as was stated above. I've also found that, at least with bare die CPUs like in the mid 2010s MacBook Pros, all of the thermal pastes dry out, pump out whatever you want to call it within 3-6 months leading to terrible temps. I finally had long lasting success with PTM7950 thermal "pad" material. It would be interesting to see this get applied to Apple Silicon chips nonetheless.