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    15r3 - Missing CPU Thermal Pad?

    Discussion in '2015+ Alienware 13 / 15 / 17' started by timn420, Oct 14, 2017.

  1. timn420

    timn420 Newbie

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    Repasting a 15r3 that I just got from dell outlet. I noticed that there is no thermal pad in one of the places around the CPU. Is this something new from Dell or just a mistake? Temps have been in the mid/high 80's during gaming sessions and I was hoping to bring that down. This really threw me off though, and I didn't know if maybe I should just leave it as is. Next to the empty space is a very small thermal pad, almost like a piece of tape.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2017
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  2. Danishblunt

    Danishblunt Guest

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    Kinda hard to tell if u don't show us the board.
     
  3. timn420

    timn420 Newbie

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    Below is a bigger shot. The missing pad is circled in red. It's at the top of the tripod arm when attaching over the CPU. No other pads sticking on the motherboard.

    [​IMG]
     
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  4. Vasudev

    Vasudev Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Looks like a missing thermal pad. Use new thermal pads from arctic since you have got uneven pressure on the heatsink.
     
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  5. Danishblunt

    Danishblunt Guest

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    No, the thermal pad is not missing. You don't need to cool inductors.
     
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