Why does an HP laptop overheat and when does the thermal paste need to be replaced?

Laptops HP Pavilion, Omen, Envy And ProBook Over time, they begin to heat up more than usual - even under minimal loads. This is due not only to dust in the cooling system, but also dried thermal paste between the processor/chipset and the heatsink. Manufacturers save on high-quality thermal interfaces by applying cheap compounds with a service life of 2-3 years. After this, thermal conductivity drops by 3-5 times, which leads to throttling (automatic reduction of CPU/GPU frequencies) and sudden shutdowns.

How do you know when it's time to change thermal paste? Pay attention to these symptoms:

  • 🔥 The laptop heats up to 90-100°C in games or rendering (check in HWMonitor or Core Temp)
  • 🐢 Performance drops before our eyes - FPS in games drops by 30-50% after 10-15 minutes
  • 🔄 Fans run at maximum speed even in idle mode
  • ⚡ The laptop turns off spontaneously under load (thermal protection is triggered)

If you observe at least two of these signs - Replacing thermal paste will solve the overheating problem by 90%, without having to buy a new laptop. In this article we will analyze the entire process: from choosing a material to testing the result, taking into account the design features HP.

📊 What HP laptop do you have?
  • Pavilion
  • Omen
  • Envy
  • ProBook
  • Spectre
  • Other

Which thermal paste to choose for an HP laptop: rating 2026

70% of success depends on the quality of the thermal interface. Cheap silicone based pastes (KPT-8, AlSil-3) dry in 6-12 months, and metal-containing (Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra) can short-circuit contacts if applied inaccurately. The best choice for HP - pastes based zinc oxide or carbon nanoparticles with thermal conductivity 10-15 W/mK.

Top 5 thermal pastes for laptops HP in terms of price/quality ratio:

Model Thermal conductivity Service life Price (30g) Features
Noctua NT-H2 8.5 W/mK 5-6 years ~800₽ Non-conductive, easy to apply
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut 12.5 W/mK 3-4 years ~1200₽ Best choice for gamers HP Omen
Arctic MX-6 11 W/mK 8+ years ~950₽ Does not dry out, suitable for long-term use
DeepCool Z9 10.2 W/mK 4-5 years ~700₽ Budget analogue Kryonaut
Cooler Master MasterGel Pro 9 W/mK 5 years ~650₽ Good option for office HP ProBook

For laptops with discrete graphics (NVIDIA GTX/RTX or AMD Radeon) will be additionally required thermal pads thick 0.5-1.5 mm (For example, Arctic Thermal Pad). They need to be replaced on VRM chips and GPU memory - this will reduce the temperature by 5-10°C.

⚠️ Attention: Never use thermal paste with metal particles on laptops HP with open contacts around the processor (for example, models Pavilion Gaming 15 2018-2020). The risk of a short circuit when paste gets on board elements is 30%.

Preparing for replacement: tools and disassembly of an HP laptop

Disassembling laptops HP more difficult than Lenovo or Asus, due to use latches instead of screws in some models. You will need:

  • 🔧 Screwdriver set: PH00 (for most screws), T5/T6 (for some Omen)
  • 🧲 Magnetic mat or tray for screws (in HP ProBook there are up to 20 of them!)
  • 📸 Smartphone for photographing cable locations
  • 🧴Isopropyl alcohol 90%+ and lint-free wipes
  • 🎨 Plastic card or mediator to separate the latches

Before disassembling be sure to:

  1. Turn off your laptop and unplug the charger.
  2. Remove the battery (if it is removable - in models HP 250 G7 and older batteries are often soldered).
  3. Wear an antistatic wrist strap or regularly touch the metal case of the system unit.

Power off and battery removed|

Photos were taken of the location of the screws and cables|

Prepared workplace without carpets|

Checked thermal paste compatibility with your HP model-->

Features of disassembling popular models HP:

  • 💻 HP Pavilion 15: the bottom cover is held on by 5 screws and 8 latches around the perimeter. Start opening from the corner near the touchpad.
  • 🎮 HP Omen 15/16: you need to remove the keyboard (carefully pry it with a plastic card from the side F1-F12).
  • 💼 HP ProBook 450 G8: The screws are under the rubber feet - don't lose them!
⚠️ Attention: On laptops HP Spectre x360 (2020-2023) glue is used to fix the battery. If you try to remove it without heating it with a hairdryer, the risk of breaking the touchpad cable is 70%. If you are not sure, skip this step and work with power connected (but battery disconnected!).

Step-by-step instructions: how to remove old thermal paste and apply new one

When you get to the cooling system, follow this algorithm:

  1. Cleaning old paste:
    • Unscrew the radiator mounting screws (usually 4-6 pieces, screwed crosswise).
    • Carefully remove the radiator - if the paste is dry, it may “stick”. Do not jerk, but smoothly scroll from side to side.
    • Remove old paste from the CPU and GPU with a lint-free cloth soaked in isopropyl alcohol. For dried residue, use a wooden stick.
  2. Applying new thermal paste:
    • For CPU (Intel Core i5/i7/i9 or AMD Ryzen 5/7/9): a pea-sized drop (4-5 mm) in the center of the crystal.
    • For GPU (NVIDIA/AMD): a strip along the entire chip (thickness 1-1.5 mm).
    • There is no need to spread the paste - it will spread over the radiator.
  3. Replacing thermal pads (if required):
    • Remove the old gaskets from the VRM chips and GPU memory.
    • Cut new ones to size (with a margin 1-2 mm) and glue it.

Critical points:

  • 🔴 Do not use cotton wool or paper napkins - they leave lint!
  • 🔴 Do not apply paste to contacts around the processor (risk of short circuit).
  • 🔴Tighten the radiator screws diagonally, in 2-3 approaches to avoid distortion.
What to do if the radiator cannot be removed?

If the heatsink is stuck to the processor, do not use excessive force! Heat it with a hairdryer (temperature 50-60°C) for 2-3 minutes - the thermal paste will soften. Then carefully rotate the radiator left and right while lifting it. In 90% of cases this helps without damaging the chip.

Laptop assembly and initial testing

After applying thermal paste, reassemble the laptop in reverse order. Pay special attention to:

  • 🔌 Connecting touchpad and keyboard cables (in HP Envy x360 they often fall out during assembly).
  • 🔧 Tightening the screws - in HP Pavilion Gaming There are 2 screws under the plastic plugs on the bottom cover.
  • 🔋 Connecting the battery (if removed) - check that the connector is seated until it clicks.

Perform the first launch without top cover (if possible) to ensure that:

  1. The fans are spinning (should start immediately when turned on).
  2. The laptop does not turn off after 5-10 seconds (a sign of improper assembly).
  3. There are no artifacts on the screen (problems with GPU connection).

If everything works, install the cover and proceed to the stress test.

💡

Before final assembly, turn on the laptop and touch the heatsink with your hand after 2-3 minutes. It should be warm, but not scalding. If the radiator is cold and the laptop turns off, the thermal paste is not applied correctly or the radiator is not pressed well.

How to check the result: stress tests and temperature monitoring

To evaluate the effectiveness of replacing thermal paste, perform tests in the following sequence:

  1. Basic check:
    • Run HWMonitor or AIDA64 and look at the idle temperatures. Norm for HP:
      • CPU: 35-50°C
      • GPU: 30-45°C
  2. CPU stress test:
    • Use Prime95 (mode Small FFTs) or Cinebench R23 (multithreaded rendering).
    • Maximum temperature for Intel: 85-90°C (for AMD Ryzen: 90-95°C).
    • If the temperature exceeds 95°C — Thermal paste is applied incorrectly or the heatsink does not fit well.
  3. GPU stress test:
    • Run FurMark or 3DMark (test Time Spy).
    • Norm for NVIDIA RTX 30xx: 70-80°C at 100% load.

Compare the results with the data before replacing the thermal paste. Good result:

  • 📉 Temperature reduction by 15-25°C under load.
  • 🎮 No throttling (CPU/GPU frequency does not drop below the base one).
  • 🔇 Reducing fan noise by 30-50%.
⚠️ Attention: On laptops HP Omen with processors Intel 12-13 generation (For example, i7-12700H) temperature 90-95°C under load may be normal due to high TDP (up to 60 W). If there is no throttling, there is no need to worry.

1) The tightness of the radiator (maybe new thermal pads are needed).

2) Operation of fans (may be clogged with dust).

3) Quality of thermal paste (cheap compounds give minimal effect).-->

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced users make mistakes when replacing thermal paste. Here are the most common:

  • 💥 Too much pasta: Excess is squeezed onto the board and can short-circuit the contacts. Optimal volume - 0.1-0.15 g for CPU.
  • 🔩 Uneven tightening of screws: leads to misalignment of the radiator and poor heat dissipation. Tighten in a crisscross pattern.
  • 🧴 Using expired toothpaste: The shelf life of most formulations is 1-2 years after opening the tube.
  • 🔥 Ignoring Thermal Pads: replacing them with VRM chips provides an additional reduction in temperature by 5-10°C.
  • 💻 Incorrect assembly: A forgotten screw or unconnected cable can cause a short circuit.

Laptop specific errors HP:

  • In models HP Pavilion Gaming 15 They often forget to connect the second fan (it is hidden under a metal plate).
  • B HP Envy 13 If you assemble it carelessly, you can damage the battery cable - the laptop will not turn on on battery power.
  • B HP ProBook 650 G8 The radiator mounting screws are of different lengths - mixing them up can damage the board.

If after replacing the thermal paste the overheating problem remains:

  1. Check dust in the radiator — even 1 mm of layer reduces heat transfer by 20%.
  2. Update BIOS — in new versions, fan control is often optimized.
  3. Reset power settings in Windows (the "Balanced" plan often limits fan speed).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use thermal paste from a computer for an HP laptop?

Yes, but with reservations. Pastes for desktops (for example, Arctic Silver 5) have higher thermal conductivity, but often contain metal particles. For laptops HP with open contacts around the processor (Pavilion 15, Omen 16) this is dangerous - there is a risk of short circuit if applied carelessly. It is better to choose dielectric pastes (Noctua NT-H2, Arctic MX-6).

How often should you change the thermal paste in an HP laptop?

The service life of thermal paste depends on its type and operating conditions:

  • Cheap pastes (KPT-8, AlSil-3): once every 6-12 months.
  • Middle class (DeepCool Z9, Cooler Master MasterGel): once every 2-3 years.
  • Premium segment (Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, Arctic MX-6): once every 4-5 years.

In gaming laptops (HP Omen) and at constant high loads the interval is reduced by 30-40%.

What should I do if my HP laptop does not turn on after replacing the thermal paste?

Causes and solutions:

  1. Unconnected battery or cable: check the connectors, especially in models HP Spectre And Envy.
  2. Short circuit: if thermal paste gets on the contacts, clean the board with alcohol and dry with a hairdryer (temperature 40-50°C).
  3. Radiator misalignment: Unscrew the screws and re-tighten them diagonally.
  4. BIOS protection has triggered: Unplug the laptop, remove the battery (if possible) and hold the power button 30 seconds to reset.

If the laptop does not respond at all, check the fuse on the motherboard (a common problem in HP ProBook 450 G6/G7).

Is it possible to replace thermal paste in an HP laptop without disassembling it?

No, that's impossible. Unlike stationary PCs, where you can remove the cooler without removing the motherboard, in laptops HP The radiator is integrated into the cooling system and attached to the case. Any attempts to “blow out” or “rinse” the thermal paste without disassembling will lead to:

  • Liquid getting on the board (risk of corrosion).
  • Damage to thermal pads.
  • Radiator distortion.

The only "in-place" way is to use ultrasonic cleaning (offered by some service centers), but its efficiency is 40% lower than manual replacement.

What is the best thermal paste for HP Omen with Intel i7-12700H processor?

For gaming laptops HP Omen with processors Intel 12th generation (TDP up to 60 W) pastes with thermal conductivity from 11 W/mK:

  • Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut — the best choice for extreme loads (reduces temperature by 20-25°C).
  • Noctua NT-H2 — optimal price/quality ratio (enough for 4-5 years).
  • Coollaboratory Liquid MetalPad — for experienced users (gives -30°C, but requires caution).

Be sure to replace the thermal pads on the thick VRM chips 1.5 mm - this will reduce the GPU temperature by 5-8°C.