Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Thermal Paste on MacBook RAM ?!?!

Unspeaked

Unspeaked

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Dec 29, 2003
2,448
1
West Coast
I just popped open the RAM slots of the brand new MacBook I got yesterday (to upgrade to larger chips) and the connecter part of the included RAM (the part that fits into the slot) has a white, chalky residue all over both chips.

Is this thermal paste?

If so, how much f----n' thermal paste did they apply to this thing that it leaked all the way to the RAM slots???
 
would you mind posting a picture? unless you already cleaned them off.
There SHOULDNT really bea thermal paste there, but i guess that's obvious.
they'd have to apply a pretty freaking lot (as in more than they do already) to have it "leak" all the way to the RAM.
 
dirtyramtq8.jpg
 
I think it didn't really "leak" to the ram, what'd be more likely is the tech accidentally got some on his hands and just rubbed it off somewhere.. :(
 
Now I'm worried - should I put these new chips in?

Should I return it?

It already had a dead pixel that kind of ticked me off - this is just making matters worse...
 
generik said:
I think it didn't really "leak" to the ram, what'd be more likely is the tech accidentally got some on his hands and just rubbed it off somewhere.. :(
Click to expand...


Yeah, but it's so well placed on just those edges. And the chips sort of face the processor on that side. AND the one that's closer to the processor is the one on the right, that looks like it has more than the other...
 
Here's the best shot I could get of one of the RAM slots.

I looked in there with a flashlight and there's a lot of the same dry white stuff in the bottom of the slot. You can just make it out in the picture:


whiteslotvf2.jpg
 
That looks like water damage, not thermal paste... There seems to be brown stuff on it too.
 
Unspeaked said:
Here's the best shot I could get of one of the RAM slots.

I looked in there with a flashlight and there's a lot of the same dry white stuff in the bottom of the slot. You can just make it out in the picture:


whiteslotvf2.jpg
Click to expand...


Hmm, I can't really see what I am supposed to look out for, but the ram modules do look "dirty".
 
If the RAM was working fine before, I don't see why this would be a problem. Thermal paste is non-conductive, so I can't imagine it would cause any problems if it hasn't already.

Of course, if you have a dead pixel and want a replacement MacBook, bringing this up could help "convince" them to replace yours.
 
That does not look like thermal paste. That looks like corrosion. I've seen the same thing on laptop RAM that suffered a water spill. I'd return the machine if you can. Putting new chips in now might just create a short. (If it is indeed not thermal paste.)
 
CanadaRAM said:
Woah! Stop! No conspiracies here.

It is a lithium lubricant that is used when the machines are assembled too help the RAM seat into the socket.

Not a thing to worry about.
Click to expand...

guys right, i read an article at the apple website about "white, chalky, dusty," substances like this, they said its just lubricant. i'll dig around for the article since it explains how to clean, etc.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back