Is your MacBook Pro 17" 2020 still noisy after thermal paste replacement?

[hajime]

Hi, I replaced the thermal paste but I still hear the noisy fans especially running Bootcamp. I don't recall noisy fans when I used it ten years ago. Is this the best that can be done on this old machine?

 

[rm5]

Have you tried cleaning out the fans? It also could just be that Windows is using a ton of CPU. It's an older machine and the fans just ramp up no matter what... same thing happens with my 2010 Mac mini, it's just normal for these older machines I think.

 

[hajime]

17" 2020 - I take it you're talking about a 2010 17", as there is no 2020 17".

Have you tried cleaning out the fans? It also could just be that Windows is using a ton of CPU

Yes, 2010 17". Sorry for the mistake.

Yes, I have cleaned the fans. I immediately heard noisy fans once the machine booted into Windows.

 

[rm5]

You also mentioned that they are just noisy no matter what, but "especially [when] running Bootcamp." Are they less noisy in macOS?

 

[jav6454]

Hi, I replaced the thermal paste but I still hear the noisy fans especially running Bootcamp. I don't recall noisy fans when I used it ten years ago. Is this the best that can be done on this old machine?

Did you also check for dirt on the fins of the air heat exchanger?

 

[hajime]

You also mentioned that they are just noisy no matter what, but "especially [when] running Bootcamp." Are they less noisy in macOS?

Don't recall much about the situation under MacOS as I mainly use Windows on the machine. However, at least for the 15-minute test I just performed, the bottom got quite warm (but not too hot to the point it became uncomfortable to touch as in the case of running Windows) within a minute after I turned it on and let it idle. During the entire test, it was dead silent. Since then, I launched Safari and checked Macrumors for 10 minutes. Also dead silent.

Next. booted into Windows. Temperature increased but didn't hear noisy fan. Letting it idle for 10 minutes and only heard coil whines. Had to put my ear next to the keyboard to hear the fan. Used browser for 3 minutes and no noisy fan. Then, I rebooted to MacOS and heard jet engine fan noise right away. The noise disappeared after about five minutes. Then, when I played youtube video, jet engine noise again right away.

 

[hajime]

Did you also check for dirt on the fins of the air heat exchanger?

Not sure which part you are talking about. Any photo?

 

[jav6454]

Not sure which part you are talking about. Any photo?

I don't have a photo of it, but I'm talking about the the entire heat pipe assembly which at one ends sits on top of the CPU and other end has the fins for air to pass thru.

 

[hajime]

I don't have a photo of it, but I'm talking about the the entire heat pipe assembly which at one ends sits on top of the CPU and other end has the fins for air to pass thru.

I double checked. Fins of the air heat exchanger are very clean.

 

[jav6454]

What thermal paste did you use? My go to is Arctic Silver.

 

[hajime]

Thermal Grizzly but I want to try another product as it does not seem to work well. Any better one?