M1 Max + Liquid Metal?

[Mischiefmakr]

Ok. To start this discussion, I’m a guy who likes to tinker with things.

I’m curious about slapping Liquid Metal on my M1 Max 16” MacBook Pro. But, haven’t found any solid info on if the top on the chip/chip cap is safe to use it on.

Mainly trying to see if it is in fact aluminum or capper/nickel plated copper.

Anyone have an answer to this for me?

Also, I’m well aware of the risks and aware it won’t be a huge bump I’m performance. Mostly curious if it will help fan noise and all.

Thank I’m advance!

 

[maflynn]

I’m curious about slapping Liquid Metal on my M1 Max 16” MacBook Pro. But, haven’t found any solid info on if the top on the chip/chip cap is safe to use it on.

Just my $.02, but I personally wouldn't try it. All I can say is, if you're curious, give it a shot and report back

 

[stevemiller]

Ok. To start this discussion, I’m a guy who likes to tinker with things.

I’m curious about slapping Liquid Metal on my M1 Max 16” MacBook Pro. But, haven’t found any solid info on if the top on the chip/chip cap is safe to use it on.

Mainly trying to see if it is in fact aluminum or capper/nickel plated copper.

Anyone have an answer to this for me?

Also, I’m well aware of the risks and aware it won’t be a huge bump I’m performance. Mostly curious if it will help fan noise and all.

Thank I’m advance!

What type of work is causing fan noise issues with the 16" M1 Max? I have to push things pretty hard to ever hear the fan at all, and I do 3d and video work.

Just suggesting there may be some other issue at play (misbehaving app or peripheral) causing the machine to go into overdrive?

 

[diamond.g]

Ok. To start this discussion, I’m a guy who likes to tinker with things.

I’m curious about slapping Liquid Metal on my M1 Max 16” MacBook Pro. But, haven’t found any solid info on if the top on the chip/chip cap is safe to use it on.

Mainly trying to see if it is in fact aluminum or capper/nickel plated copper.

Anyone have an answer to this for me?

Also, I’m well aware of the risks and aware it won’t be a huge bump I’m performance. Mostly curious if it will help fan noise and all.

Thank I’m advance!

At least on the x86 side Liquid Metal "paste" is only really useful when de-lidding the CPU. This is because it is assumed the TIM Intel/AMD uses is "subpar" and is hampering the thermal transfer to the cooler system.

It is very likely that Apple doesn't have the same issue and thus it won't net you much if any improvement in thermals (and thus fan noise).

 

[TzunamiOSX]

I think, Liquid Metal will not help, to get lower noise.

You get a better thermal transfers from cpu to the cooler, but if your cooling system can’t bring the heat away to the ambient this is not really helpfully.

Normally the small heatsink in Laptops is the problem, not the transfer between cpu and heatsink.

 

[TzunamiOSX]

Perhaps I’m wrong:

But I don’t know why, because the heat is not going away.

 

[Energybutton]

On a intel Macbook you'd just apply a few layers of conformal coating around the die then build a dam around the die with some foam so if the liquid metal shifts, it cannot make it onto the motherboard. however with the M1 family of chips the RAM chips seem to be part of the IHS. I would imagine there would a small gap that could allow the liquid metal to get under the RAM and short something out. You could use conformal coating or nail polish to fill those gaps, it looks like you'd have to be pretty precise with this though as the RAM chips need to make contact with the heatsink for cooling.

Looking at the picture below, it seems the mount for the heatsink is made of aluminium and the original thermal compound has spread onto it which would compromise the aluminium if it were liquid metal.

The IHS could be plated copper or aluminium, until someone scratches one up to see, we won't know.

It's probably not impossible but it does seem more challenging than an intel Macbook.

 

[maflynn]

Perhaps I’m wrong:

But I don’t know why, because the heat is not going away.

That video is 5 years old, and given the ARM archectiture, I don't know if the results are really applicable. I didn't watch that video from beginning to end, but I will say that any re-application of thermal paste will have improvement. So that means imo, the savings between traditional thermal paste that is re-applied and liquid metal will be even less.

I see more downsides then upsides with liquid metal

 

[Basic75]

That video is 5 years old [...] I don't know if the results are really applicable.

Yeah, there were certain lines of processors where, for a while, Intel had somewhat dropped the ball and delidding could bring significant benefits. Most other processors, even from Intel, do not have this problem (to such a degree) to make this procedure worthwhile. @Mischiefmakr please make a video if you are crazy or adventurous enough to go through with this as surely not many other people will! But don't be surprised if I won't let you near my Mac