Temps didn't go down THAT much, but OMG THE FANS! SO much more quiet doing the same type of thing. Put the bottom plate back on and you're done!.Tighten around each chip evenly, but you can screw each down all the way. Reinsert the heatsink carefully on the left side first, then attach the edge screws, then the screws around the CPU and GPU.Spread the paste with plastic wrap over your finger evenly.Put a SMALL amount of new thermal paste on each die.Use some compressed air to clean out the fans and heatsink fins.Clean the CPU/GPU dies and heatsink with a paper towel with rubbing alcohol - clean the black cover around the dies as well.Lift the heatsink out on the RIGHT SIDE first (the left side is under a metal edge).Unscrew the heatsink screws (one on each end, then 4 around the CPU and 4 around the GPU) with a T5 screwdriver.Undo the battery connector (center top of battery).Take the bottom plate off (you'll need a Pentalobe 5 (P5) screwdriver).
#2013 APPLE MACBOOK PRO A1286 PRO#
Specs: 15" Late 2013 Retina Macbook Pro 2.6 i7 dual graphics (nVidia 750M) 16/500 - this is the highest end model from late 2013, but this procedure should work for any Retina with variations on the heatsink type. CPU temps got over 200 degrees F, and the GPU got well into the 168-175F range.įortunately, the heatsink is on the bottom of the logic board - only a handful of T5 screws and it pops right out. See below - the original thermal paste was in awful condition (way too much / all over the place, but had caked and lost contact over a lot of the dies), and when CPU load ramped up, the fans would spool up to top speed (the sound was noticeable). I got the thermal paste pictured below for $10 on Amazon. It's the best $10 I ever spent on this thing. If you have a Retina Macbook Pro that's a few years old, replacing the thermal paste is one of the best, easiest, cheapest and quickest upgrades you can do.