I have torn into my first laptop, an hp pavilion dv5, it was overheating. my question is when i got down to the heatsink and removed it from the cpu there was a spongey material between the heatsink and cpu, does that go back on and how would i apply the compound. Thanks

I would clean it up remove the sponge type and aply heat sink compound I recomend Artic 5 that pad that was on there was from factorry remove it

Originally Posted by scasper1

I have torn into my first laptop, an hp pavilion dv5, it was overheating. my question is when i got down to the heatsink and removed it from the cpu there was a spongey material between the heatsink and cpu, does that go back on and how would i apply the compound. Thanks

Apply fresh compound. It is best to wipe your heatsink and cpu completely clean using 90% rubbing alcohol (being sure to use something that isn't going to leave lint) and reapply the compound. Arctic 5 Silver Thermal Compound is the best. The Arctic Silver website recommends that you put small amount of the compound in the center of the heat sink. But I have seen it done both ways.

you can get spoongy pads between heatsinks and chips but ive never come across them on a cpu, its most likely just badly applied and very poor quality thermal paste

I also have never seen the pads on a CPU. I have seen them between the heatsink and the Video Card on a laptop. I would never have one of those on the CPU. If there is space between the heatsink and the Video card then I normally try to fill it with some copper. If I don't have any copper then I put the pad back on there.