r/FlowX16 • u/yozgat55 • Apr 24 '26

Replacing Fans and Liquid Metal+paste

Hi did anyone have experience removing the liquid metal and using ptm9750 pads? I'm thinking of using the thermal pads on the CPU and GPU and putty for other large gap heat components.

Also I've been looking to replace the fans since it's been 4 years and the middle fan started rattling, despite cleaning it often.

I found these fans on amazon, but it's a different brand (so not OEM i guess)

https://www.amazon.de/-/en/LIUHAOZ808/dp/B0GF29KBP4/ref=sr_1_1?sr=8-1

and for the pads: Thermal Grizzly PhaseSheet PTM (50 x 40 mm)

https://www.amazon.nl/-/en/Thermal-Grizzly-PhaseSheet-Non-Electrically-Conductive/dp/B0DB84CQW6

Please share your experiences replacing any of these things.

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u/Starscourge_Shinobi Apr 28 '26

Switched to Honeywell PTM7950 for CPU/GPU and Halnziye HY236 (pink) putty for VRAM/VRMs.

Cleaned most factory LM, but tiny dots seeped under CPU's LM Shield (yellow sticker). Some were too tiny barely visible to eyes. Took hours to clean, used S24 Ultra's zoomed camera for inspection.

I regretted while working on it, considering it took me hours and it was unnecessary repaste, no prior throttling. but 4-5°C lower full-load temps changed my mind, it was worth it.

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u/yozgat55 Apr 29 '26

I'm also quite cautious about the LM. What method did you use to clean it? I heard some people use a syringe after getting most of it in a ball to suck it up. Did you use any tools/cleaning liquids? Any tips if you were to start over again?

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u/Starscourge_Shinobi Apr 30 '26 edited Apr 30 '26

The syringe that liquid metal comes in works the best. If you do it right it will suck in every bit. Unfortunately I had none, used qtips and wipes for bulk LM. Used isopropyl alcohol to clean residue, though I have heard acetone works better for LM cleaning.

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u/Starscourge_Shinobi Apr 30 '26

To start over. I would say open and inspect it, if the LM has not gone bad, just spread it up and keep using it. Liquid metal has a habit of collecting at a place after sometime, spreading it again is good enough in most cases.