Since Wednesday, something weird has been happening to my MacBook Pro – the left fan is not running anymore, according to smcFanControl.

I was outstationed, and really didn’t have time to dismantle my work machine and take a look to see what happened, until today. Yes, indeed the fan was spoilt!

ye bastarde!

Since the bluddy fan died, I had no way to work with the MBP on my lap, at least without threatening to fry my balls. Knowing Apple repairs cost an arm and a leg, I decide to take matters in my own hand and see what can can be done to lower the heat characteristics of the machine WITHOUT replacing the fan. First and foremost – thermal paste.

what the hell...

... gunk attack!!

There’s too much thermal paste!!! As any long-time system builder and computer enthusiast knows, too much thermal paste (which conducts heat away from the chips to the heatsink) will actually backfire… and this is WAAY too much.

all smooth...

... and shiny now.

With some alcohol swabs, an optical cloth, all the offending original paste is cleaned up. All that is left for me to do is to run down to SIm Lim tomorrow and get some Arctic Silver thermal paste – the best in the market now.

Damn Apple, my Sony TX never gave me trouble of any kind. I have half a mind to rip out the MBP’s wireless card, install it on the Sony and run a Hackintosh.

dismembered body parts