How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC

Introduction

Welcome Traveler,

If you have been looking for the exact number of thermal pads you have to replace and the surfaces to be covered with thermal paste in your MSI GS 60 (2QC in my case), you came to the right place (to check your PC model, go to Windows>System Information, read "System Model").

Although this is a fairly easy job now that I look a step back, I must say it was quite frustrating to never quite get my hands on the right tutorial or the information I needed. I spent a lot of time looking for the exact tutorial in vain. Therefore, I figured some might encounter the same problem and decided to post this tutorial, and worse comes to worst, it will just be another lost webpage on the internet. :)

I will explain how to:

Dismantle your MSI GS 60 and access the motherboard where we want to do your maintenance job
Clean the heat drain and important surfaces
Apply thermal paste and thermal pads
Reassemble your MSI GS 60

What you need

Step 1 Disassembly

How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC, Disassembly: step 1, image 1 of 1

To dismantle your MSI GS 60, you will need the #0 screwdriver as well as both plastic spudger and picks. I would recommend following either of these two disassembly guides: Very high quality photos but little to no description of each step, or the more detailed and elaborate disassembly guide that I decided to follow. If you followed the first guide, stop at the section dealing with the heat sink. For those who chose the second one, stop at the end of part 3.
Please, use a soft material to support your mother board once extracted form your MSI GS 60 casing! This will prevent causing harm to any circuit.

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Step 2 Cleaning

How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC, Cleaning: step 2, image 1 of 1

Now that you've reached and separated the thermal drain from the motherboard, it is time to clean heat exchange surfaces on both the drain and components.
The most recommended method is to use isopropyl alcohol and your microfiber cloth (to avoid lint sticking to electronics!) and gently wipe the thermal paste off the processor and graphics board (orange on this picture). They should look shiny and metallic once cleaned.
Similarly, you can take thermal patches off the thermal drain or electronic components (any other color than orange on this picture), and wipe corresponding surfaces using the same procedure as before. Don't throw your thermal pads right away however, you may want to measure them first!
/!\ That being said, sometimes some bits will simply not go off and in this case only, I suggest using an old smooth toothbrush to gently scrub the remaining traces (with isopropyl alcohol too). BE VERY CAREFULL for electronics can be extremely fragile! If something does not come off despite this method, do not persist. Just leave it.

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Step 3 Applying thermal compounds (1/2)

How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC, Applying thermal compounds (1/2): step 3, image 1 of 1

Now that you've cleaned heat exchange surfaces, and ensured nothing broke apart, you can either measure thermal patch surfaces you need based on the old ones you took off your mother board, or use my measurements.
First off, I bought my MSI GS60 2QC second hand in 2016 and neither did I ever replace thermal compounds in the past, nor did I clean it. This is quite bad considering it is recommended to replace thermal interfaces roughly every 4-5 years and I did not know whether this maintenance had been done when I bought it. Please, take the time to do it.
Secondly, you may notice that some thermal pads do not overlap correctly with components (especially the green ones). I have found a lot of dust under these and they were dry. As exemplified in this Reddit post, I suggest not replacing those and instead recommend cutting pads (with your utility knife) to match the exact dimensions of said components.
Here are the amount and dimensions, sorted by color, of each pad type I replaced. Regarding thickness, I used 1mm pads (from ARCTIC, mostly because their communication style and reviews seemed less fraud like). I would nonetheless suggest using 1.5mm pads as some surfaces from the heat exchanger hardly touch components on the left side of my board.
2 x Magenta - 6*14mm²
3 x Light Blue - 10*10mm²
4 x Green - 13*14mm²
1 x Dark Blue - L shaped with both sides being 7mm wide. Their length are respectively 21mm ( for long arm) and 11mm long (for the shorter one). /!\ Be careful to orient your pads correctly before cutting this one. Also, be sure to check how to lay down your pads depending of the brand (check here in the case of ARCTIC).

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Step 4 Applying thermal compounds (2/2)

How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC, Applying thermal compounds (2/2): step 4, image 1 of 1

Now, you should normally have replaced each thermal pad on your motherboard. You now need to replace your thermal paste (ARCTIC MX-6 in my case, for the same reasons as previously mentioned). This is fairly easy as you are simply required to deposit a single drop of thermal paste on both orange surfaces (i.e.: your graphics board and processor).
Once you have done that, you can either press down on said drop with a hard flat object to easily spread the paste on the surface (this step is recommended by ARCTIC), or you can let the heat exchanger press on it as you screw it back on. Please note that I only skipped that step because I did not own such flat item.
Since you are at it, you may as well give your heat exchanger fans a good cleaning with the dry air and wipe whatever remains with your microfiber cloth and alcohol.

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Step 5 Re-assembly

How to replace thermal interfaces on MSI GS 60 2QC, Re-assembly: step 5, image 1 of 1

Alright, time to reassemble all that! Simply follow the main disassembly guide's instructions backward, and unless you suddenly miss a screw or have extra ones, you should be safe to turn your MSI GS 60 back on and use it for (fingers crossed) another 4 years.

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Conclusion

I hope this tutorial helped you accomplish your maintenance correctly and lightens part of the anxiety of not knowing how it's done for your PC model.

NB: I do not have any interest with the ARCTIC firm, I simply happen to have found their communication the least misleading of similar firms and made my choice base on their reviews. Pay attention to comments and ratings on any firm's products as quality issues may occur.

One other person completed this guide.