GE 72 Apache Pro 242 - Stripped screw replacement

[Quintinwww]

Hello everyone!
I recently found out that my laptop was running fairly how because the Thermal Paste needs to be replaced. It's most likely dried up by now
However, in the process of removing the screws off of the heatsink, I soon realized that they had been slightly stripped! Now, it's impossible for me to get them out using conventional and some unconventional methods (Rubber band, ect.). How could I get these screws out?
Also, what kind of screws would I need for the replacement? I searched around a bit but I couldn't find the exact size/name of them. (Maybe I'm just bad at looking. Who knows?)
Thanks for any answers you may have for me! : D

 

[Saga Lout]

They are almost certainly specialist screws and if you used a Philips on them with any force, the heads have rounded off by now because aluminium isn't strong enough to resist.

Replacing thermal paste isn't the usual cure for slowness in a laptop unless the fan was working overtime to keep the CPU cool.

If the screws are stll in there firmly enough to do their job I suggest you leave them there and look for alternative causes of the sluggishness, starting with a thorough hard disk declutter and Checkdisk.

 

[Quintinwww]

They are almost certainly specialist screws and if you used a Philips on them with any force, the heads have rounded off by now because aluminium isn't strong enough to resist.

Replacing thermal paste isn't the usual cure for slowness in a laptop unless the fan was working overtime to keep the CPU cool.

If the screws are stll in there firmly enough to do their job I suggest you leave them there and look for alternative causes of the sluggishness, starting with a thorough hard disk declutter and Checkdisk.

It's 100% a heat related issue. When the CPU gets hot enough (Estimating it's around 85c.) it will begin to throttle itself to not generate much more heat. 89c is the hardcap, and it will not go any higher than that. As such, the slowdowns will become even more prevalent
CPU/Resource heavy games like TERA for example push the fans to work as fast as they are allowed, around 5100 RM. Turbo boost is 6000RPM and it's still 89c

 

[Saga Lout]

I repair PCs for a living and I wouldn't take on the job of drilling those screws out. I reckon most fixers would say the same but I reckon it's your only option. The motherboard will have to come out of the case and it's going to a lengthy and expensive job.

I'm surprised that such a new and costly machine made specifically for gaming is running short of thermal paste so soon. Point of interest only, what's the ambient temperature in the room where you use the laptop?

 

[Quintinwww]

I repair PCs for a living and I wouldn't take on the job of drilling those screws out. I reckon most fixers would say the same but I reckon it's your only option. The motherboard will have to come out of the case and it's going to a lengthy and expensive job.

I'm surprised that such a new and costly machine made specifically for gaming is running short of thermal paste so soon. Point of interest only, what's the ambient temperature in the room where you use the laptop?

I've actually had this laptop for almost 2 years now, but I had to replace the paste 2 times so far.

It depends during the season. In the summer, the room my laptop is in is the hottest in the house. I'd say around 80-90 F.
If it feels too hot for me or my laptop, I go downstairs, and there is around 60-75.

I also have a cooling pad beneath the laptop. It's airflow is pretty good actually. 5 fan and covers the entire bottom.