Why thermal paste matters
Thermal paste connects CPU + GPU chips to heatsinks. Conducts heat away from silicon.
Over 3-5 years, paste dries out + becomes hard. Heat transfer drops 30-50%. CPU/GPU run 10-15°C hotter.
Result: more fan noise, thermal throttling, faster battery degradation, shorter overall Mac lifespan.
Replacement: scrape old paste, clean surfaces, apply fresh paste, reassemble. 1-2 hours workshop work.
Air models thermal paste pricing
MacBook Air 2017 and earlier (A1466, single fan).
MacBook Air 2018+ Intel (A1932, A2179, single fan).
MacBook Air M1/M2/M3/M4 (FANLESS): heat spreader paste, simpler. Modest benefit.
Pro 13" thermal paste pricing
Pro 13" 2016-2020 Intel (A1706-A2289): single fan.
Pro 13" M1/M2 (A2338, single fan).
Pro 14" thermal paste pricing
Pro 14" M1 Pro/Max (A2442), M2 generation (A2779), M3 generation (A2918): dual fans + multiple thermal interfaces.
Pro 15" / 16" thermal paste pricing
Pro 15" 2016-2019 Intel (A1707, A1990).
Pro 16" Intel 2019 (A2141).
Pro 16" M1 Pro/Max+ (A2485+).
What paste we use
Arctic MX-6: industry-leading thermal compound. One syringe is enough for 2-3 Macs.
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut: premium option for highest-performance Macs.
Apple uses generic paste at factory. Aftermarket compounds like MX-6 are objectively better.
Signs you need thermal paste replacement
Fans run loud on simple tasks (browsing, document editing).
Mac body hot to touch on underside during normal use.
Performance throttling (apps lagging during heavy use).
Older than 3 years AND haven't had service before.
Combined service value
Thermal paste + dust cleaning + screw tightening for most models. Saves versus separate services.
Combined with battery replacement. Often worth bundling at year 4-5 mark.
Result: Mac runs cooler, quieter, longer. Extends life by 2-3 years easily.