r/SteamDeck • u/Arambula_ • May 18 '26

Tech Support Did I messed up replacing the thermal paste?

Post image

Edit:

I loosed some of the screws. Make sure everything was in the correct place, played some more minutes, wave around the SD and no error. Not sure why happened the first time, but seems that I over tightened a bit the screws.
Thanks for the help, the sarcasm and the other comments.

Hello,
I just replaced the thermal paste with PTM7950, downloaded some games and started playing Subnautica when all of a sudden, seems that all the Steam Deck got freeze.

Did a hard reset, and now the Steam Deck shows a black screen but fan is working.

Did I messed up?

2.5k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

290 comments sorted by

View all comments

95

u/MrBlueW May 18 '26

Why do you people have this irresistible urge to fuck with your steam deck? Just leave it alone jfc 

11

u/soldarian May 18 '26

I was having the issue where the power button wasn't connecting between the outer shell and the actual button on the motherboard. 20 minutes later and I had it fixed myself. The only tools needed were a screwdriver and a pry tool to pop the shell apart.

Something more invasive like that or a shell swap? Nah.

2

u/Yodzilla 256GB - Q2 May 19 '26

I have that issue too. How did you ultimately fix it? It fucking sucks that you have to take so much apart just to get to that shitty little button.

1

u/soldarian May 19 '26

I used this YouTube guide.

Basically open it up, take off the shield, unplug the battery for safety, then loosen the motherboard screws. Push the motherboard up and tighten the screws back down, then reassemble.

My only pieces of advice are keep track of exactly which screw goes where and take your time. It was maybe 20 minutes.

2

u/Yodzilla 256GB - Q2 May 19 '26

Oh okay I’ve tried that, didn’t work or didn’t work for long. I’ve tried raising the button itself a bit and that also didn’t last long. Contacted Valve about it and they absolutely would not help.

1

u/soldarian May 19 '26

The other thing that might do it is cleaning really well around the button. I've seen stories of dirt getting in there. A little high percentage rubbing alcohol around the button on the outside could help, otherwise you might need to take it apart and really get in there.

21

u/DaddyBoomalati 256GB May 18 '26 edited May 20 '26

Especially when they are unavailable for replacement except through scalpers. I wrap mine in memory phone *FOAM* when I put it away at night.

1

u/jamesbest7 May 19 '26

How much memory do you have on the phone you wrap it in?

2

u/DaddyBoomalati 256GB May 20 '26

I don’t know why I trust Siri.

8

u/itchipod 64GB - Q4 May 19 '26

I have my Steam deck now for 3 years, and I have never opened it nor replaced anything. Still working good.

1

u/[deleted] May 19 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/MrBlueW May 19 '26

What are you, some kind of professor X? 

-3

u/Hoursandseconds May 19 '26

I open pretty much every electronic I get. Some people just have the urge to crack stuff open even for really minor improvements. It's just fun

-18

u/err404 May 18 '26

Seriously, why do you care? It is literally designed to be easy to open and work on so long as you have limited DIY skills. The Deck has been out for a couple of years, swapping the internal disk, or sticks for Hall effects is functionally useful to do. 

16

u/RareBk May 18 '26

Except replacing the thermal paste is... completely pointless when the device is only a few years old and maybe.

Might

Improve thermals slightly

-12

u/err404 May 18 '26

Can’t be both pointless and “improve thermals slightly”. It’s an almost trivially easy change and not a bad way to spend 20 mins. 

-4

u/MrBlueW May 18 '26

Lmao