A Zephyrus M16 owner who purchased their laptop in February 2023 reported a hardware failure after the machine powered off from suspected overheating. Upon inspection, the user discovered significant corrosion on both the heatsink and the silicon crystal.
ASUS utilizes liquid metal for thermal management in gaming laptops, employing rubber barriers and gaskets to prevent spillage. However, the gallium in liquid metal is electrically conductive and can dissolve aluminum if it escapes these protective seals.
The owner restored performance by applying G900 thermal paste, resulting in a 3x FPS boost. Alternatives like PTM7950 pads retail for $23.69 on Amazon, while UPSIREN UTP-X Ultra thermal putty is available for $25.99 to provide safer long-term heat dissipation.