The liquid metal application lowers the maximum CPU temperature by two degrees.
High Tech Point recently tested the Asus Vivobook S15 Copilot+ PC, which is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite processor. The reviewer was disappointed with the laptop’s thermal performance, which included excessive CPU thermals in higher power profiles and heated surface temperatures even under mild operation. To deal with this temperature behavior, the reviewer changed the thermal paste application from ordinary paste to liquid metal to see if the more thermally efficient substance could assist alleviate the Vivobook S15’s thermal issues.
Unfortunately, High Tech Point determined that the liquid metal application didn’t significantly increase performance or temperatures. In Cinebench testing, the stock thermal paste application produced a 10,962-point multi-threaded score, but the liquid metal treatment produced a 3% increase of 11,344 points. Thermals were largely the same. The liquid metal application reduced the Snapdragon X Elite’s maximum temperature by two degrees, from 88 degrees Celsius from two CPU sensors to 86 degrees Celsius.
We are not surprised by these disappointing outcomes. Despite its great thermal properties, liquid metal isn’t a one-stop solution for all thermal challenges. One feature of modern processors that helps prevent cooling modifications from lowering temperatures is how most recent CPUs boost clock speeds; generally, when there is voltage, thermal, and power headroom available, a CPU increases the clock speed, optimizing performance wherever possible. It explains why temperatures only dropped by two degrees while performance increased (although by 3%).
It is wonderful for performance reasons, as it ensures that most CPUs leave no clock speed headroom unclaimed. The disadvantage is that this behavior might result in higher temperatures, which may be uncomfortable for the user, especially if it translates to warm surface temperatures.
Even switching from thermal paste to liquid metal has its limitations. To improve temperatures, proper thermal contact must be combined with an effective cooling solution. Asus prioritized lightness and thinness with the Vivobook S15, thus the laptop manufacturer chose the smallest cooling solution possible. This method will maintain appropriate surface temperatures while keeping the CPU cool enough to give adequate performance.
The good news is that you can change this behavior on the Vivobook S15 by sacrificing performance. According to High Tech Point, switching to the balanced or performance profiles results in only the aforementioned thermal difficulties. Switching the laptop to power efficiency mode solves the problem completely. We’re not sure if the laptop’s high surface temperatures are normal—Tech High Pont measured a maximum surface temperature of 46.6 degrees Celsius on the keyboard—especially in the laptop’s balanced profile, which most users will use. However, given that this laptop is new, Asus may release a new firmware update that improves cooling and performance even more.
