"Swap thermals?" "can do it on the CPU too?" Not sure what you are talking about here. Anyway, glad it worked for you. Yes, Thermal paste can dry out sometimes and become less effective. The reason Intel used such a viscous TIM was to inhibit "pumping out" from heating and cooling cycles and so to give the contact it afforded some longevity. What TIM did you wind up using under the lid? Less viscous TIM products have a tendency to pump out quickly so be aware you may have to redo this before long to retain the benefits.