CRITICAL: Liquid metal is electrically conductive and will short circuit components if it spills. Work slowly and carefully. Wear nitrile gloves. Protect the area around the APU with Kapton tape or nail polish (cover all SMD components within 5mm of the die). Liquid metal is also corrosive to aluminum - only use on copper or nickel-plated heatsinks. This Sony uses a nickel-plated heatsink, so it's safe.

Remove the APU heatsink (usually 4-6 screws). The liquid metal will make it stick - gently twist to break the seal. Clean ALL the old liquid metal from both the die and heatsink using isopropyl alcohol and cotton swabs. This takes patience - keep cleaning until both surfaces are completely clean and shiny. Any residue will affect the new application. The liquid metal will look like mercury - it's a silvery liquid.

Before applying new liquid metal, protect the area around the APU die. Apply Kapton tape to cover all SMD components within 5mm of the die edges. Alternatively, use clear nail polish to coat the components (let it dry completely). This prevents damage if any liquid metal spills during application.

This is the critical step. Apply a TINY amount of liquid metal to the center of the APU die - about half the size of a rice grain. Use the plastic applicator to spread it VERY THINLY across the entire die surface. The layer should be so thin you can barely see it - like a mirror finish. Too much liquid metal will pump out again. Also apply a thin layer to the heatsink contact area. The goal is complete coverage with minimal thickness.

Carefully mount the heatsink, ensuring it sits flat and makes even contact. Tighten screws in a cross pattern to even pressure. Power on the TV and monitor temperatures. The APU should now run at 60-70°C under load (down from 95°C). Let it run for 2-3 hours to ensure stability. The fan noise should be significantly reduced as the system no longer needs maximum cooling.