How Often To Change Thermal Paste

Thermal paste is an important part of whatsoever PC build because it protects the key processing unit from overheating, which can cause a multifariousness of serious problems. Even so, you lot may non know everything y'all need to know nigh this material, including how often you need to replace it.

Yous should replace thermal paste every two to three years, whenever you lot remove the central processing unit, whenever you notice your paste is dry out or flaky, or as presently as your central processing unit shows signs of overheating.

The residue of this commodity will answer all your questions near thermal paste, its longevity, how information technology works, and how to apply information technology. So, if yous're working on a PC build, or if you're looking for ways to meliorate the build you already have, keep reading!

Indications that you should supersede the thermal paste

Since several factors influence how long thermal paste lasts, information technology's difficult to determine a specific time to supersede the thermal paste.

However, a general rule is that in one case every few years should be sufficient. Three years is probably the average number of years to go before replacing the thermal paste, although information technology may depend on your computer's vesture and tear and how oftentimes you employ it.

If you're upgrading or replacing your central processing unit (CPU), yous'll need to replace the thermal paste too because you tin't reuse information technology.

Old thermal paste may be able to leave air bubbles that will reduce heat transfer efficiency.

Another indicator that it's time to replace the thermal paste is if you discover that your old paste is dry and flaky.

If this is the case, the paste is no longer operating to the best of its power, and your CPU is in danger of overheating.

If your CPU does seem to be heating up regularly, this is some other sign that the thermal paste is no longer doing its job and needs replacement.

The following factors influence how long the thermal paste will last:

• How high your CPU temperatures get and how frequently it'due south at a high temperature.
• The brand and type of your paste.
• The airflow of your PC belfry.

In general, once every three years should be ofttimes plenty to replace the thermal paste.

How to apply thermal paste

Before you begin applying your paste, clean your central processing unit. If you're replacing old paste, you'll demand to remove it.

To exercise this, put some thermal paste remover on a microfiber cloth and rub the former thermal paste away.

Keep applying thermal paste remover to clean areas of the fabric and echo the cleaning process until all the old thermal paste is completely gone.

Important: Never use a scraping device of any kind to remove one-time thermal paste. Thermal paste remover is awesome and will make short work of any old dry paste.

Then utilise some surface purifier fluid to brand sure that the surface is properly prepared.

Make sure the CPU dries completely before you begin the procedure of applying the new paste.

I like to take a clean microfiber cloth at the end to remove the last bit of surface purifier that may exist left to ensure the surface is dry.

Make sure no particles of dust or other droppings makes their way onto either surface, particularly after you accept applied thermal paste. You tin even use a lilliputian compressed air to ensure the area is dust-gratis earlier applying the thermal paste.

After the CPU is clean and dry, you're set to apply the new thermal paste. Here'due south how:

1. Utilise the thermal paste onto the center of the central processing unit's lid. You lot don't need a lot of paste: a pea-sized corporeality volition suffice. This lid also called an integrated heat spreader, is the heat sink that distributes oestrus from the processor to the CPU cooler. If your paste came with an applicator, you could use this tool to spread the paste out evenly before clamping the heat sink downward.
2. Place the libation onto the CPU. You lot should do this with enough force that the cooler doesn't slide around but gently enough that y'all don't cause any harm.
3. Attach the cooler to the motherboard. Attach in a diagonal design.
4. Check to make certain everything looks correct. There shouldn't be any paste spilling out, and everything should look clean and secure.

If yous did utilise too much paste and some is spilling out onto the motherboard, y'all'll need to clean it off with thermal paster remover and start the process over once more.

How does thermal paste work?

Thermal paste works by transferring oestrus abroad from the cardinal processing unit of measurement of a figurer and into the heat sink to prevent the CPU from overheating. The paste seals gaps in the hardware to increase heat transfer efficiency.

Thermal paste is also called thermal grease, CPU paste, thermal gel, thermal interface material, and heat paste.

This paste is applied betwixt the processor and the heat sink to protect the CPU.

The heat sink and the CPU are close together, but the estrus sink has grooves and gaps that allow air between the CPU and the oestrus sink, reducing heat transfer considering air is a terrible thermal conductor.

Thermal paste fills these holes to create a tighter seal that allows for better heat transfer.

There are 3 types of thermal pastes:

• Metal-based. Metal-based pastes contain metal particles, normally aluminum or silverish. This type is the most effective for lowering temperatures. Nevertheless, you have to be conscientious when handling this kind of paste, as a spill on the motherboard could lead to short-circuiting and harm. This is also the near expensive kind of thermal paste.
• Ceramic-based. This kind of paste contains ceramic powder, usually made with aluminum oxide and zinc oxide. This kind of paste is inexpensive and won't cause electrical damage in the event of a spill. They are less effective in estrus transfer than metallic-based pastes, though.
• Carbon-based. This kind of paste contains carbon particles and other materials, such as graphene oxide. These pastes don't behave electricity, so just like ceramic-based pastes, they won't crusade electrical damage if yous spill them. Carbon-based pastes perform only slightly worse than metal-based pastes in lowering temperatures.

A computer will showtime without thermal paste, so some mistakenly believe that it'southward not an essential office of edifice a computer. However, without thermal paste, the CPU will most likely overheat, which can crusade the following problems:

• Bluish screen errors.
• Software crash.
• Loss of data.
• Destruction of internal components.
• OS slows downwards.
• Spontaneous reboots.
• Regular crashing.
• Computer freezes.
• Loud computer fan sounds.
• Pixelated lines on the screen.
• Damage to the motherboard.

In serious cases, the computer may even take hold of fire! Therefore, it's essential that you continue the CPU in your calculator nice and cool, and thermal paste is a great manner to practise this.

Thermal pads vs. thermal paste

An culling to using thermal paste is using thermal pads instead.

Thermal pads are pieces that are thermally conductive material, usually silicon, that are positioned between the CPU and the heat sink to help behave the heat.

The purpose of a thermal pad is the same equally thermal paste.

Whichever you choose is a thing of your personal preference, every bit each method has advantages and disadvantages. The following table outlines these pros and cons:

Type of Cooling Method	Pros	Cons
Thermal Paste	Spreads easily Conforms to uneven surfaces Fills large holes more than evenly than pads Better thermal conductivity when applied in a sparse layer Nearly pastes are less expensive than thermal pads	Messy awarding process Dries out Tin't be reused
Thermal Pads	Clean awarding You can cutting the pads to certain sizes to fit your specific setup Tin make full bigger holes	More than expensive than paste Thicker material means less constructive thermal conductivity

However, this isn't my preferred pick. In my personal stance, thermal pads work well for heatsinks that contain a small gap away from the surface of the area that needs to exist cooled.

The choice of paste or pads is truly up to yous and your personal preference. As long as you have some sort of cooling mechanism, your CPU will thanks.

Alternatives to thermal paste

If you don't take access to thermal paste for any reason, there are alternative solutions that you tin make or utilize that will take a similar cooling effect for a temporary fix.

Please note: These are temporary fixes and that yous should use thermal paste as soon every bit you tin! These solutions are non recommended.

• Hazelnut spread, such as Nutella. Hazelnut spreads have a soft consistency similar to thermal paste, and they can work every bit cooling agents in a pinch.
• Toothpaste and vaseline. Mixing some vaseline with some toothpaste will help it dry out slower. This solution can last for 3-iv months.
• Butter. The polish consistency of butter, like hazelnut spread, can besides help transfer heat. This solution won't last very long, though.
• Diaper rash cream. The zinc oxide in this cream works well for transferring estrus, and this ready tin can last 5-6 months.
• Moisturizing cream. Some moisturizing creams as well accept zinc oxide, but the smooth and slick foam will help transfer heat away from your CPU even if they don't.
• Beeswax. If you utilize beeswax, brand certain that it is pure, 100% beeswax. This will only work for a few days before it becomes brittle and ineffective.
• Sealing wax. You'll need multiple layers of this for information technology to be effective, but non-pigmented sealing wax tin work for a few days to keep your CPU cool.

These solutions will work for a while, but it's all-time to get your hands on some thermal paste every bit soon as possible for the all-time results.

Other means to continue your CPU cool

If you lot use your PC a lot or frequently play games that crusade your PC to piece of work hard, you lot shouldn't rely just on thermal paste to keep your CPU from overheating.

Thermal pastes can exist extremely effective, but yous should combine the paste with other means to keep your computer absurd for the best results and ensure your PC's longevity.

Here are some other ways to keep your computer cool:

• Clean your computer's example regularly. Whatsoever dust or debris that builds up in your figurer'southward example can cake the airflow, which can cause the CPU to overheat more. To avoid this issue, you lot should clean your computer's case before it becomes a trouble.
• Put your setup in a place where it can get good airflow. If you shove your PC setup in an enclosed space, such every bit confronting a wall where air cannot circulate as well, y'all're not setting your PC upwardly for success. Ensure that the vents are unblocked and remove any obstacles that restrict airflow. In that location should be 2-3 inches (5.08-seven.62 centimeters) of open space on either side of your case, and the dorsum should exist completely open.
• Don't keep your fix near a window. If your setup is nigh a window exposed to sunlight, this tin can pb to overheating.
• Upgrade to a loftier-quality CPU fan. Your CPU probably came with a fan preinstalled, but these fans are usually low-quality and don't work very well. Consider an upgrade if you want to continue your CPU working to the best of its ability!
• Add more fans. If your CPU is overheating regularly, you may need to add more fans to your setup to increase airflow. If you don't already have example and memory cooling fans, it is a good idea to add these.
• Use a water cooling kit. Water cooling kits use pumps for cycling common cold water to the CPU and then out of the arrangement. The coolant in the kit absorbs heat every bit information technology moves through the system and so uses fans to move the heat away from the CPU. An AIO is a great solution, it is easy to install and requires very little maintenance.
• Finish overclocking. Overclocking is when you run your computer'due south processor at a college speed than the manufacturer intended, which is a major cause of overheating. If yous're non keeping the hardware that you're overworking cool, your estimator will overheat and experience technical difficulties.
• Invest in a phase modify unit of measurement. A phase alter unit is similar a refrigerator for your CPU. These units can be expensive, but they are extremely effective.

If you have these steps and use a high-quality thermal paste, your PC most likely won't overheat every bit much, and you'll have a healthier system overall.

Conclusion

Thermal paste is a great tool for helping your PC build stay functional and salubrious for every bit long equally possible.

As long as you replace it every 3 years, whenever you remove the CPU, whenever you observe a dry texture, or when your CPU begins to overheat, thermal paste can help you maintain an effective PC system.

You lot can likewise combine thermal paste with other cooling methods for the best results.

Source: https://computerinfobits.com/how-often-should-i-replace-thermal-paste/

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