What is silver thermal compound used for?

What is silver thermal compound used for?

Thermal compound is necessary to create a reliable transfer of heat from your computer's processor to its heatsink to keep your CPU from overheating. Arctic Silver 5 thermal compound does this with three unique shapes and sizes of pure silver particles to maximize particle-to-particle contact area and thermal transfer.

Is silver thermal paste better?

Arctic Silver 5 is a great pick if you want a simple, effective thermal paste for your Computer. I've been using Arctic Silver for my processors since it's release in the mid-2000s, and have always had great temps with it. Using silver as a base, it has great heat transfer.

Does thermal compound make a difference?

The big question is, does the type of thermal paste you use matter? Short answer, yes. ... Yet they don't transfer heat as well, leaving your CPUs a few degrees hotter—which likely won't matter unless you're either running a serious performance machine or using your computer in a hot environment.

Is thermal compound necessary?

Thermal paste, or some oily thermal interface material, is necessary because it fills in the microscopic imperfections that otherwise trap air particles between the CPU and the heatsink, preventing the CPU from properly cooling. ...

What happens if you don't put thermal paste?

Not using thermal paste between the CPU and the heat sink will cause it to eventually overheat and fail. This may not happen straight away but it will happen and in a much shorter time than if you use the thermal paste. ... Modern processors would fail if you repeatedly let them overheat.

Can you put too much thermal paste?

Putting too much paste on a socket generally won't hurt thermal performance, because the act of tightening down the cooler squeezes out the excess. Too little paste is bad, but anything above the minimum threshold will have the same effect once the cooler is tightened down.

How do I know if my CPU needs thermal paste?

Important Preparations for Thermal Paste Application To find out if you have pre-applied paste, check the bottom of the base plate or water block of your CPU cooler that attaches to the CPU. If the silver paste is already there, you don't need to add any more during the installation process.

Is my thermal paste bad?

The only thing that goes bad with thermal compound is them going solid. Or completely liquid. It should be fine as long as its been sealed tight.

How can you tell if thermal paste is good?

We recommend putting some on a metallic surface and spreading to check its consistency and smoothness. If it has separated, comes out clumpy or watery, then throw it away and get yourself a new tube of thermal paste.

Is Arctic Silver 5 still the best?

The Arctic Silver 5 AS5 is a good choice for people who are looking to apply paste to multiple CPUs. ... But it's performance is marginally better than what you'll find in less expensive thermal pastes. It's a good choice for someone who doesn't mind spending a little extra to get all the performance they can.

What can we use instead of thermal paste?

Toothpaste

Which thermal paste is best?

12 Best Thermal Pastes for CPU You Can Buy

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste.
Gelid Solutions GC-Extreme Thermal Compound.
Cooler Master MasterGel Maker Nano Thermal Paste.
Arctic MX-4 Thermal Compound.
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste.
Noctua NT-H2 Thermal Compound.
Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra Thermal Compound.

Can I use old thermal paste?

Yes, you could use what you have. It probably still works fine, and as long as it's not dried out and was stored properly (i.e. at room temperature in the dark). It should perform just as well. That being said, you should highly consider buying new thermal paste, or at least a reasonably priced, decent quality one.

How long will thermal paste last?

5 years

Does thermal paste dry out?

It doesn't dry, but sometimes you will get somewhat better thermal performance after letting thermal paste "set" after a few hours. TIM shouldn't dry per say. A lot of TIM does need to cure before you see the maximum amount of heat dissipation.

Is thermal paste cheap?

-but you do have to use thermal paste. don't attempt to install a CPU without it, or your CPU will toast and or melt under it's own burden of heat. ... some pastes are actually too cheap and your cpu won't get enough cooling which will result in a shorter life span of your CPU. it's safe to go cheap, just not too cheap.

Is expensive thermal paste worth it?

Splendid. Nope, it will work just fine. The more expensive thermal pastes might give you 1-5C better temps but nothing to force you to buy them.

Is 1 gram of thermal paste enough?

1 gram is enough for a few applications. And no, never run a modern CPU without thermal paste between the heatsink.

Should thermal paste cover the entire CPU?

Originally Answered: Should thermal paste cover the entire CPU? If the cooler you are using covers the whole die/heat-spreader of the CPU then yes. If your CPU is one of the older ones without the metal “cap” then you only need paste on the die/blue square in the middle of the CPU.

What is the best way to apply thermal paste?

Place a small amount of thermal paste onto the base of the cooler. Using a plastic finger protector or a plastic bag, use your finger to spread the paste evenly across the surface. Make sure to cover the entire surface that will be in contact with the processor, and ensure that you do not apply the paste too thick.

What happens if thermal paste gets on CPU pins?

Thermal paste on the pads on any current Intel CPU, no problem just wipe it off. Thermal paste on the pins in the socket in the motherboard, you can't do anything to it. ... The socket pins are extremely fragile. They should never be touched.