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Just realized thermal paste myths are way overblown
After swapping CPUs on three builds in my shop last month with cheap paste and zero difference in temps, I'm convinced the premium stuff is a waste for 99% of users.
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blakem1321d ago
Wait, has anyone actually tested if cheap paste changes how much thermal compound you need to use over time? Because I've noticed that with some of the cheaper stuff, it seems to pump out of the gap way faster under heat cycles. Like, you think you put enough on, but a year later the temps start creeping up and you pull the cooler off and half the paste is gone. Meanwhile, the midrange stuff I use stays put for years. Maybe the longevity argument is less about the paste drying out and more about it literally leaving the CPU.
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simons281mo ago
I get what you're saying, but I gotta call out one thing. The main reason to use quality paste isn't usually the temps, it's the consistency and how long it lasts. I grabbed some cheap stuff once and it was like greasy toothpaste, dripped everywhere during application. That same tube dried out completely after maybe six months. Meanwhile a tube of Arctic MX-4 I bought ages ago still works fine and spreads evenly every time. So cheap paste is fine if you're swapping CPUs every year, but if you're building a rig you plan on keeping for three or four years, that's where spending a few extra bucks makes sense.
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