How to Apply Thermal Paste - Step by Step If you absolutely need to reuse an application - while waiting for replacement paste, for example - you can, but keep in mind this is a short-term solution, and that we recommend a proper reapplication before long-term use of your CPU cooler. If a problem occurs during the installation process and you have to remove the CPU cooler, you should completely clean off all paste as mentioned above, then try again with a fresh application. Reusing paste can also cause air bubbles to form.Incorrect manual application can cause air bubbles to form in the paste, which can negatively impact the thermal conductivity. We recommend letting the pressure from the base-plate or waterblock being installed do it for you. It might be tempting to spread the thermal paste onto the CPU yourself.Too much reduces the efficacy of the paste, due to the metal surfaces being too far apart, and also risks spilling out onto the motherboard during installation. An insufficient amount might not cover the surface area needed in order to be effective. Make sure to use the correct amount of thermal paste, which is roughly the size of a pea or a grain of rice.Consult the instructions, ensure that every step has been completed up to attaching the CPU cooler, and make sure you have any necessary tools close at hand. Before you start applying the thermal paste, make sure the rest of your CPU cooler is ready to install.If there is, carefully remove the old paste from the lid of the CPU with isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth or paper towel that doesn’t shed, and let it dry before continuing. Make sure that the CPU is clean, and that there isn’t any old thermal paste on it.If the silver paste is already there, you don’t need to add any more during the installation process.Ī few things to keep in mind before starting: 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. Most processors require some sort of thermal solution to properly operate at peak efficiency, but the process of installing a CPU cooler in a PC is unique.Įvery CPU cooler needs thermal paste, but many have it pre-applied, which simplifies the installation process. Important Preparations for Thermal Paste Application It allows for an efficient transfer of heat from the IHS of the processor to the base plate or water block of the CPU cooler that is designed to dissipate that heat. Thermal Paste - A silvery-gray substance that you apply to a processor before installing a cooling solution. It transfers heat from the IHS to the heat transfer fluid, which then relocates that heat to be redistributed by fans at a radiator. Waterblock - The apparatus that attaches to the IHS when using an All-in-One (AIO) liquid cooler or a custom cooling loop. This design allows the transfer of heat through convection to the fins of the heat sink, where it can then be redistributed with a fan. CPU coolers usually use air or liquid to relocate the heat created by the operation of the CPU.īase-Plate - The metal base of an air-cooler that attaches to the IHS of the CPU. This is the part of the CPU that is still exposed after being installed in a motherboard, and is the surface to which you apply thermal paste.ĬPU Cooler - The device that keeps your CPU running at optimal temperatures. This serves as a heat sink designed to distribute heat from the processor itself to a CPU cooler, as well as provide protection to the processor inside. Integrated Heat Spreader (IHS) - The metal “lid” of the CPU. If you'd like to learn more about how a CPU is made, you can read more about the manufacturing process. This is where thermal paste becomes important. In order for a CPU to operate at peak efficiency, it needs to be properly cooled, usually with a cooling apparatus designed just for this purpose. Modern CPUs execute a high volume of operations per second, and this generates heat. If the computer is a body, then the CPU is the brain, and it is absolutely critical to the functioning of any PC. It executes all operational instructions and sends instructions to the other hardware in the computer. In order to properly explain how thermal paste functions, it’s worth defining some of the terms we will be using.Ĭentral Processing Unit (CPU) - The information processing center of a PC.
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