For enhancing your CPU performance and protecting your CPU from overheating, applying thermal paste is necessary. Thermal paste absorbs heat from the CPU and transfers heat to your cooler and IHS (Integrated Heat Spreader). Though thermal paste can improve your CPU performance, the old thermal paste can affect your CPU’s performance. So, it is better to replace the applied thermal paste from your CPU at a certain time. You may have a question on your mind now, how often should you replace thermal paste? Let’s discuss the matter;
When Should You Replace the Thermal Paste
Well, that’s a tough question to be answered. The answer is, it depends. Whenever you remove your PC cooler for any reason, you should replace thermal pastes. A change of thermal paste could help if you notice your PC temperature is rising high. Otherwise, you only need to change the thermal paste once in a few years.
Also, whenever you are facing one of these issues on your PC, you should check your PC’s cooling system and change thermal pastes. They are the factors of changing thermal pastes.
1. Frequently Freezing your PC
If your PC freezes while playing video and gaming, you need to check the cooler components of your PC and replace the thermal pastes of your PC.
2. Unstable Spinning of Cooler Fan
Cooler components control your CPU and GPU temperature. Thermal paste transfers heat from the CPU to the cooler component and IHS. If you ever notice unstable spinning of your GPU fans and CPU cooler fans, you need to change the applied thermal paste.
3. Unstable PC Performance
Whenever your PC has a problem with cooler components, your PC performance gets affected. It behaves strangely (freezing, working slowly, automatic restart). If you notice instability in your PC performance, you need to think about reapplying thermal paste.
4. High PC Temperature
If you constantly notice the pretty high temperature of your PC, you must change the thermal paste of your CPU. The thermal paste helps cooler components control PC temperature and overheating.
Some CPUs have pre-applied thermal pastes. So, you need to apply thermal paste on them not more than once in a few years. It is better to replace the thermal paste of your CPU once in one or two years. The thermal paste of your PC never lasts more than 3-4 years. In the case of changing the thermal paste of your GPU, it is better to change the thermal paste every 3-5 years. Though, most of the GPUs have pre-applied thermal pastes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is IHS?
Integrated Heat Spreader also known as IHS is the metal lid of the CPU that serves as a heat sink. Heat is distributed through IHS to the CPU cooler. You have to apply the thermal paste to the IHS surface.
What Do Cooler Components Do?
Cooler components are the components that protect PC hardware from overheating. Radiators and cooling fans are kind of cooler components. Without damaging the PC hardware, cooler components flow away accumulative heat energy from the hardware.
Does Thermal Paste Have Expiry Dates?
Yes, thermal paste does have expiry dates. Most thermal paste manufacturer company gives about a 3 to 5-year lifespan of thermal paste.
Before Wrapping Up
Let me give you small information about thermal pastes, they are made from typical heat-restraining matrix materials (Epoxies, Silicone, Urethane, and Acrylates Resin). So, after applying thermal paste to your CPU, thermal paste absorbs most of the heat caused by the CPU.
Leave a Reply