{"id":10204,"date":"2020-11-04T14:00:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-04T13:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/g100.us\/?p=10204"},"modified":"2022-05-14T12:38:38","modified_gmt":"2022-05-14T10:38:38","slug":"the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Thermal Paste for your needs (Beginner's Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_39 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">TABLE OF CONTENTS<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844645b667f\" class=\"cssicon\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\" \/><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #7f11e0;color:#7f11e0\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\" \/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844645b667f\" class=\"cssiconcheckbox\">1<\/label><input type=\"checkbox\" id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-66844645b667f\" checked><nav><ul class=\"ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 \"><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#What_is_Thermal_Paste_How_does_it_work\" title=\"What is Thermal Paste? How does it work?\">What is Thermal Paste? How does it work?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Types_of_Thermal_Paste\" title=\"Types of Thermal Paste\">Types of Thermal Paste<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#How_to_Apply_Thermal_Paste\" title=\"How to Apply Thermal Paste?\">How to Apply Thermal Paste?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#How_Long_Does_Thermal_Paste_Last\" title=\"How Long Does Thermal Paste Last?\">How Long Does Thermal Paste Last?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#The_Right_Thermal_Paste_for_You\" title=\"The Right Thermal Paste for You\">The Right Thermal Paste for You<\/a><ul class=\"ez-toc-list-level-3\"><li class=\"ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Best_Ceramic-based_Thermal_Paste_-_Gelid_GC-Extreme\" title=\"Best Ceramic-based Thermal Paste - Gelid GC-Extreme\">Best Ceramic-based Thermal Paste - Gelid GC-Extreme<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Best_Carbon-based_Thermal_Paste_-_Arctic_MX-4\" title=\"Best Carbon-based Thermal Paste - Arctic MX-4\">Best Carbon-based Thermal Paste - Arctic MX-4<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Best_Liquid-metal_Thermal_Paste_-_Arctic_Silver_5\" title=\"Best Liquid-metal Thermal Paste - Arctic Silver 5\">Best Liquid-metal Thermal Paste - Arctic Silver 5<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Thermal_Paste_Alternatives\" title=\"Thermal Paste Alternatives\">Thermal Paste Alternatives<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#How_to_Clean_Thermal_Paste_off_the_CPU\" title=\"How to Clean Thermal Paste off the CPU?\">How to Clean Thermal Paste off the CPU?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2\"><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/the-best-thermal-paste-for-your-needs-beginners-guide\/#Conclusion_-_Choosing_The_Right_Thermal_Compound_for_Your_CPU\" title=\"Conclusion - Choosing The Right Thermal Compound for Your CPU\">Conclusion - Choosing The Right Thermal Compound for Your CPU<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p>Every PC enthusiast knows that a cool PC is the best PC.<\/p>\n<p>Low CPU temperatures cool, - mind you - not a PC wearing boot-cut jeans and leather jackets although cool-looking PCs are getting more important by the day.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s crucial that the <strong>Processor doesn\u2019t overheat as that will decrease its longevity and more importantly: its performance<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13087\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance.jpg\" alt=\"How does Thermal Paste improve performance\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13087 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"How does Thermal Paste improve performance\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-does-Thermal-Paste-improve-performance.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>You paid a pile of cash for that CPU, right? You want it to perform the best it can. <!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Some <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/do-cpus-come-with-thermal-paste\/\">CPUs might come with a Cooler and Thermal Paste<\/a>, but it's no secret that getting a stronger <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/do-you-need-a-cpu-cooler\/\">Third-Party Cooler<\/a> with some premium Thermal Paste is the way to go for the best performance.<\/p>\n<p>So, how do you keep your CPU nice and cool even when doing some heavy-duty gaming or work on some crazy complex projects?<\/p>\n<p>A part of the answer is: <strong><em>Thermal Paste<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-case-fans\/\">case fans<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-cpu-cooler-for-intel-i9-10900k\/\">CPU-radiators<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-smallest-atx-cases\/\">case airflow<\/a> that are hard at work too, but all that heat your CPU generates would have a hard time dissipating if it couldn\u2019t be transferred away from the CPU\u2019s heat spreader.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s challenging to find the perfect Thermal Paste for your system because:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>There are a gazillion choices<\/li>\n<li>Doing some testing of different pastes on an expensive system is time-consuming and often - risky<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>We\u2019ve done the research and testing for you to make sure you don\u2019t have to invest any of your time or money and risk damaging your own system.<\/p>\n<p>Here we go. Let\u2019s start like this:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Thermal_Paste_How_does_it_work\"><\/span>What is Thermal Paste? How does it work?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Thermal Paste is a <strong>heat-conductive paste that you apply between e.g. your CPU and the CPU Cooler\u2019s heat sink<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>You can also put it between other components like a GPU and its cooler or a Chipset and its cooler.<\/p>\n<p>So why the heck are we messing up our components with paste?<\/p>\n<p>Well, the CPU creates a crazy amount of heat, which has to be taken away continuously if we don\u2019t want it to overheat.<\/p>\n<p>The CPU Cooler that sits on top of the CPU is really good at spreading heat across a large surface area (with the heat sink - the big clunky part of metal) and the CPU Fans on the heat sink blow the heat away from the heat sink, allowing cool air to take its place.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_17470\" style=\"width: 2048px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17470\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17470\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader.jpg\" alt=\"Thermal paste between Heatsink and CPU Heatspreader\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-17470\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-17470 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Thermal paste between Heatsink and CPU Heatspreader\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Thermal-paste-between-Heatsink-and-CPU-Heatspreader.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-17470\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thermal paste fills in the gaps between the cooler's heatsink and the CPU's heat spreader<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The problem though is, the heat from the <em>CPU <\/em>has to somehow get from the CPU <em>onto the heat sink<\/em>. The CPU and heat sink <em>touch<\/em>, but they don\u2019t <strong><em>perfectly <\/em><\/strong><em>touch<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Modern CPUs, Heat sinks, and <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-cpu-coolers-ryzen-threadripper\/\">CPU coolers<\/a> have minor imperfections on their surface that may trap air between them, and decrease the overall performance of the heat sink\/cooler.<\/p>\n<p>Thermal Paste fills in these surface-imperfections so the heat conduction <strong>is as efficient as possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Heat conduction is the process that takes heat from the component that\u2019s generating it and transfers it away from the component onto another object like a heat sink which is much better at getting rid of the heat.<\/p>\n<p>As you might\u2019ve learned in Science class, air isn\u2019t really good for conducting heat (not as good as copper or aluminum), so you want to make sure that there\u2019s no trapped air between your CPU and the heat sink.<\/p>\n<p>Now, let\u2019s see what <em>types <\/em>of thermal pastes you should know about:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Types_of_Thermal_Paste\"><\/span>Types of Thermal Paste<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s no one Thermal Paste for everyone, instead, it\u2019s all about the type of PC you have.<\/p>\n<p>And, yes: The <strong>skill level you possess in terms of application<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Some pastes are difficult to apply which means they are not necessarily suitable for beginners and have a high risk of part-damage.<\/p>\n<p>If you are a beginner then you\u2019ll want to avoid <strong>Liquid-metal pastes<\/strong> as they are made with micro-metallic particles that are electrically conductive.<\/p>\n<p>This means even a small drop spilled on your processor\u2019s pins or motherboard can <strong>short circuit the entire system<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>We definitely don\u2019t want that.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13090\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste.jpg\" alt=\"Who should use liquid metal Thermal Paste\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13090 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Who should use liquid metal Thermal Paste\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/Who-should-use-liquid-metal-Thermal-Paste.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s better to stick to ceramic-based pastes if you are not entirely confident in applying the thermal paste to your CPU.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ceramic-based pastes<\/strong> are thicker pastes made up of a ceramic powder and silicone solution.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t conduct electricity which makes them the safest option for novices.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, there are Carbon-based thermal pastes that claim to offer the best of both worlds: <strong>Superior heat transfer and foolproof application<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Carbon-based thermal pastes<\/strong> do not conduct electricity at all, so you don\u2019t have to worry about an immaculate application as a little spill here and there wouldn\u2019t hurt the system as much.<\/p>\n<p>On top of that, Carbon-based paste conducts heat just as well as metal-based ones and keeps your CPU temperature in check.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Apply_Thermal_Paste\"><\/span>How to Apply Thermal Paste?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>When applying thermal paste, you want to use one of the many techniques that also depend on the kind of paste you have. A <strong>thick paste requires a different application technique<\/strong> than a thin paste, so it all boils down to the kind of paste you have.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10214\" style=\"width: 1600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10214\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10214\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application.jpg\" alt=\"Best Thermal Paste for your needs - Thermal Paste Application\" width=\"1600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-1536x768.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10214\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10214 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Best Thermal Paste for your needs - Thermal Paste Application\" width=\"1600\" height=\"800\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201600%20800%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application-1536x768.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/Best-Thermal-Paste-for-your-needs-Thermal-Paste-Application.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-10214\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Source: Arctic<\/p><\/div>\n<p>There\u2019s no one true method to apply thermal paste, as everyone uses a different technique. I personally just put a small pea-size amount on top of the CPU and push the heat sink down on it to spread it evenly across the surface<\/p>\n<p>Some people prefer spreading it with a card, or some other tool <strong>as if they were spreading butter on a toast<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The application process also varies depending on the type of CPU, as some <strong>CPUs like the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/best-cpu-for-rendering\/\"><strong>AMD Threadripper<\/strong><\/a> have a much larger surface area than others.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=EUWVVTY63hc\" target=\"_blank\">great guide by GamersNexus<\/a> on different ways to apply Thermal Paste and the performance difference you can expect (if any).<\/p>\n<p><noscript><iframe src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EUWVVTY63hc\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/noscript><iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/EUWVVTY63hc\" class=\" lazyload\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Long_Does_Thermal_Paste_Last\"><\/span>How Long Does Thermal Paste Last?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Even though most manufacturers will tell you that thermal paste will last for 4-5 years in its tube, the normal <strong>shelf life of your average thermal compound is usually just 2-3 years<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>The reason is that thermal paste dries out over time. So, in most cases, it\u2019s better to buy a lower quantity of paste that you\u2019d use up quickly.<\/p>\n<p>Apart from the shelf life, the life of each thermal paste applied to a CPU or other component also varies depending on the type of paste you are using.<\/p>\n<p><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13089\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg\" alt=\"How long does thermal paste last\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\"><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-13089 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"How long does thermal paste last\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%202048%201080%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-300x158.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1024x540.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-768x405.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last-1536x810.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/How-long-does-thermal-paste-last.jpg\"><\/p>\n<p><strong>High-end pastes can maintain their efficacy for up to 7 years<\/strong> while low-end manufacturers recommend replacing their thermal compounds every 2 to 3 years.<\/p>\n<p>We take a closer look at the lifetime of Thermal Paste in <a href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/how-long-does-thermal-paste-last\/\">this article<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Right_Thermal_Paste_for_You\"><\/span>The Right Thermal Paste for You<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve made it this far into the article then you probably already have some idea of what kind of thermal paste you want.<\/p>\n<p>If you are looking for a thermal paste that is <strong>foolproof and easy to use<\/strong> then a Ceramic-based or Carbon-based thermal paste is the way to go; however, if you are feeling adventurous and want a more efficient paste, then <strong>Liquid-metal based pastes <\/strong>are a good choice.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve laid out <strong>some of the best thermal pastes<\/strong> in each category so you can choose one that best suits your needs.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Ceramic-based_Thermal_Paste_-_Gelid_GC-Extreme\"><\/span>Best Ceramic-based Thermal Paste - <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g with Tooling - Thermal Conductive Paste for Heatsink | Maximum Thermal Conductivity | Easy Application | Not Corrosive.\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/gelid-gc-extreme-3-5g-with-tooling-thermal-conductive-paste-for-heatsink-maximum-thermal-conductivity-easy-application-not-corrosive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Gelid GC-Extreme<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>This has to be one of the best Ceramic-based thermal compounds on the market. It's completely safe to use and it won't damage aluminum.<\/p>\n<p>Even though it has a low-conductivity rating on paper which is 8.5W\/mK, it still manages to <strong>deliver a similar performance as the more expensive <\/strong><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Paste, 5.55g\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/thermal-grizzly-kryonaut-thermal-paste-5-55g\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut<\/strong><\/a> which has a conductivity rating of 12.5W\/mK.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10215\" style=\"width: 1581px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10215\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10215\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"Gelid GC Thermal Compound\" width=\"1581\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1.jpg 1581w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1581px) 100vw, 1581px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10215\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-10215 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201581%201125%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Gelid GC Thermal Compound\" width=\"1581\" height=\"1125\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201581%201125%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1581w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1581px) 100vw, 1581px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1.jpg 1581w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-768x546.jpg 768w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1-1536x1093.jpg 1536w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/thermal_compound_GC-Extreme_1-1.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-10215\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Source: Gelid<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Gelid GC-Extreme Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Easy to apply<\/li>\n<li>Ceramic-based<\/li>\n<li>Conductivity Rating: 8.5W\/mK<\/li>\n<li>Electrically non-conductive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>On top of that, the <strong>Gelid GC-Extreme is very easy to apply<\/strong> as it spreads smoothly and even a beginner can use it without any worries. If you are looking for a reasonably priced Ceramic-based thermal compound then this is the right choice.<\/p>\n<p>Other ceramic-based thermal compounds that deliver similar performance are Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut, Arctic Silver Ceramique, Cooler Master High-Performance Thermal Paste, and Corsair TM-30.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Carbon-based_Thermal_Paste_-_Arctic_MX-4\"><\/span>Best Carbon-based Thermal Paste - <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"ARCTIC MX-4 - Thermal Compound Paste For Coolers | Heat Sink Paste | Composed of Carbon Micro-particles | Easy to Apply | High Durability - 4 Grams\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/arctic-mx-4-thermal-compound-paste-for-coolers-heat-sink-paste-composed-of-carbon-micro-particles-easy-to-apply-high-durability-4-grams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Arctic MX-4<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Carbon-based thermal compounds too are safe to use and easy to apply.<\/p>\n<p>In my opinion, the <strong>Arctic MX-4 is one of the best carbon-based compounds<\/strong> currently on the market.<\/p>\n<p>The Arctic brand is known for offering some of the best thermal grease products, and the MX-4 stays true to the name.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_10208\" style=\"width: 1000px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10208\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10208\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3.jpg\" alt=\"Arctic MX-4 Thermal Paste\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3-768x384.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10208\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10208 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201000%20500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Arctic MX-4 Thermal Paste\" width=\"1000\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201000%20500%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3-768x384.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-3.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-10208\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Source: Arctic<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Easy application<strong>Arctic MX-4 Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Carbon-based<\/li>\n<li>Conductivity Rating: 8.5W\/mK<\/li>\n<li>Low-viscosity<\/li>\n<li>Electrically non-conductive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It has a <strong>conductivity rating of 8.5 W\/mK<\/strong> and does not contain any metal particles, so you won\u2019t have to worry about minor accidental spills.<\/p>\n<p>Other notable carbon-based thermal compounds include the Noctua NT-H1 and Thermalright TF-4. However, compared to its competition, the Arctic MX-4 is the top choice with its <strong>reasonable price-tag and high-performance.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Best_Liquid-metal_Thermal_Paste_-_Arctic_Silver_5\"><\/span>Best Liquid-metal Thermal Paste - <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Arctic Silver 5 AS5-3.5G Thermal Paste\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/arctic-silver-5-as5-3-5g-thermal-paste\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Arctic Silver 5<\/a><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_10209\" style=\"width: 1001px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10209\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10209\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4.jpg\" alt=\"Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste\" width=\"1001\" height=\"772\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4-768x592.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-10209\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-10209 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201001%20772%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Paste\" width=\"1001\" height=\"772\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201001%20772%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1001w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1001px) 100vw, 1001px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4.jpg 1001w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4-300x231.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4-768x592.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2021\/01\/word-image-4.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-10209\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Image-Source: Arctic<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Arctic Silver 5 Specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High-performance<\/li>\n<li>Liquid-Metal Base<\/li>\n<li>Electrically non-conductive, but very slightly capacitive<\/li>\n<li>Conductivity Rating: 8.9W\/mK<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The <strong>Arctic Silver 5 is a high-density paste<\/strong>, so it might be a bit difficult to apply.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, as you might\u2019ve already guessed from its name, the Arctic Silver 5 is composed of 99.9% pure micronized silver but luckily, it<strong> is non-electrically conductive<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>It provides one of the best cooling for your CPU, as long as you are comfortable with its comparatively difficult application process.<\/p>\n<p>The fine silver particles are an excellent heat dissipator, so you can expect superior thermal conductivity.<\/p>\n<p>Although the Arctic Silver 5 is non-electrically conductive overall, it can still <strong>cause short circuits due to the tiny silver particles<\/strong>, so be careful when applying the paste, and clean it up thoroughly if you spill some on the motherboard.<\/p>\n<p>Other notable Liquid-metal Thermal compounds are Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut and Coollaboratory Liquid Ultra.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Thermal_Paste_Alternatives\"><\/span>Thermal Paste Alternatives<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Need an alternative to Thermal Paste? I\u2019ve got you covered.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong>best thermal paste alternative is a thermal pad<\/strong>. These are a great option for both beginners and veterans. They are safe to use and leave no mess after application.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_16306\" style=\"width: 1100px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16306\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16306\" src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51.jpg\" alt=\"Thermal Pad as an alternative to Thermal Paste\" width=\"1100\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-1024x605.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-768x454.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\"><\/noscript><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16306\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-16306 lazyload\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201100%20650%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E\" alt=\"Thermal Pad as an alternative to Thermal Paste\" width=\"1100\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"data:image\/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201100%20650%22%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E 1100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-300x177.jpg 300w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-1024x605.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51-768x454.jpg 768w\" data-src=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/media\/2020\/11\/evga-1080-pad-mod-51.jpg\"><p id=\"caption-attachment-16306\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Thermal Pad as an alternative to Thermal Paste - <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gamersnexus.net\/guides\/2668-how-to-install-thermal-pads-on-evga-gpus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">GamersNexus<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n<p>Thermal pads are basically a thin sheet you place on top of your CPU, and it does the same thing as thermal paste.<\/p>\n<p>Best of all, <strong>you can even reuse these pads<\/strong>, but keep in mind that these are not meant for extreme cooling, so you shouldn\u2019t expect the performance of an Arctic Silver 5 or Noctua NT-H1.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Clean_Thermal_Paste_off_the_CPU\"><\/span>How to Clean Thermal Paste off the CPU?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>If you just took a processor out of its box then it wouldn\u2019t have any old paste residue on its heat spreader; however, if you want to re-apply thermal paste to your old CPU, you\u2019ll have to clean off the previous paste.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Removing thermal paste is no Rocket Science<\/strong>, all you have to do is scrape it off. Use a paper towel, a card, or a scraper to get rid of the residue. Make sure that the surface of the CPU is completely clean before applying a new paste.<\/p>\n<p>Take care not to bend any of the CPU\u2019s Pins and only hold it at its edges.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_-_Choosing_The_Right_Thermal_Compound_for_Your_CPU\"><\/span>Conclusion - Choosing The Right Thermal Compound for Your CPU<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The <strong><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"GELID GC-Extreme 3.5g with Tooling - Thermal Conductive Paste for Heatsink | Maximum Thermal Conductivity | Easy Application | Not Corrosive.\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/gelid-gc-extreme-3-5g-with-tooling-thermal-conductive-paste-for-heatsink-maximum-thermal-conductivity-easy-application-not-corrosive\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Gelid GC-Extreme<\/a> performs almost as well as some of the top thermal pastes<\/strong> on the market, but at a fraction of the cost. If you want to save some cash but don\u2019t want to sacrifice much performance then the Gelid GC-Extreme is the perfect fit for you.<\/p>\n<p>The <strong><a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"ARCTIC MX-4 - Thermal Compound Paste For Coolers | Heat Sink Paste | Composed of Carbon Micro-particles | Easy to Apply | High Durability - 4 Grams\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/arctic-mx-4-thermal-compound-paste-for-coolers-heat-sink-paste-composed-of-carbon-micro-particles-easy-to-apply-high-durability-4-grams\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Arctic MX-4<\/a> is a perfectly good alternative<\/strong> if you prefer a carbon-based thermal compound. It has a longer shelf life and offers similar performance to other electrically non-conductive thermal compounds.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The <a class=\"thirstylink\" title=\"Arctic Silver 5 AS5-3.5G Thermal Paste\" href=\"https:\/\/g100.us\/recommends\/arctic-silver-5-as5-3-5g-thermal-paste\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Arctic Silver 5<\/a> is definitely one of the best thermal compounds<\/strong>, but you\u2019ll have to be a lot more careful when applying this one, as it\u2019s a liquid-metal paste and may short your machine.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>That\u2019s about it from me! What kind of Thermal Paste are you buying?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Every PC enthusiast knows that a cool PC is the best PC. Low CPU temperatures cool, - mind you - not a PC wearing boot-cut jeans and leather jackets although cool-looking PCs are getting more important by the day. It\u2019s crucial that the Processor doesn\u2019t overheat as that will decrease its longevity and more importantly:...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2343,"featured_media":10227,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[74],"tags":[243],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2343"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10204"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17471,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10204\/revisions\/17471"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10227"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10204"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10204"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/g100.us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10204"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}