Applying thermal paste to cooler with pre-applied paste

sub-80

Senior member
Jan 11, 2014
259
4
81
Hello guys;

What Ive understood is that apply thermal paste to pre applied thermal paste cooler if you plan to overclock which is what am planning. I have the thermaltake water 3.0 extreme which has pre applied paste and I also have thermaltake TG-1 thetmal paste. My question is should I remove the preapplied paste or should I apply paste on cpu and keep the paste on the cooler?
 

dma0991

Platinum Member
Mar 17, 2011
2,723
1
0
That may not be necessary depending on the type of pre-applied TIM used. Pre-applied TIM on stock heatsinks is hard and has the consistency of a thermal pad. The ones applied to AIO watercooling units are quite decent in quality (Corsair AIO units were said to come pre-applied with Shin-Etsu) and is much closer to aftermarket tube TIM and can smear (softer consistency).
 

sub-80

Senior member
Jan 11, 2014
259
4
81
So add thermal paste to cpu and keep the pre applied as a precaution. Or do you think this will lower the heat conductivity?
 

sub-80

Senior member
Jan 11, 2014
259
4
81
Solved

This shows the stock paste being almost half a degree better against Noctua
 
Last edited:

Wall Street

Senior member
Mar 28, 2012
691
44
91
So add thermal paste to cpu and keep the pre applied as a precaution. Or do you think this will lower the heat conductivity?

No. Pre-applied thermal paste is applied such that no other paste is needed. Usually with hand applied paste, you want to rub a small amount of paste into both surfaces to help the central drop of paste spread, but the machine process for pre-applied paste has it spread already.