Artic Silver 5 - does it wear out?

[imported_Salamander]

Once you install the CPU HSF using Artic Silver 5, does the Artic Silver wear out? Do you have to re-apply it periodically?

 

[rxblitzrx]

Wow, I doubt it.

 

[Maximilian]

Not really no. Everything wears out in time, when your temps start to rise for no reason at all then the heatsink needs a clean or the AS5 has gone all dry and crusty. For the record i havet had to replace mine yet in either rig. Its been there for about 1 year.

 

[cubeless]

if u move or bang the pc around, and/or have a heavy hsf, it can break the seal between the cpu and hsf...

 

[aka1nas]

AS5 is a lot better than previous versions about drying out, though it does gradually lose a little effectiveness. More likely, you broke the seal that had formed between CPU and heatsink.

 

[Duvie]

I haven't had the AS5 dry out...not like some of that generic paste that comes with some of the HSF...Usually when you have to do a deep cleaning of the heastink and its fan it is just a good time to take it off the cpu and thus reapply the AS5 when you remount it....It generally looks pretty good when I remove the HSF. Modest temp rises are usually associated with the thermal blanket of dust that collects on the fins of the HS and the fan....

 

[dampeal]

I thought I read somewhere that you should re-apply once a year to insure effectiveness

 

[imported_Salamander]

Is there an alternative to Artic Silver than can be left on for several years without needing to be replaced and that won't lose it's effectiveness?

 

[wazzledoozle]

Originally posted by: Salamander
Is there an alternative to Artic Silver than can be left on for several years without needing to be replaced and that won't lose it's effectiveness?

Arctic silver ceramique. Non-conductive/capacitive, and cools a bit better.

 

[CurseTheSky]

Originally posted by: Salamander
Is there an alternative to Artic Silver than can be left on for several years without needing to be replaced and that won't lose it's effectiveness?

Arctic Cooling MX-1 is supposed to do just that.