How often do you reapply thermal paste?

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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How often do you reapply thermal paste to your CPU? What thermal compound do you use?

Some sites say: 3-6 months.
Some sites say: Never, unless you have a problem.

I'm planning to get one of the following:
AS5
AS5 Ceramique
Nanotherm PCM+

AS5 is said to be harder to apply, Ceramique is said to be easier to apply and doesn't crack, PCM+ is said to be MUCH cooler, much easier to apply, much easier to remove.

Which one do you think will last the longest? I don't want to have to reapply this stuff over and over again.

-The Pentium Guy
 

beatle

Diamond Member
Apr 2, 2001
5,661
5
81
I don't reapply. I think some of the reason surrounding the 3-6 month interval comes from people who have headsinks coated in dust. They remove their heatsink to clean the dust, reapply grease, and claim a huge reduction in temps. Personally, I only reapply when changing the heatsink, replacing the cpu, or cleaning the heatsink. I use Ceramique, FWIW.
 

CycloWizard

Lifer
Sep 10, 2001
12,348
1
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Originally posted by: beatle
I don't reapply. I think some of the reason surrounding the 3-6 month interval comes from people who have headsinks coated in dust. They remove their heatsink to clean the dust, reapply grease, and claim a huge reduction in temps. Personally, I only reapply when changing the heatsink, replacing the cpu, or cleaning the heatsink. I use Ceramique, FWIW.
:thumbsup:

If it's thermal paste, one would hope it wouldn't degrade at operating temperatures, since that's what it's designed for. Just replace it when you break contact between your heat sink and the CPU.
 

MidasKnight

Diamond Member
Apr 24, 2004
3,288
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Originally posted by: beatle
I don't reapply. I think some of the reason surrounding the 3-6 month interval comes from people who have headsinks coated in dust. They remove their heatsink to clean the dust, reapply grease, and claim a huge reduction in temps. Personally, I only reapply when changing the heatsink, replacing the cpu, or cleaning the heatsink. I use Ceramique, FWIW.


That sums it up for me. Same thing here including the use of Ceramique.
 

The Pentium Guy

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2005
4,327
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Hmm...dust.
I'll need to get filters for my side fan, my front/back fans have them. Good point.

-The Pentium Guy
 

thelostjs

Member
Feb 2, 2005
34
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0
people need to quit talking about how hard it is to apply... anyone who passed kindergarten and knows the basics of using elmers glue can use ANY thermal paste... and do it right... artci siler even has instructions on their webpage...... it most definately is'nt rocket science.. so their is no excuse
my .02 = as5 the best..
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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I just watch my temps (use alarms available in hardware monitoring software). When it rises out of my comfort zone (I usually like my cpu below 50 deg C - running 33.5 right now), I fix anything broken, clean and regrease. Most folks here don't leave things alone long enough to realize any negatives from "pumping" or drying out... ;)

.bh.
 

Drostie

Junior Member
Feb 5, 2005
20
0
0
I use AS5, because it was packaged free with a cooler and the tube hasn't run out yet.

Don't reapply unless you have a problem, ever. If your HS falls off, then reapply; if you change processors, clean, polish, reapply... but otherwise, just plain don't.

AS5 is not hard to apply. Just make sure to have a straight edge (like a small piece of uncorrugated cardboard) and a wipe cloth so that you can get as thin a layer as possible, and there are no skills involved. You be like wow, I don't believe.