Older Thermal Paste -- OK to use?

[WhipperSnapper]

I'm thinking about swapping out a CPU on one of my rigs and I'm wondering if it's safe to use some older thermal paste. I have a syringe-tube of Arctic Cooling Ceramique in a small Ziplock bag. I punctured the bottom three years ago the last time I swapped out a CPU.

Would it be safe to use? Does that stuff break down over time or dry out?

 

[velis]

I still use my 6 years old Arctic Silver 5 and can't say I really notice any degradation. Though I really can't say since I haven't tried any other paste that this one...

 

[fffblackmage]

I'm pretty certain it's still good.

 

[zagood]

Ceramique should be fine. Others (like Arctic Silver 5) can separate over time, you just mix them back up and they're as good as new.

 

[Eddie313]

Somebody posted this long time ago,forgot the link but most say shelf life of 2 years after that dis-guard and get new.

 

[Idontcare]

Somebody posted this long time ago,forgot the link but most say shelf life of 2 years after that dis-guard and get new.

Well from a business/marketing standpoint they'd be fools not to put something like that on there.

It's just like paint. You can pull a can of paint out of your basement that is 20yrs old and if it has been kept in a reasonably well-controlled environment (not submerged in water, not frozen or heated to 150F) then the paint is absolutely fine to use provided you mix it really well beforehand.

Same with glue. I've got a bottle of woodglue that is probably 10yrs old and I just used some last night. I'm meticulous about keeping the tip cleaned up and sealed. Other than that the performance of the product hasn't degraded enough for me to notice.

If the thermal paste itself is good enough to be used as thermal paste for years on end (i.e. hot and exposed to atmosphere) in your rig then it darn well better be good enough to sit unused in a sealed tube at room-temperature for years on end too.

 

[Eddie313]

Most all But arctic silver states Shelf Life 24 months from DOM

I have seen arctic silver separate in the best of conditions.

 

[billyb0b]

prob still good to use

but why not spend the 5 bucks and get a new tube

 

[EXman]

I still use my 6 years old Arctic Silver 5 and can't say I really notice any degradation. Though I really can't say since I haven't tried any other paste that this one...

me too mine is artic silver 2 real old. have not had problems.

 

[fuzzymath10]

I've got a tube of AS5 from probably 2003 or 2004. Seems to work well enough today. Funny how one tube has been applied to Pentium 3's and Core 2 Quads.

 

[nyker96]

my 100 year old as5 still works.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I used the Ceramique. It looked fine to me.