Keep Your Computer Cool with Best Thermal Compound
Generally, thermal compound comes pre-applied along with coolers but some PC enthusiasts like to take temperatures into their own hands. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help them get to the best thermal compound in 2021.
How Does a Thermal Compound Work?
A thermal compound is also popularly known as a thermal paste or thermal grease. This is a heat-conductive substance that is meant for cooling down the system. It’s applied between the heatsink and the device to improve conductivity between them so the heatsink can dissipate extra energy and heat that the processor generates.
Thermal compounds help in maintaining a healthy working temperature for your system and prevent overheating. Computer components like heatsink, CPU, and coolers have certain imperfections that let air trap inside them.
And as air is a poor heat conductor, it can seriously affect the heatsink’s performance. Thermal compounds get into these tiny spaces and smooth them out to enable efficient heat transfer.
Things to Consider Before Buying Thermal Compound
There are always some things to consider when buying a thermal paste for your pc, some listed below:
Viscosity and Density
To smoothen the application process, you need to consider a thermal paste that has the right density. The right density will slip and squeeze into the right spots easily. Your thermal liquid compound should have a lower density than the normal ones.
Moreover, the thicker and viscous your thermal compound is, the better. This gives the compound look and feel like a paste that can stick more effectively. Lower viscosity means a more liquid-y consistency that can easily flow through to parts and areas that you don’t want the paste to leak into.
Thermal Conductivity
The paste you choose should have a proper thermal conductivity level so that it can offer reliability and high versatility to keep your computer at safe temperature levels. Every thermal compound has its unique thermal conductivity rating that shows its efficiency in transferring heat from the processor to the heatsink.
Liquid thermal paste usually has conductivity at 70W/mK whereas non-metallic compounds are somewhere between 4 to 10W/mK. As a simple rule, the higher the thermal conductivity rating, the better your compound is at heat conduction.
Thermal Design Power (TDP)
The TDP is the amount of power your processor uses. TDP is used to estimate the highest temperatures your CPU is going to get when in use. Higher TDP processors will likely be using more power and ultimately generating more heat.
You need to determine the amount of heat that the thermal compound will be handling to buy the right one that can keep your system cool and functioning at its best.
Conductive or Non-Conductive
Some thermal conductive compounds can also conduct electricity. They can be dangerous to work with because there could easily be harmful short circuit accidents. You need to pick a thermal compound that is carbon-based and won’t conduct electricity.
How Long Does Thermal Compound Last?
The thermal compound you buy must have a shelf life of two years at least. Many manufacturers claim that their thermal pastes will last four to five years in the tube but in actuality, the life is no more than two to three years.
Thermal pastes and compounds are made of substances that dry out over time. This is why you should always buy the quantity that will get used within some months of the purchase.
Having said that, some high-end pastes do come with a shelf life of up to seven years. You should regularly check if the thermal paste stored has expired or not after 2 years. You can do so by spreading a small quantity on a metallic surface to see its consistency and smoothness. If it’s clumpy, separated, or waterier, discard it.
How to Apply Thermal Compound?
The first step before applying the thermal compound is to insert the CPU in the proper socket on the motherboard of your computer. Then put a small dot of the thermal compound as tiny as a small ball bearing or pea in the center of the CPU. Then press down the component on the dot and lock it in place.
The dot will spread underneath the component in all directions. You can always check if the thermal paste has evenly spread out or not by lifting the component. If it’s not right, simply mop it up and reapply the paste.
You can just as easily remove the thermal compound. Wipe the paste with a lintless microfiber cloth to avoid creating any small holes for air to get trapped and hinder the conduction of heat.
What Happens If You Put Too Much Thermal Compound?
Putting too much thermal paste on your CPU components sure is harmful and the degree of harm is dependent upon the quality of the thermal compound as well.
If the paste is intended to be applied in abundance, then you’re good to go. But if it’s not, applying large quantities can make it act as an insulator rather than a conductor of heat energy. This will make the thermal paste completely ineffective. You can also end up damaging the components by excessive heat and frequent overheating.
Conclusion
Thermal pastes are a great way to enhance the performance of your computer without making any major investments. You can keep your computer safe from overheating and damage. The application is easy as well.
Make sure that you’re considering the important factors highlighted in this guide before you purchase a thermal compound. Some simple cautions taken during application and in storing the product can have you make the most out of the thermal compound.
Best Thermal Compound FAQs
Some commonly asked questions are:
Q: How often should you reapply thermal compound?
A: It should be according to need. For best results, reapply after every couple of years.
Q: Do you really need a thermal compound?
A: Thermal compounds aren’t a necessity but they significantly increase the performance and lifespan of your processor.
Q: Will too much thermal paste overheat?
A: Yes. Using ample amounts of thermal compound can end up turning it into an insulator and overheating the system.