Thermal Paste Reminder

When did you last have the thermal paste changed in your computer?

It’s especially important to keep an eye on your computer’s temperature in the summer heat, as like us, computers don’t tend to function well in excessive heat. While the commonest cause of overheating is dust inside the casing and cleaning it out or having someone do so for you is a good first step, it is worth replacing the thermal paste if the overheating persists.

Thermal paste goes between the Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the heatsink, which removes heat from the CPU.  The paste bridges the gap between the two to allow better heat transference from one object to another. This is a vital function as otherwise the CPU can overheat, causing poor performance and potentially damage.  However, as it’s something most computer users never touch, even if they open the computer to carry out maintenance, it’s very easy to overlook.

Thermal paste has a limited lifespan, typically around 1-3 years, so if you’ve had your computer for longer than that, we recommend you consider having the thermal paste replaced to maintain its functionality. The lifespan of lower quality brands can be even lower, around 6-12 months.

One potential indication that the thermal paste needs replacing is the fan constantly running at high speed, even when the computer isn’t doing anything particularly CPU-intensive.  This is because the heatsink is unable to cool the CPU so the fan keeps getting overheat alerts.

There are many applications that can be used to measure CPU temperature, with CoreTemp often recommended for its reliability and ease of use.

For best results, take your computer to an IT professional to have the thermal paste replaced.

If you have any further questions, just get in touch.