Hi species8350,

Technicians usually prefer Arctic Silver Thermal Paste Grease for this. You may purchase it from any local computer store. (Check the image below for example)

Please reply if you have any questions.

Thank you.

Does this paste need to be replaced periodically?

What do you think of the very cheap pastes (ca. £1) currently being advertised on ebay.co.uk ?

Hi species8350,

It is not required to replace Thermal Paste periodically until you are about reseat the components or facing overheating issues. It is advised to use better quality Thermal Paste in order to avoid early wear out or heat issues.

Thanks for responding.

I have seen some pastes/greases/compounds advertised on ebay that are cheap, but claim to be quality products.

A couple of questions.

Are those that contain metal oxides more suitable for my processor, or does it not matter?

I note that some are grey and some are white. Is the colour significant?

Is there a difference between pastes, greases, and compounds?

Thanks

Hi species8350,

Thermal grease, also called thermal paste or thermal compound, is a substance used to promote better heat conduction between two surfaces and is commonly used between a microprocessor and a heatsink . The top surface of most microprocessors is not perfectly flat. Some have microscopic grooves and others might even have a slight curve, which produces air gaps between the microprocessor and the heatsink and reduces the cooling performance of the heatsink. The air gaps are filled by applying a thin layer of thermal grease to the top of the microprocessor and the base of the heatsink.

There are two types of thermal grease: non-conductive and conductive. The non-conductive thermal grease types includes silicone and zinc thermal greases. The conductive types includes silver, copper, and aluminum-based greases. These are considered superior, but must be used carefully or they can cause electrical shorts if applied to the microprocessor's pin s or the electrical pathways on the circuit board.

Hope this helps. Please reply if you have any questions.

Are those that contain metal oxides more suitable for my processor, or does it not matter? I note that some are grey and some are white. Is the colour significant? Is there a difference between pastes, greases, and compounds?

Provided you're careful in applying it, the type of compound shouldn't matter.

I have a collection of PCs, Dells and homebuilts, and swap CPUs regularly.

species8350

I've used Arctic Silver 5 for many years without any issues.

Directions for cleaning and applying thermal compound, are HERE.

Bev.