Your PC’s CPU is the heart of your system. It does all the heavy lifting, and it’s important that it stays cool. To do this, you need to use a paste that will conduct heat away from the CPU effectively. However, there are many types of thermal compounds available on the market today, each with its own set of pros and cons. Whether you have a custom PC build or a pre-built one, you want to find the best CPU paste for your needs. Here is a guide to help you find the best cpu paste for cooling purposes.
General Information
The first thing you need to know is that there are two basic types of thermal paste: Non-silicone and silicone. Non-silicone has a higher melting point, which means it will be more effective at conducting heat away from the CPU. Non-silicone also provides better protection against corrosion and oxidation, meaning your system will last longer. The downside to non-silicone is that it can sometimes clog up some coolers and heatsinks. Silicone has a lower melting point, meaning it’s less effective at conducting heat away from the CPU. But this makes applications easier and silicone is often cheaper than non-silicone.
CPU Paste Basics
A CPU paste is a type of thermal compound used to help dissipate heat away from the CPU. You can purchase this compound in either liquid or paste form.
There are two types of pastes: conductive and non-conductive. Conductive pastes are best for processors with large surface area, like Intel’s i5. Non-conductive pastes are best for processors with smaller surface area, like AMD’s Athlon X4 880K.
The most important thing to keep in mind when you’re looking at different types of CPU paste is that not all compounds are created the same. Some cooling compounds will dry out or re-harden after just a few days, while others will last up to three years. This means that some products might not be as efficient as others despite their similar price point!
What to Look For
When it comes to picking the best CPU paste for your system, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First of all, the thermal compound needs to have good thermal conductivity. What this means is that it will quickly draw heat away from your CPU and disperse it into other areas of your PC’s case that have some airflow. The best thermal compounds on the market today have a thermal conductivity of 5-14 W/mK. Next, you want to look at the dry time. Some compounds dry in seconds while others take hours or days to fully dry before you can start using your PC again. You also want to make sure that whatever you get doesn’t leave behind nasty residue on any of your system parts. Lastly, make sure you buy something with a long shelf life so you get plenty of use out of it before it expires.
How to Apply CPU Paste
Applying the paste is not difficult, but there are some guidelines that you should follow to apply it properly.
The first step is to clean the surface of your CPU with alcohol and a lint-free cloth. This will remove any oils or other deposits on the surface of your CPU that would interfere with the paste
Conclusion
Choosing the best CPU paste for your PC is an important decision. There are many factors to consider, and different products may suit different needs. If you want to get the most out of your system, read on for the ultimate guide to the best thermal compound for your PC.