When you think about thermal paste, the word “dry” probably doesn’t come to mind. However, some people have reported that their thermal paste has dried up in a humid environment. If this worries you, we have good news! It’s not that your thermal paste is drying out, but rather its changing state as a result of environmental conditions. It’s important to understand what dry means when it comes to the thermal paste. There are two types of moisture when dealing with materials like this – vaporization and condensation. Condensed moisture is what dries things out — something like a humidifier or an air conditioner would cause your thermal paste to dry in that sense of the word; however, it wouldn’t dry out because the water has condensed and become liquid again. Vaporization happens when water changes from a liquid into a gas — similar to what happens when you boil water and it turns into steam
Does Thermal Paste Dry?
Yes, your thermal paste will dry out if you leave it exposed to the air. The reason it dries out is that the material used to make a thermal paste is a polymer, which means that it has a tendency to become very brittle when it dries.
How To Prevent Thermal Paste Dry?
Use the right type of thermal paste:
Make sure that you’re using the proper type of thermal paste for your CPU cooler. Some people use a paste made specifically for their cooler and CPU, but this isn’t always necessary. If you’re using a cooler that doesn’t require a specific type of thermal paste, then any generic “thermal compound” should work just fine for your needs. Just make sure to follow the instructions on your cooler’s packaging carefully so that you don’t accidentally use too much or too little of your thermal paste!
Clean off excess
If you find yourself with excess amounts of thermal compound stuck on your CPU cooler or a heat sink (or whatever else is helping transfer heat), then try removing as much as possible by wiping away any excess with a dry cloth or paper towel. This will help keep dust from collecting on top of your CPU and other parts inside of your computer case, which could cause more problems later down the road!
Keep it covered
Keeping everything covered in an airtight bag or container will help keep your CPU cooler and thermal paste from drying out, as well as keep dust out of the air. If you’re using a cooler that comes with its own cover, then you don’t need to use a separate cover for your thermal paste at all.
Keep it in a dry place
Make sure that you keep your CPU cooler and thermal paste as dry as possible by keeping them in a place where they won’t be exposed to any moisture or condensation. You might want to place them in an area where they won’t be subject to extreme temperatures, too — such as inside of a cupboard or inside of your computer case.
Use the right amount
If your CPU is overheating because it isn’t being properly cooled, then you may need to add more thermal compound than usual so that the area around the CPU can be properly cooled down. This will allow more heat to be transferred away from the area where it needs to go! However, if there isn’t enough thermal compound on the CPU itself (or if it wasn’t applied correctly), then there won’t be enough heat transfer happening, which will cause your PC to overheat! So make sure that you only use enough thermal compound for the job — and make sure that you follow all of these steps carefully!
Clean it off:
As you can see from the above steps, cleaning your CPU cooler and thermal paste off of your CPU is fairly easy — just make sure to do so in a way that doesn’t damage the thermal compound in any way! You might find it helpful to use a soft, lint-free cloth when doing so.
Keep an eye on it
If you notice anything unusual happening to your CPU — such as getting extremely hot or not being able to boot into Windows — then you might want to take your PC apart and check out the area where the heat is being transferred from your processor. You may also want to change out the thermal compound on your CPU cooler if it’s been exposed to any moisture or condensation.
Replace it
If you’re still having issues with your CPU getting too hot and staying too hot for too long, you might want to try replacing the thermal paste on your CPU cooler as well. You can find replacement thermal paste at any computer hardware store or online.
Clean it again
You’ll need to clean your CPU cooler and thermal paste off of your CPU again in a week or so. It’s important to clean it off after using the thermal paste so that the area around your processor is not exposed to any moisture or condensation.
Repeat steps 1-9
As before, you’ll need to repeat these steps every month or two as needed — so make sure that you don’t skip any of them!
Check for leaks
If you notice a small amount of liquid leaking from your computer case, then there may be a leak in your CPU cooler! Make sure that you check this out by opening up the case and checking for any signs of leaking liquid on the inside of the computer case. If there is a leak, then you’ll want to replace your CPU cooler immediately — as it can cause serious problems for your computer if it isn’t fixed quickly!
Top 3 Brands of Thermal Paste Comparison
Arctic Silver Ceramique
This is one of the best thermal paste products on the market. It’s extremely effective at keeping your CPU cool and is extremely easy to clean off — making it a great choice for anyone looking to protect their CPU cooler and thermal paste!
Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Paste
This product is another great choice when it comes to protecting your CPU cooler and thermal paste. It’s an all-in-one type of product that protects your CPU from overheating as well as provides excellent cooling — so it’s a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want to buy separate products for each task!
Arctic Cooling MX-4 Thermal Paste
This is another quality product, but one that might not be as popular among users as some of the other options on the market. It doesn’t provide quite as much protection against overheating or cooling, but it does provide a good amount of protection against dust — which can be a big problem when it comes to protecting your computer!
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Thermal Paste
Speed
As mentioned earlier, the speed of your CPU cooler and thermal paste is one of the most important factors when it comes to choosing a good product. You want a product that’s fast enough to protect your CPU from overheating, but also quick enough to clean off quickly and easily.
Cleanliness
As with any type of product, you want a good brand of thermal paste that’s easy to clean off your components. The best brands are ones that can be cleaned off very easily — and don’t leave behind any residue or oils that can cause problems for other components in your computer!
Protection
The main purpose of thermal paste is to protect your CPU from overheating — so it needs to provide protection against this as well as cooling! The best brands will have some level of protection against both overheating and dust — so make sure that you check out each brand and see if it has all the protection you need!
Heat resistance
If you’re buying a new product, then make sure that it’s resistant to heat — as this could lead to issues in the future if you don’t replace it correctly! Look for thermal pastes that are resistant to heat – even after extended periods of use – because this will help ensure maximum performance in the long run!
Compatibility
When choosing a thermal paste, there are certain brands that are meant for certain types of processors. While this does mean that you’ll have to buy a different product for another type of processor, it means that you can ensure that the thermal paste is compatible with your CPU!
Price
Of course, the price of your thermal paste is important — but it shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision! While some brands do cost more than others, there are many different options available at all price ranges — so you should be able to find a quality product at any price range.
Protection against dust
If you have an older computer or system where dust is a big problem, then make sure that you check out some of the other products on the market before buying a new thermal paste! Some types are designed specifically to prevent dust from clogging up your system — while others will help protect against this as well!
Summing up
Thermal paste is a compound that is used to conduct heat more efficiently from one surface to another. It’s used in electronics such as computers, laptops, and smartphones to transfer heat from the processor to the cooling unit. Usually, a thin layer of thermal paste is applied between the two components to transfer the heat more efficiently. This ensures the device stays cool and avoids overheating. It’s important to replace your thermal paste every few years because it will dry out over time. There are a few ways to prevent it from drying out including changing the thermal paste more often, installing additional fans, and using a dehumidifier.
FAQ’s:
q: What is thermal paste?
A: Thermal paste is a non-conductive compound that is used to conduct heat more efficiently between two different surfaces.
q: What does thermal paste do?
A: Thermal paste helps transfer heat from one surface to another. It insulates the heat and prevents the device from getting too hot. When it’s not installed properly, your device could overheat and over time, it can cause damage to your device.
q: How should thermal paste be applied?
A: Thermal paste is applied between two different surfaces of a device by using a syringe or other similar tool that has a needle for filling the compound into the holes where the compound has been applied. The hole should be filled in both sides of the object to ensure maximum efficiency for heat transfer.