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Thermal paste is applied in a thin layer on the surface of a CPU or GPU before attaching the cooler. It helps improve heat transfer between the component and the cooler, ensuring efficient cooling. It is important to apply the right amount – too little can lead to poor heat dissipation, while too much can cause overheating.

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How long does thermal paste take to settle?

Thermal paste typically settles within 200 hours of use. During this time, the paste starts to spread out and fill in any gaps between the CPU and the heatsink, providing better thermal conductivity. It's best to allow the system to run for a few hours to reach optimal performance after applying thermal paste.


What is thermal paste used for?

Thermal paste is used to improve the contact and heat transfer between a computer processor and its heatsink. It helps fill in microscopic gaps and irregularities in the surfaces of the processor and heatsink, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and preventing overheating.


Why is thermal paste needed?

Thermal paste is needed to fill in microscopic imperfections on the surface of the CPU and heat sink, ensuring better contact and heat transfer between the two components. This helps to prevent air gaps that can cause overheating by improving the efficiency of the heat dissipation process.


What is the purpose of the Thermal Paste?

Thermal paste (or colloquially termed thermal grease by certain technicians or mechanics) is a TIM (thermal interface material). It's primary purpose is to transfer heat away from the heat source (in the case of electronics, the chips themselves). However, applying too much to a computer chip may actually be bad instead (it will act as a insulator and retain heat) and will cause your device to overheat.


This is glued to a chip with a conductive thermal paste?

The component is likely a heat sink used to dissipate heat generated by the chip. The conductive thermal paste helps improve the contact between the chip and heat sink for better heat transfer. This setup is common in electronics to prevent overheating and maintain optimal performance.