It is paste that "seals" the CPU to the heat-sink so that the best thermal contact and bridge is made to dissipate heat. You only need it if you are installing a processor that has been installed before. New processors and heat-sinks come with it already applied. It is only once you remove the processor and reinstall it a second time and break the original "seal".
yes you need it. I have only seen a couple PCs run with no paste, but the CPU and the HSF were both lapped and the temps werent great, they were 10c hotter on load. The best is Artic Silver 5, along with ceramic. I would use SIlver 5 though. Silver is great for heat.
how do you apply thermal paste anyway?mejia13fernando
apply it by putting a small drop (about the size of a grain of rice) of the paste in the center of the processor then spread it with a credit card or something of the like. thermal paste has the consistency of really thick peanut butter so it'll take some working to get it spread evenly. Just spread it thin and evenly and you'll be fine
a stock cooler will come with a paste applied already. a aftermarket heatsink usually comes with their own paste for you to apply. Then there is arctic silver 5. theyre many ways to put it on. 1 is spread with a platic card, but that can leave airbubbles. Tthe other is to just place the heatsink ontop of the drop of paste you put on the CPU and wiggly it around to spread the paste out. The other way is with your hand in a plastic bag and you mess it around that way, but it can cause uneven surfaces too.
Personalyl, I hate applying the paste, I think its the worst part of building the PC. Thats just me though.
so if you bought a new retail processor with a heatsink and fan you don't need to worry about thermal paste?mejia13fernando
Well don't listen to guylapierre. My CPU came with pre applied "thermal paste", and when I turned my computer on, it would turn off after about a minute. I had no idea what the problem was, until someone suggested I put thermal paste on it. I got some paste, wiped off the crappy clay they called thermal paste, and applied my own and now my comp works like a charm.
Retail processors already have a layer of thermal paste applied.
Hot_Potato
NEWS FLASH! PRE-APPLIED THERMAL PASTE SUCKS! My computer didn't work until I put new, REAL, thermal paste on it.
I was just about to say that! You need to buy some new stuff. And to apply it just get sone squeeze it out. and rub it smooth with like a credit card, some people just glob it on and let it leak over to the sides but to each his own.
P.S. The preapplyed stuff is called Thirmal Tape. it sucks but Thirmal Paste!
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