How to Apply Thermal Paste and How It Works

We are here to help you thoroughly with the use of thermal paste. You don’t need to bother yourself with what to do and how to apply thermal paste to enhance your cooler’s cooling. The enthusiasts and gamers have often heard about the thermal paste while building their PC. They are fully aware of the importance of the best thermal paste, also known as thermal grease, thermal gel, thermal interface, CPU paste, and heat paste.

No matter what name you call, thermal paste is crucial for your best CPU for gaming to enhance gaming performance. The thermal paste is a chemical fusion between heatsinks and other heat-generating resources. The thermal paste is readily available in tiny tubes or an applicator at electronic stores. The latest PC builds have the pre-applied thermal paste, but the users can buy their favorite brand and apply it manually. You should be aware of its working with the CPU and diagonally placement over the best motherboard for gaming; all the information helps you build an intelligent PC for robust gaming.

Why Do You Need To Apply The Thermal Paste?

A question will click into your mind when you need thermal paste? The thermal paste is crucial for filling the tiny imperfections that trap the air between the processor and the heatsink, disrupting the processor’s cooling. The thermal paste will be transferred when you install any cooling source. The users often think we refer to thermal plates to install the CPU cooler for the processors. Let us clarify how to apply thermal paste integrated into many graphics cards, so it is not compulsory to invest in a cooler. You have a choice whether you want additional thermal paste or not. Selecting the thermal paste is quite tricky because everyone has a different requirement. You can check the test results to make a good decision.

Terms You Need To Know

If you want to know how much thermal paste do I need. First, you need to know some important things relevant to the thermal paste.

CPU: The central processing unit of the PC performs many actions like arithmetic operations, controlling logic, and managing I/O. The processor gets instructions from the user and sends them to the computer’s other hardware. It is not easy to do the proper functionality of a PC without any CPU. A body is nothing without a brain; if a laptop is a body, the brain’s processor is for proper working. The latest CPUs of the modern era can execute superabundant operations in one second. The high-tech processors generate heat during performing actions. If you are an enthusiast user and want a high-tech and efficient CPU performance, you need proper cooling. The CPU has an integrated cooling apparatus for enhancing the computer’s performance. The thermal paste is essential at this point of immersive cooling.

Integrated Heat Spreader: You should know what a heat spreader is? What is the working of a heat spreader? What is its importance and need of it? The heat sink is a run-of-the-mill cooling solution that enhances the surface area and airflow for heat dissipation. The heat spreader transfers the heat from the hot medium to the cold medium or heat exchanger. The heat spreader is available in two thermodynamic types: one is active, and the other is passive. The passive heat spreader has a plate with thermal conductivity like copper or aluminum. The metal cover distributes heat from the processor to the best CPU cooler and protects the inside of the CPU. 

CPU Cooler: The CPU cooler is the electronic device that runs the CPU at optimized temperature. The CPU coolers are of two types air and liquid for heat dissipation. A question will click into your mind: Is it essential to have a CPU cooler? Yes, the cooler transfers the heat away from the CPU to lower the temperature. If your cooler works efficiently, it will raise your overclocking at maximum speed. The fans, radiators, and other cooling components gather heat away from crucial parts without distortion to the system.

Base-plate: The base plate is an interface between construction and the foundation, consequently completing the load of the path into the foundation. The metal plate provides stable burden distribution from the superstructure to the foundation. It confirms its shape, which may be a square or a rectangle. It works as a nerve center to transmit signals from the tail fiber to the head. The plate of the air cooler attaches to the integrated heat spreader of the CPU.

Waterblock: The water block is specifically designed to transfer the heat into the liquid that flows in the water block. The integrated micro fins enhance the cooling surface, and the channel block makes the water block essential for enabling high-rated overclocking. The water block plays a significant role when using an all-in-one liquid cooler for customized cooling.

Thermal paste: The thermal paste is a silver-gray material for a processor to apply before installing any cooling solution. Everyone must be aware of the quantity and use the method of thermal paste. The paste allows the efficient transfer of heat from the processor’s integrated heat spreader to the CPU cooler’s water block or base plate, which is specifically designed for heat dissipation.

Why Do You Need Thermal Paste?

If you look at the metal base of the sturdy CPU cooler and integrated heat spreader of the CPU, you will assume it is smooth and efficient in working. The metal plates have microscopic imperfections, generating disruptions in transferring the heat. The two surfaces of the replacing thermal paste are not entirely in contact with these imprecations, which enhances the risk of paste filling those air gaps. The thermal paste raises the efficiency of transferring more heat and improves the CPU’s working. The CPU cooler is a potent component for resolving performance issues such as restraining.

Essential Preparations For Thermal Paste Application

The enthusiasts and gamers often ask for efficient and epic-performing processors for their systems. Many processors in the high-tech market require thermal solutions for efficient operations at the stunning crest. The installation of the CPU cooler is distinctive in any PC. Every user knows that the CPU coolers need thermal paste, but many have pre-applied it for easy installations. Suppose you don’t know whether you have pre-applied thermal paste or not; check out the bottom of the water block of your CPU cooler attached to your CPU. The presence of silver paste ensures that you don’t need any thermal paste for cooler installations.

Keep some critical points in mind before learning anything:

• You should ensure the cleaning of the CPU thoroughly, and no old thermal paste should be clung to it. If there is any paste, remove it carefully from the lid of the CPU with some isopropyl alcohol and a paper towel that does not lock up. Let it dry before starting the procedure.
• Ensure that your CPU cooler is entirely ready for installation before applying any instruction. Now read the guidelines and ensure that you have completed the fitting of the CPU cooler without skipping any single step. Keep the essential tools near your hand.

Situations To Avoid

• Read the instructions carefully and apply the correct amount of thermal paste. You will confuse the amount, and it should be roughly the size of the grain, pea, or grain of rice. Applying an inadequate amount of the paste may not cover the complete surface area required to be effective. During installations, the reduced effectiveness of the paste enhances the risk of revealing it onto the motherboard.
• The spreading of the thermal paste on the CPU may be alluring for you. We suggest you let in the pressure for you from the water block, which is pre-installed. The erroneous manual applications may cause air bubbles in the paste, negatively affecting thermal conductivity.
• If the enthusiasts reuse the paste, it may also cause air bubbles with negative impacts. If you have started the installations and a problem occurs, you must remove the CPU cooler. Clean the paste thoroughly, as mentioned above, then take another stab with a new application. If you want to reuse an application instead of a replacement, then be aware that it will be a short-term solution. We suggest you go for reapplication, which is a long-term solution.

How to apply Thermal Paste Step-By-Step

We suggest you read all the instructions carefully about how much thermal paste I need with complete focus before installing the process. It will ensure you what to expect and plan for further actions?

1- Read all relevant instructions before starting

The crucial portion includes all essential instructions for the manufacturers' CPU cooler and thermal paste. Every high-tech brand of thermal and CPU cooler is different with minor changes. If you know your priorities, it will be easier to help you with smooth processing.

2- Apply the thermal paste onto the center of the CPU’s IHS

The end-users who have already installed the thermal paste on their sturdy coolers can skip this step. You can apply the thermal paste to the center of the CPU’s integrated heat spreader in a small amount nearly the size of the grain, rice, or pea.

3- Install CPU cooler

Are you an end-user and want to install the CPU cooler? Don’t get worried; let us help you with complete guidelines. First, use light pressure in the top to downward to place the cooler’s water block or base block mounted on the CPU. The user should hold the pressure until the cooler is mounted immersively. You need to apply enough force to prevent the cooler’s sliding, and it equally distributes the thermal paste. Do not enforce the cooler too much; it might damage your motherboard or CPU. The cooler and motherboard should be attached in a diagonal pattern such as you draw X with them. You have to secure the screws and avoid tightening them unless you have attached all four of them. The user can tighten the screws one by one with the assurance of even pressure.

4- Double-check your work:

The cross-check after the completion of work is mandatory for any eager user. One time when the water block of the powerful CPU is attached dynamically, you should check whether it’s working correctly or not. The thermal paste should not be disclosed on the corners of the CPU or in whatever place on the motherboard. The splitting shows that you have used too much thermal paste and need to clean it with alcohol or repeat the procedure from the start. If you have done the process and the cooler doesn’t move when you touch it, give a pat on your back as you have cleared the critical steps.

How Often You Should Replace Thermal Paste?

An end-user can replace thermal paste in a few years if they change the cooler for a reason. Otherwise, they don’t need thermal paste. It is entirely safe to exchange the thermal elements after 3-5 years. It is safe to apply if you have built any PC and know the manufacturer’s guidelines. If you are going to use it first, you have to be careful with complete guidance. The enthusiasts and gamers know their systems and are aware of replacing thermal paste in time. We have noticed that many enthusiasts use components for 3-5 years and then sell them. Please do not sell the thermal paste components, as you can use them for a minimum of four applications. If your CPU temperature rises after applying thermal paste, turn to the manufacturers for suggestions.

Stay Cool Out There

The enormous users might not do any detailed discussion about thermal paste as they discuss hardware components like the CPU, GPU, boards, monitors, etc. No doubt, keep them on priority as they are crucial for epic gaming or working without disruption. The complete awareness of applying the thermal paste will help you assure the CPU’s best and most efficient results.

Frequently Asked Questions