How often should you change thermal paste?

Keep in mind that not all thermal compounds maintain efficacy the same way. Most value options are good for two to three years, while higher-end compounds can go up to seven years. Replacing it every two to three years is a good idea and will keep your chip at its optimum.
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How often should I change CPU thermal paste?

How Often Should You Replace Thermal Paste? In most cases, you shouldn't need to reapply more than once every few years, though you should replace your paste if you remove your cooler for any reason. You may also want to consider reapplying thermal paste if you find your CPU temperatures are climbing.
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Should I replace thermal paste after 3 years?

I would say you should change it as good measure, even if it isn't quite causing problems yet. 3 years is quite a while, especially for a stock thermal paste. I would recommend one of the Arctic Silver compounds. They are the very good and will easily last for a couple of years.
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How long does thermal paste last once applied?

A standard thermal paste will last about five years on your CPU or any other chip. Depending on the climate, the computer's cooling system, usage, and the compound's quality, this number can decrease to three years or increase to as much as ten years.
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Can I use 5 year old thermal paste?

Yes, unopened thermal pastes can also expire. Check the expiry date on the thermal paste package before you apply it. In general, thermal greases take around four years to expire, but if you buy N-B Max Pro, it will work well for 5+ years after the manufacturing date.
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How Often Should You Replace Thermal Paste?



Does CPU thermal paste expire?

Believe it or not, much like medicine and food, thermal paste also has a shelf life and can go bad. Generally, manufacturers give their thermal paste a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. That's if it sits under optimal conditions, which may not be the case for you.
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Is 80 degrees Celsius hot for a CPU?

If you are hovering around 70 to 80 degrees Celsius, some would say that it is generally safe. While it is a little bit safe, it is already near the danger levels of overheating as going close to 90 degrees while gaming can get your CPU damaged over time.
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What is a healthy CPU temp?

The acceptable range is between 150 and 160 degrees Fahrenheit (65 to 70 degrees Celcius) when the PC is running essential apps. This temperature can quickly increase to around 175 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius) when playing games or running intensive software.
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How long can CPU last?

A CPU rarely fails from regular use. Most manufacturers provide a of 7 to 10 years before a decline in performance. The CPU may continue to work after ten years until it becomes obsolete with the changing technology. A CPU running for more than ten years will have a lot of dirt that will clog, making it unable to cool.
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Can I use thermal paste twice?

Except for the new formulations that harden or dry out, thermal paste doesn't "wear out" with use. So in that respect you can re-use it. The problem is the thermal paste is only meant to fill in microscopic pits and valleys when the CPU and heat sink mate with each other.
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Is it OK to not reapply thermal paste?

In most cases, you shouldn't need to reapply more than once every few years, though you should replace your paste if you remove your cooler for any reason. You may also want to consider reapplying thermal paste if you find your CPU temperatures are climbing.
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How long does CPU paste last?

Although high-end compounds can maintain efficacy up to 7 years after installation, manufacturers recommend removing any thermal paste from your CPU's heat-spreader and CPU Cooler every 2-3 years to be on the safe side.
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Is liquid metal thermal paste worth it?

Yes, liquid metal has a higher thermal conductivity but has significant risks in the application. And therefore, best left to those who know what they are doing. On the other hand, thermal paste is cheaper, but you'll have to deal with its lower thermal conductivity ratings.
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Does GPU use thermal paste?

Knowing how to replace the GPU thermal paste on your graphics card can greatly improve the cooling and the temperature range at which your GPU runs at. Some of the factory thermal compound or paste that you get when buying a new graphics card isn't always that great.
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What is a good temperature for CPU while gaming?

Conclusion. A normal CPU temp while gaming is between 142° F and 164° F (61° C and 73° C). Occasionally your CPU will get hotter than usual. A good rule of thumb is that your CPU temp shouldn't exceed 176°F (80°C), otherwise you risk overheating.
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Can a CPU get too cold?

As long as you're not chilling below the ambient temperature. The cold itself shouldn't damage the CPU, either. Most CPUs have a minimum operating temperature of -20C.
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IS 45 C OK for CPU?

But, as a generalization that might help you identify a serious problem, if you have an Intel or AMD processor, you could say that a CPU core temperature of over 45-degrees Celsius while idling and/or a temperature of over 95-degrees Celsius while under full load is probably a cause for concern.
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How hot is too hot for GPU?

While ideal GPU temperatures are usually between 65° to 85° Celsius (149° to 185° F) under load, AMD GPUs (like the Radeon RX 5700 or 6000 Series) can safely reach temperatures as high as 110 degrees Celsius (230° F).
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Which processor best for gaming?

Best CPUs for Gaming 2022
  • Intel Core i5-12400. Overall Best CPU for Gaming. ...
  • AMD Ryzen 5 5600X. Overall Best CPU for Gaming - Alternate Pick. ...
  • Intel Core i9-12900K. High Performance Value Best CPU for Gaming. ...
  • AMD Ryzen 9 5950X. ...
  • AMD Ryzen 7 5800X3D. ...
  • Intel Core i7-12700K. ...
  • Intel Core i5-12600K. ...
  • Intel Core i3-12100.
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What temp should a GTX 1080 run at?

It doesn't take long for the card to hit its temperature target and hover around 83 to 84 degrees Celsius. That number rises to 85 degrees during the stress test.
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How hot can a RX 580 get?

Conclusion. The maximum and safe temperature range for an RX 580 GPU is 70°C to 85°C. In some cases, the temperature may rise up to 90°C depending upon the type of graphical workload. If the temperature rises above the safe limit, then you need to adopt some fixes to avoid any damage to your RX 580 GPU.
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Does thermal paste increase FPS?

Yes, it does improve performance. Thermal paste must be applied, as cpu surface and cooler surface are not perfectly smooth. To make to perfect contact between two surfaces for maximum heat transfer, we need to fill the microscopic gaps.
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How long is Arctic Silver Good For?

For general storage, keep the thermal paste sealed and at moderate (room or lower) temp and it is no issue. Remember that the bulk paste in the tube does not see the extreme temperature of the small volume applied between the HSF . Even in extreme conditions the paste between a HSF should last 6 months before drying.
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Should you clean off old thermal paste?

If you already have a working machine that needs thermal paste to be reapplied, you'll first need to clean off the old thermal paste. Before beginning, ensure that the CPU cooler has been removed, and you can visually see the thermal paste; it is generally white or gray.
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