Thermal paste, how often?

[youpla]

I have recently changed my default northbridge heatsink for a Zalman NB47J and while I was at it I also changed the Thermal paste on both NB and CPU to the AS5.

My question is do I have to change or add thermal paste on a regular basis and if yes how often?

TIA

 

[Raging]

no i think its only when the contact/bond between the surface and thermal compound is broken that you need to re apply.

cheers.

 

[bloodthirst]

no you only apply it once and leave it to burn in then it should be fine

 

[FragTek]

As others said, you just apply initially when attaching your heatsink and then you leave it to burn-in which enhances its ability to transfer heat from one surface to the other. No additional maintenance required

 

[youpla]

Thanks all got it loud and clear, guess I don't have to worry about that anymore!

 

[mrbeef]

shouldnt ever have to change it

 

[Dav0s]

strange advice guys...i normally tell people who i build comps for to come back to me after a year or so to reapply thermal paste....cos it tends to die out.

the problem is that none of us can go a year without upgrading to test the theory

 

[FarFarAway]

Yep about a year or so and the AS5 dries up so you should replace it

 

[bloodthirst]

strange advice guys...i normally tell people who i build comps for to come back to me after a year or so to reapply thermal paste....cos it tends to die out.

the problem is that none of us can go a year without upgrading to test the theory

exactly mate many people upgrade by then

 

[youpla]

Well then I guess I will be the one who test it in a year... I won't probably upgrade the CPU by then hehehe...

Is there any thermal paste that doesn't dry out?

 

[MichaelR]

I don't think the time frame really matters. Anyone modding PCs would surely be keeping an eye on CPU temps, so any degradation in the paste would be spotted by rising temperatures.

 

[FarFarAway]

True true - good point

 

[passy]

If I reapply some thermal paste, can I reuse the thermal paste I used 2 years ago or should I buy a new one?

 

[JerryUK]

Bog standard greasy stuff doesn't seem to dry out. The more "metallic" stuff does seem to though......