Hello everyone and thanks for checking out my question. I have had a few different tubes of thermal compound sitting on my shelf for about 4 or 5 years now since I last used it. Soon it's going to be time for a new build so I was wondering if I should use this old compound or buy a new tube. And do you think it is as effective as a new tube would be? I'd hate to buy a whole new tube of stuff for just one cpu but I'd hate to burn up a cpu even more! Thanks in advance for any info!
2007-08-18 03:55:37 · 3 answers · asked by Aerixx 2 in Computers & Internet ➔ Hardware ➔ Add-ons
P.S. I will be overclocking... just so you know....lol.
2007-08-18 04:00:46 · update #1
if its still pliable its fine ....
2007-08-18 03:59:00 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"To keep Arctic Alumina fresh for future applications, always replace the cap on the syringe after each use. The syringe should be stored tip down so that any separation between the particles and suspension fluid will be at the back end of the syringe. Like any mix of particles that are many times heavier than the suspension fluid, there will be some separation in the compound over time when stored in the original syringe. Because all thermal compounds eventually experience some separation in storage, storing in a cool place like a refrigerator will also lessen the separation over time. However, this does not affect the performance of the un-separated or remixed compound." ~Artic Silver Manual
From what I have seen artic silver and thermal compounds don't have a shelf life technically. What they will do over time is serperate. As long as you re-mix it you should be fine.
That being said I suggest you don't use your thermal paste. It is old, seperated, and probably way out of date. Why not just spend the $7-8 on a small tube of Artic SIlver 5 to make sure your safe and get the best quality thermal paste. The thing I have learned from building alot of P.C.'s is that it can be those cheap little parts that hold the P.C. together that can break it. Thermal paste is one of them, bad paste can fry your processor, and has the potential to take out the mother board and anything attached to it. For $8 it isn't worth the risk.
2007-08-18 04:17:46 · answer #2 · answered by James T 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as they were closed properly, it should be OK.
But, for a few bucks, is it really worth taking the risk???
2007-08-18 04:00:40 · answer #3 · answered by ELfaGeek 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋