What Happens If You Don’t Use Thermal Paste on Your CPU? Here is what happens if there is no thermal paste on the CPU.
The thermal paste, which can be applied either before or after the fact, aids conductivity. It fills the tiny spaces between the heat sink’s bottom and the computer CPU’s lid.
Without the thermal paste, there will be much less surface contact between the heat sink and the CPU lid.
The thermal paste helps prevent issues caused by small gaps that can trap air and other particles in the CPU. Therefore, you must continuously apply the paste as needed.
What Happens If You Don’t Use Thermal Paste on Your CPU?
If a thermal face is not used between the heat sink and CPU, the gadget may overheat and eventually fail.
The Thermal Paste Alternatives?
Using thermal pastes’s not a good idea, especially if you have to apply them yourself.
Even though it is one of the most important parts of the PC assembly, thermal paste is commonly disregarded, so you might need to use an alternative if you can’t find the original.
Butter
Butter has a thermal conductivity of 53.2C, making it the most thermally conductive homemade material you can use.
In terms of conductivity, moisturizing cream has a 54C degree, hair wax has a 56C degree, toothpaste has a 1C degree, yellow cheese has a 67.9C degree, and bananas have a 58C degree.
Moisturizing cream
In the absence of a thermal paste, butter and moisturizing cream appear to be the best short-term option given these temperatures.
But wait here is quick head up though…
As the motherboard is positioned below the CPU in a computer, the issue is that liquid oil may leak into underlying circuits.
The best treatment, in this case, seems to be toothpaste and hair wax. Both of them can withstand low temperatures without completely drying out or cracking.
If you need a temporary thermal paste and are pressed for time, you should think about using toothpaste or hair wax.
When it’s time to switch out the toothpaste or hair wax for the original thermal paste, you must first remove the dried-up substance with a sharp tool and then scrub off the extra substance with a microfiber cloth dampened with isopropyl alcohol.
Remember that the thermal paste used in computers will ultimately dry out as well, necessitating periodic cleaning and reapplication of the paste.
Why Is A Thermal Paste Necessary on CPU?
Despite appearing smooth and effective, the aluminum base of the CPU cooler and the CPU’s IHS contain some microscopic holes.
Small defects or holes between the IHS and CPU cooler may cause poor heat transfer, which could ultimately cause the CPU system to fail.
These flaws result in the surfaces of the two components not being in complete contact with one another. To guarantee proper heat transfer around the components, these flaws or holes will be filled with thermal paste.
There will be significantly fewer performance problems, like throttling, as a result of the thermal paste helping your CPU cooler do its job.
Although thermal pastes from different brands may have similar appearances, you should never use one type on another device.
To avoid any issues, stick to the thermal paste designed for your specific CPU. You might need to reapply for new thermal pastes because certain pastes thicken more quickly than others and require you to do so.
You may read about the product’s temperature range and thermal conductivity qualities in the product manual, which lists the distinctive characteristics of each thermal paste.
The more you understand a thermal paste, the better you will be able to use it.
Here are things to consider when applying Thermal Paste:
Even if most computers have thermal paste applied again, you still need to reapply the solution every so often to keep the processors in them running at their best efficiency.
If a thermal solution has been pre-applied, look at the base of the base plate. You might not need to apply any new thermal paste if the silver base plate that is fastened to the CPU’s bottom is still in place.
The following steps are crucial in getting ready to apply thermal paste;
Clean the CPU
Ensure the CPU is dust-free and no old thermal paste is present. If there is any old paste on it, use isopropyl alcohol and a microfiber cloth or paper towel to wipe the paste off the lid carefully. Before moving on, allow the solution to dry.
Check that the CPU cooler is ready.
Before beginning the application of your thermal paste, ensure the remainder of the CPU cooler is prepared for installation.
Review the instruction manual.
By consulting the instruction manual, verify that all instructions have been followed up until the CPU cooler is attached. Additionally, make sure you are close to all the required tools.
Use the right amount of thermal paste.
The right amount of thermal paste must be applied. A poor paste application could result in a poor application across the entire surface area.
Use the Proper Paste Method
Although you might be tempted, you should let the pressure from the base plate distribute the paste on the CPU.
Proper paste application can result in poor thermal conductivity, which can lead to air bubbles forming inside the paste.
Avoid Reusing Paste
Reusing paste can result in air bubbles, therefore don’t do it. If a problem arises during installation and you need to remove the CPU cooler, you must thoroughly clean the old thermal paste and apply the new paste as directed.
Applying Thermal Paste
Applying thermal paste is a simple operation.
Read the instructions before applying.
Before continuing, you must read the instructions that are included with your CPU cooler and thermal paste.
For example, every brand of thermal paste is unique, so knowing which one you have can help you apply it more easily.
Only the center of the CPU’s HIS should receive your thermal paste application.
If a thermal paste has previously been applied to the CPU cooler, you can skip this step. To the middle of the IHS, or integrated heat spreader, you must apply a small amount of material no larger than a rice grain in size.
Install the CPU cooler
The CPU cooler must be installed after the thermal paste has been applied. When inserting the cooler’s CPU base plate into the CPU, press lightly from the top down.
Maintain the tension when fastening the cooler to the mounting system.
Make careful you push down firmly enough to prevent the cooler from sliding off. The thermal paste will be distributed evenly as a result.
When installing the cooler, use moderate pressure to avoid pressing down the motherboard and breaking the CPU.
As you attach the cooler to the motherboard in a diagonal position and tighten the screws as though you were drawing an X, keep the cooler in place.
Don’t tighten the screws until all four are connected. Using the same amount of force, tighten the screws one at a time to secure them.
Look over the installation Yet another time.
Once the CPU cooler’s base plate has been installed correctly, double-check your work to make sure everything is in place. Verify that no thermal paste has spilled onto the motherboard’s or the CPU’s edges.
If the paste is spilled anywhere, it implies you used up too much room and you need to clean it up with the right solution. If you need to remove the extra thermal paste, you might need to start the procedure over.
This stage is finished successfully if the workflow is orderly and the cooler stays still when touched.
Final thoughtÂ
It cannot be overstated how important thermal paste is for enhancing the transfer of heat within the CPU. Lack of thermal paste might result in costly computer damage and repairs.
This is why you ought to have a specialist thoroughly examine your computer.
Similar goods made by some producers of thermal paste come in various grades, and the higher the quality, the longer the paste will endure.
Furthermore, it implies that higher rates can be more expensive than lower ones. You should pay close attention to the CPU’s temperature records regardless of the thermal paste you employ.
