Thermal paste is needed??

[Sheravat]

I've seen some people mount the processor and heatsink without thermal paste to and never have problems. I want to ask that paste is mandatory?? Also I am not knowing about the thermal paste. So thought that if you guys can provide some information about the thermal paste, it would be much better.!! SO I am requesting to the members that are hanging out there, to provide some detailed notes about it.

[Sachit]

Thermal paste is essential for the smooth operation of your PC, the thermal paste is used as contact surface between the processor and the cooling system thereof for optimum transmission of heat to it. The syringe of thermal paste can be easily applied directly on the CPU for maximum efficiency. Or in simple language, the thermal paste is a stuff that augments the thermal conductivity amid the surfaces of one or more objects. In electronics, the use of thermal paste is running to help the heat dissipation of a component via a heat sink.

[BenTen]

The main purpose of a thermal paste is to ensure optimal contact and to avoid the presence of air between the surfaces of a component and its cooling system (usually a heatsink). These surfaces with numerous micropores (holes, dents), air is present between the component and the heatsink. The air is a poor conductor of heat, the heat transfer takes place and less.

[Willard21]

The application of thermal paste used to fill these imperfections by a substance whose thermal conductivity is much higher than that of air. The contact area between the component and the heatsink is thus more important, and therefore the heat transfer will be performed more efficiently. The thermal paste is also used occasionally to keep the heatsink on the component, some pulp is very sticky. This is for example the case of some heatsinks for cooling the integrated circuit memory of graphics cards, where only the thermal paste and held in place.

[Pageous]

Today, many companies produce thermal paste. There are several types of thermal pastes :

• Pasta thermal silicone, generally white. Often this type of dough that comes with heatsinks for the CPU.
• Those based ceramic containing ceramic particles suspended in other components.
• Finally, thermal compounds containing metal particles (mostly money) pending in other components. Due to the presence of metal, these pastes are also electrical capacity more or less, which can be problematic if the dough had to come into contact with connections.

The composition of a thermal paste is not directly related to its performance in real conditions. Thus, although a paste containing metal particles is generally more efficient, there are silicone-based formulations that provide superior thermal conductivity.

[Arkad]

The core processor has necessarily micro pores on the entire surface, as it is impossible to machine it better than it already is (or at prices that discourage us from buying processors). If these micro pores are invisible to the naked eye, they are nonetheless present and represent a very important area of the surface of the core. When you place the heatsink without thermal paste, it will remain a very important area for which there is no contact between the radiator and the core: In this area there will occur a phenomenon of thermal convection in place and instead of the conduction phenomenon necessary for proper heat dissipation.

[Zane]

In fact, adding a thin layer of thermal paste will help fill the micro pores and thus to obtain the thermal conduction between the heatsink and processor. Whatever the thermal paste used, it will have the same purpose, preventing convection. However, metals are much better thermal conductors, pastes containing metal particles (silver-based or Al2O3) greater efficiency ... but the difference on a non overclocked configuration will be negligible. However, thermal compounds are not as good thermal conductors that their function might suggest, a bare metal such as copper is much better in this area. This explains the importance of not "spread" the core processor dough making it since it greatly reduces the contact surface between the metal of the radiator and the metal core, so the conduction will be worse (instead of fill the pores in the paste will work to form a thermal barrier that concentrates the heat on the processor).

[Rasdasa]

The thermal paste should be applied to one or two surfaces in contact. The thermal paste still having a thermal conductivity much lower than those of metals, thermal grease (applied with a spatula or a credit card for example) should be as fine and regular as possible, its only role is avoid the presence of air between the two surfaces. Over the layer will be thick, less thermal paste will work. Remove thermal paste component or a sink, for instance to deliver a new layer of dough, is generally done using ether or isopropanol.

[deoWo]

The thermal paste must be applied in a thin layer on the heart of the processor. If it is asked in abundance, you may get the opposite effect and thermally insulating the processor. There are a number of thermal pastes. The bag comes with the fan is sufficient in most cases. More efficient thermal pastes (silver or ceramic) can save a few degrees. Some cheap coolers are supplied as original equipment with a "thermal pad" propose under the sole. It has the same role as the thermal paste with a lower efficiency. To remove this "pad" or clean an old paste application, use of alcohol at 70 degrees and nothing else.