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Thermal Paste — Does Brand Matter and How to Apply It
Thermal paste fills microscopic surface imperfections between your CPU or GPU and its cooler. Good paste applied correctly drops temperatures 5 to 15 degrees versus degraded or poorly applied paste.
All Thermal Pastes Compared
| Paste | Conductivity | Longevity | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut | 12.5 W/mK | 3 to 5 years | Around $9 |
| Arctic MX-6 | 12.6 W/mK | 8 years guaranteed | Around $10 |
| Arctic MX-4 | 8.5 W/mK | 4 to 8 years | Around $7 |
| Noctua NT-H2 | Around 8.9 W/mK | 5 plus years | Around $12 |
How to Apply: CPU
A pea-sized dot in the center of the CPU IHS. Mount the cooler directly over the dot without spreading manually. Cooler mounting pressure distributes it correctly across the die. Over-spreading introduces air bubbles that hurt performance.
How to Apply: GPU
GPU dies are smaller than CPU IHS surfaces. Use a smaller dot — approximately half the size of a CPU application. The die is exposed silicon, not covered by a metal lid.
When to Re-Paste
- CPU: every 3 to 5 years in a gaming system
- GPU: when temperatures are 10 degrees above expected, or after any used card purchase
- Used GPU purchase: always re-paste immediately
Shop on Amazon: Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut – Best Overall
Shop on Amazon: Arctic MX-6 – Best for Longevity
Shop on Amazon: Arctic MX-4 – Best Budget Option
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