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Does thermal paste... expire?

D

da233

Limp Gawd
Joined
May 3, 2007
Messages
303
I found this arctic silver paste that I used on my previous build almost 5 years ago. Is this thing still usable? Do these things degrade in quality over time?
 
Depends on how it was stored. If you've just had it sitting around in your room somewhere, chances are it's not something you still want to apply to your system. Just get a new tube, things aren't that expensive anyway.
 
Yes, and how long depends on how it was stored. It's most likely fine, but personally, I would get a new tube.
 
Whatever new tube you get, check around for prices. For example, the same 3.5 gram tube of Arctic Silver 5 is $13 at newegg and $4 on amazon.
 
And don't get Arctic Silver again. It is capacitive, so can cause problems if you get it on components. Get something like MX-4 instead.
 
I would have thought Arctic Silver, being oil based, would be completely fine after 5 years; despite the fact it 'degrades' as a TIM joint in less than a year when in place.

Might need a damn good shake/stir though.
 
I remember using some old arctic silver. It came out of the tube seperated into two components. I didn't have anything else handy so I mixed it up a bit on the top of the CPU and bunged the heatsink on.

The system seems to be fine but it's not a box that I stress heavily.
 
Separation is usually the biggest issue, and typically just a stir won't get it back to it's original consistency on the microscopic scale, which is what really matters. For $5 a tube, no reason not to get a new one.
 
Well the problem here is that I live in Hawaii, and I'll get hit with +$20 shipping for even a tiny little thermal paste tube.

Is there a way I can just push some of the paste out onto a piece of paper, or something, and figure out by its color, consistency, thickness, etc., whether or not it's in good working condition?
 
no problem, try and mix it beforehand as best as you can. if a god damn slice of american cheese works, how does old TIM not?
 
Wait, I just realized that the cpu cooler I received has a tube of thermal paste with it. (CoolerMaster Hyper 212+).

I have no idea if it's good quality paste though, anyone know? And should I just use this instead of the old Arctic Silver 5 I have?
 
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