Does Thermal Paste go "bad"?

Posted by deleted_by_reddit@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 124 comments

Long time ago I bought a 30g tube of mx-4 or whatever it's called. I'd rather not buy more if I don't need too but it's pretty old. Does stuff like this ever expire?

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Vipu2@reddit

Throwing my 2cents into this old thread too

Im about to apply 12y old MX-4 into 9800x3d
Its been fine since then, last cpu I used it was 13600kf few years ago and been working just fine.

Not dried out, not weird liquids, looks just like it should.
Its 20g tube that have still maybe 15g or a bit less left so this should be enough for 20+ more years.

Might report back after installing if I remember

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xenaga@reddit

How it hold out? Mine was 10 years old and I chucked it for a new one cause it was hard to squeeze out and looked a bit dry.

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Vipu2@reddit

It worked fine.

I store it in its original syringe, syringe in plastic bag tied shut.
It didnt look oily or dry, just normal.

Cooler is Lian Li Ga II Lite 360
I have set fan speeds to be as silent as possible (around 50% speeds even at that max use).

CPU temps:
Idle 30C
Gaming 40C
Stress test max 60C

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xenaga@reddit

That's good to hear. My new paste I am going to do the same, I didnt put it in a plastic bag it was just in a drawer.

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Kazubla@reddit

Since this 6 year old post is still the first thing that pops up on google I'll add my 2 cents.

Funnily enough I also have the same paste. Bought my MX-4 around 2015~ when I bought my FX-6300. Used it again in 2019 when I upgraded to the 3600x. I'm a year too late for X3D to be worth it, but I've finally decided to bite the bullet and upgrade my AM4 system to the 5700x.

Just did a test and the consistency seems surprisingly fine. It'll be interesting if it performs well after a decade despite the 8 year durability notice on the packet. Wish me luck!

https://imgbox.com/KYmB6Ac0

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percolatedPeixe@reddit

Hey there, have you upgraded to the 5700x and use the old thermal paste? I also have an old tube and am upgrading my CPU shortly... Wondering if I should just shell out the several bucks for peace of mind.

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xenaga@reddit

just test it on a paper and see. i tested mine after 10 years and looked hard and i didnt trust it. its like 6 bucks, not going to break the bank.

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Kazubla@reddit

It's up to you and honestly, a replacement tube won't break the bank. I'm just a frugal guy by nature.

But I was confident that I had stored it well and the test sample looked fine so I pulled the trigger.

Playing the witcher as we speak with 3 YouTube tabs up and one video on my second screen.

https://imgbox.com/1tM8b5fR

Seems to be working like a charm.

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-UserRemoved-@reddit

I have a tube that's over 10 years old I still use. Assuming the tube was capped, I would imagine it is still just fine.

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Acceptable-Store135@reddit

its amazing the amount of silly stuff you get when you google. Thanks for confirming this for me. Im selling my old cooler and have a bit of thermal paste from 6 years ago it's still coming out like toothpaste consistency. I was just trying to find out if I can throw that into the package and send it off to the customer. I came across a website named "kooling monster" and it claimed that thermal paste - even if a tube goes bad after 24 months - complete braindead opinion.

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ChiTownDisplaced@reddit

It's amazing the number of people who are googling the same thing only to wind up on the same 6-year-old Reddit post.

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Only_comment_boomer@reddit

wth 3 in the same day lmao

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PossibleSimple3767@reddit

I've literally just checked this too 😂

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Toolazy2work@reddit

Good lord there’s dozens of us!

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Skinc@reddit

Hello 👋🏻

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TheTwitchyWarlock@reddit

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mr_nehative@reddit

What a coincidence!

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UserUnknown5372@reddit

Hello there!

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21egroeg@reddit

Me too!

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ORCA206@reddit

sup

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Sufficient-Gur-7294@reddit

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johnhendy123@reddit

One more ☝🏾

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colinlikesfood79@reddit

Me too

[-]

ImMrSnow@reddit

Google sent me

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Sz3roRevan117@reddit

Here from Google 👋 lol

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knokaka@reddit

4 hours ago

well well well fellow thermal paste hoarder

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Addestrum@reddit

haiiiiii

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FSB_Phantasm@reddit

and the chain continues.

Here out of curiosity because I'm pretty sure a family member of mine still has thermal paste from 10+ years ago. Still seemed the right consistency last I used it.

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LDBaha@reddit

Today was my turn! I hope this thread lasts for generations. Hi people from the future

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ChristopherMessmer@reddit

Hello 😂😂

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dunLOLie@reddit

Just found my Arctic Silver 3 tube. Plenty left over from my Athon XP 2800 Build.... So i used it on my i5 2400 build..... and there was left over from that, so it got used on my Ryzen 1600 build.....Anyway, here we go again. This might be the last time, as its about to run out

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Vemena@reddit

And the next one.

Remembered I had some Noctua NT-H1 left somewhere and found it a couple minutes ago. Google send me here as well, the chain continues!

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Ummgh23@reddit

Greetings from Earth!

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GutsyChavMonkey@reddit

hello! just thought i'd triple check before upgrading

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colinlikesfood79@reddit

I say go for it, I'm gonna go for it… My dad bought a new one, but I had a fairly large too and I squeezed some out and it seems exactly like it was before… Gonna monitor my temperatures and if it doesn't work out I can just shut down and get a new tube lol

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colinlikesfood79@reddit

14th gen i7 14700k. 5 or 6 year old mx4 paste. So far so good!!! Temps staying right where i would expect them!!!

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Austin116@reddit

Checking in on the thread! I have a 13th gen I9 that might have gone bad, and I have a tube of Artic MX-4 that I am going to use on the RMA/Replacement! Woo Hoo! I'm gonna use it!

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Kagnonymous@reddit

I also just found this thread on google because I have a 13th gen I7 that I am trying to RMA and wanted to know if the tube I found it my desk is still good.

Have you started the process? It seems to be a huge pain in the ass and very outdated. I have been going back and forth with them for the better part of the week.

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Austin116@reddit

It went about as well as it could! There was definitely a few days of reporting on troubleshooting, and whatnot, but once they decided it was bad, I shipped them my old one, and had a new one at my house under 24 hours later. The replacement came SUPER fast. So yeah. I would do it, because I wouldn't call a 13th gen outdated... couple years old sure, but until February of this year I was running on a 6th gen I7. So. I feel like the 13th gen still has some life haha.

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zk-dr@reddit

Crazy. Google must be pushing this to the top of the results

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AlaynaJoG@reddit

Howdy I’m also here from google 🎊🎈

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ioustinian@reddit

also from google. (Hi fellow necromancers!) -My bedroom started having a slight burnt rubber scent. Akin to stale weed smoke lingering, like the neighbors house did it, thats how faint it is.

(Im unable to take the motherboard off to get to the NVIDIA card and CPU area. possibly a sisterboard situation. )

I'll update if theres any good info, or if I was correct in the future. if i dont forget about this

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Guilty_All_The_Same@reddit

Hi, 8 months later. Same old "Google brought me here".

Brought a Noctua NT-H2 and wanted to check if I'll have to throw it away after spending a little bit more than I planned after using only a pea-sized blob.

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Front-Chemical-478@reddit

ello

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o_lof@reddit

Hi Google pointwd me to this place

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KnitReality@reddit

it's pc building season baby

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ecl1pseWUT@reddit

greetings, fellow thermal paste using mammal

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pelic4n@reddit

Keeping the thread alive.

6 year old Noctua paste going on my old i7 being Frankenstein'd into a TrueNAS machine.

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My-Name-Is-Caboose@reddit

Add another to the list coming from Google, just ordered a new setup and forgot the paste so back to the old faithful in the cupboard

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KaioKen@reddit

I got here trying to figure out if 10 year old thermal paste is still any good.

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hasawasa22@reddit

Hi guys! Connected by old paste lmaoo

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hello_im_sleepy@reddit

Also from Google 👋

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Fromagene@reddit

Hey just used my 8 years old thermal paste for my new 7800x3d, consistency was good will do thermals test tomorrow

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Effective-Intern-484@reddit

I'm here from google Checking if the thermal paste in my Xbox that's sat for 5yrs might still be good...

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Fromagene@reddit

The 8years old paste was still good. Temps are fine (70°)

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TxMaverick@reddit

Just googled this myself and had to add to this long chain. My paste tube was only opened 6 months ago; sounds like I'll be just fine.

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Alak87@reddit

Welp, I'm here too, even though RAM prices are telling me not to upgrade my PC D:

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6890@reddit

Adding my name to the long list of users who've been driven here by a Google search.

I'm happy I swapped for an AM5 board and CPU couple Christmases ago so the RAM craze hasn't impacted me at all, but my GPU is really showing it's age. Oh well, time to disassemble the loop and clean, then rebuild.

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meestarneeek@reddit

Ayooooo!

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Julian_Caesar@reddit

General User Unknown!

You're a bold one!

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Tricose@reddit

General Kenobi! (I took am here from Google)

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xDeenn@reddit

Yes, spring heatwave hit us all as I can see xD

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ggDebonTV@reddit

Summer Unreal Engine 5 derp optimization adventures* :D

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Old-Mammoth5108@reddit

Yup...

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sliceysliceyslicey@reddit

I also googled this but logically they shouldnt go bad too easily when they couldve lasted years inside the laptop lmao

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theNFAC@reddit

This post is evergreen. Just got here from Google. Hello googlers

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sliceysliceyslicey@reddit

internet has gotten so shit every question just led you to reddit anyway

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theNFAC@reddit

I'm old enough to remember when the Internet had the right answers. You had an argument you could figure out who is right in minutes. Now. Who knows? AI sure as fuck thinks it knows but it's mostly wrong

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femboycbt@reddit

oh hi mark

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Plus-Statistician320@reddit

Same. I looked at your post. "21 days ago". It is May 20, 2025 today.

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TheFakeP3rson@reddit

It’s now November 17 2025 today and I googled the same thing everyone else did, it feels like a little time vault

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Kozilekk@reddit

Jan 5 2026 gang, coming at you from the future.

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Normans_Boy@reddit

Lol…..definitely not me right now. 😑

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theintelligentboy@reddit

Haha count me in.

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red298@reddit

Looks like you caught me 😂

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ssmihailovitch@reddit

Yep. Thanks :)

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trentraps@reddit

Same here haha.

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CollectionRegular619@reddit

This thread is saving lives

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GreasyYeastCrease@reddit

For real

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Zoooooomy2@reddit

I don’t feel as alone now haha

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Next-Bonus984@reddit

Same

[-]

L_U-C_K@reddit

Reddit is a wonderful place indeed

[-]

Cautious-Ruin-7602@reddit

Crazy right? Anyway, I was Googling this question too.

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Zilveari@reddit

Same here, but I'm in Champaign not Chicago.

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OIcyBulletO@reddit

We love to see it

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ChiTownDisplaced@reddit

Passed down throughout the ages. But, is it the correct info?

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01kg@reddit

Hey, me too!

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Other-Ambassador3494@reddit

1 day apart🤣 this thread has me in fuckin tears rn, if u had told this guy 6 years ago that he'd be helping the entire PC community for over half a decade he'd laugh in ur face. Thanks for the help stranger!

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Cum_Police@reddit

recent googler here

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mmmmair@reddit

Just googled this ✌🏽

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djbrabrook@reddit

I've got thermal paste which was manufactured in 1963 it still works better than all modern thermal pastes

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transarchycuddleslut@reddit

Do you know what composition it is? Or at least brand / product name?

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Xaviorffviii@reddit

Thank you from 5 years in the future!

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cpguru22@reddit

This ol tube of Arctic Silver 5 about to get some use. I cant even remember how old it is. Squeezed some out and it looks fine. Tastes fine too!

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Parking-Artichoke823@reddit

You are not supposed to eat it dummy, its a paste. You should brush your teeth with it

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Ready_Page1612@reddit

just dont forget to floss as well, gotta get in those gaps

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Able-Advance235@reddit

Of course, the thermal paste companies will set an expiry, and that expiry will be quite conservative. (Yes I know this is an old thread, but it's interesting)

They need you to buy more in the name of profit margins, hidden behind your fears of the product no longer being able to do its job.

If you've closed the cap and stored it in your house, somewhere away from outdoor exposure, it should logically last way longer than the 5+ year old paste in any other cpu that's being constantly heated and cooled every day.

I think if it comes out the same as it usually does, then it should be fine. If it's crusty and impossible to squeeze out, then you have your answer.

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Ready_Page1612@reddit

Yeah, the paste manufacturers want you to buy more paste, obviously.

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tulasisarge@reddit

i have cooler master cryofuse bought in 2021 feb applied to cpu and gpu in 2024 july. put it back in closet with cap tight. reapplied to new pc build in 2025 april. goddam this best thermal paste i have used. it still has 0.5 to 0.8 grams in it, i will use it for laptop cpu after an year.

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Rootax@reddit

Hello !

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bublik1@reddit

Lol me too

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paintplayer@reddit

Saved me from throwing away my Kryonaut

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The_Struggle_Man@reddit

This really depends. You can have a tube from like 20 years ago still be good, but the quality isn't as good as modern stuff.

I've repaired old consoles, or old pc's because the thermal paste was burned/dried up over the years of being used, and running warm. Turns into a flaky powder. I do recommend replacing thermal paste on devices, but generally don't need to for years.

One of the most common fixes to the old PS3 fatboi consoles, was re-pasting the cpu and gpu.

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Rockarmy321@reddit

old comment but is 2years long enough for the thermal paste to have dried out?

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The_Struggle_Man@reddit

Depends entirely on the brand and the operating conditions. Usually you should be fine in 2 years. I'm approaching three years on mine and my thermals are still within normal range. If you feel like you're running warmer than normal, it's always a good place to start. Good alcohol wipe down, and a repaste. arctic is a good cheap option. There are better but it comes at a premium.

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Rockarmy321@reddit

I want to try repasting my laptop with Thermalright's TF7 since i've heard it performs a lot better than Arctic pastes. It's a 14inch and it has an i5 11400H and the CPU stays at 60-69 Degrees on idle and only drops to 40 and 50 at really cold temperatures or after turning it on after a while.

I'm hoping the thermal paste on it has gone to shit and that's the only thing causing it, cause my old laptop used to idle at 50 and dropped to 40 sometimes despite being the same size and having a single fan just like this one

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The_Struggle_Man@reddit

Yeah I recommend Arctic as a cheap, but decent starting point. I typically use a higher grade, but for basic builds, arctic is fine.

That could be a good idea, would also give the opportunity to perform a good deep clean on the system as well. Laptops are tricky with thermals in general. Also research beforehand you might have a lot of thermal pads too, could be a good idea to replace them with something better than OEM. Good luck.

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Rockarmy321@reddit

I ended up getting the TF7, It's dropped my temps by 20 Degrees and now i get 40-50 idle and 50-60 with normal use and sometimes 70 on heavy use. Thanks a lot!

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The_Struggle_Man@reddit

Glad to hear you had some success with this. I'm going to have to pickup some of that TF7 paste and see how it is myself. Pretty cheap, that might be my new recommendation instead of Arctic after getting those new numbers you have with it.

Did your laptop have thermal pads?

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Rockarmy321@reddit

Honestly would've gotten the tf-8 even it's just that it's quite a bump upwards so nahhh

Yeah my laptop has thermal pads on what can only assume are the vrms. I didn't remember laptops had them though so I forgot to order one. Perhaps I'll do that for my next purchase... That is unless I can use thermal paste for that too?

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