These are the dire consequences to your computer if you do not change the thermal paste regularly.
Like any other electronic device, your computer needs good thermal management to prevent overheating. This is where thermal paste comes in, the component responsible for preventing overheating in the processor.
Forgetting to replace it from time to time can be a big problem for the system, as it will expire and stop working as usual. It is even worse to remove it and leave the CPU to fend for itself, as it may be completely damaged.
That is why you should be aware of how important thermal paste is for your computer. In fact, there are many negative consequences that can occur as a result of not changing the said substance frequently and in this article you will see each of them.
- What are the consequences of expired thermal paste on a computer?
The main function of thermal paste is to take the high temperatures of the processor and pass the heat to the heatsink, where it acts as a kind of bridge so that everything is regulated by air cooling or liquid cooling.
Whatever your case, if the thermal paste on your computer dries up and is no longer useful, it can no longer dissipate heat and generates a temperature rise which, if continued, can cause cascading hardware problems.
In this way, the inefficiency in the heat conduction of the computer will start to negatively affect the overall operation of the device. Here is a list of some of the things that affect:
- Performance loss: When a critical temperature is reached, protection mechanisms are activated that reduce speed. This directly affects the computer's ability to run applications and video games.
- System instability: There may be crashes, unexpected restarts, and application errors.
- Reducing the productive life of components: If high temperatures are maintained for a long period of time, the productive life of the processor, graphics card, and other components will be significantly reduced.
- Excessive noise: Having to work harder due to the lack of thermal paste, which forces the fans to increase speed. This certainly generates annoying noise while using the computer.
These are some of the things that can happen if you don’t learn to change the thermal paste from time to time. However, when it comes to more severe cases, the damage to the components can be permanent. This means that it will require an expensive repair or even replacement of major parts of the system.
If you're wondering how long thermal paste lasts, it's best to replace it approximately every two or three years of use to prevent it from reaching its expiration point.
Of course, this period may vary depending on various factors that occur during operation between the processor and the heatsink.
There is no doubt that changing this compound regularly is an essential maintenance task that can extend the life of your computer and improve its performance.
Just as a car needs its oil changed periodically, your computer needs its thermal paste replaced to function optimally.
So, don't underestimate the importance of this small but crucial task, which will save you a lot of headaches in the future.