Paste
- Thread starter Donaldmac
- Start date
You might want to elaborate on what you are actually asking us.
Dystopia
Active Member
It's best what? Best date? Generally speaking, I don't think they have a best date. The paste already on your CPU will last a long time, but if you OC at all re-apply it maybe once a year? If that. And as for the paste that is still in a tube/packet, I don't think those have a best date.
Aastii
VIP Member
Without taking off your heatsinks, you won't know, but if you take them off, then you have already spoiled it and will need to reapply paste, because putting the cooler back on the old stuff will introduce air bubbles, which defeats the purpose of having thermal paste.
You are best reapplying every 6-12 months to ensure it remains in it's "prime"
Once you put on a fresh lot, and have cleaned out the inside of your system, which you should be doing, give it a couple of days, then monitor your temperatures, this will tell you how it is performing at its prime. Check them every month or so, and if they get 5+ degrees higher than they were originally idle and under load, check that your case isn't full of dust. If it is, clean it and check the temps again, if not, the thermal paste has most probably deteriorated, and a fresh application will bring the temperatures back down to the levels that they should be at