Does thermal paste expire? Does expired thermal paste work too? Can I use old or bad thermal paste on my computer components? Thermal paste is a type of synthetic grease that is used to fill the microscopic gaps between computer processors, GPUs, and motherboards. It helps your system run cooler and prevents overheating. The question of whether or not it expires has been asked by many people in the past. In this article, we will answer all these questions!
Does Thermal Paste Expire?
Thermal paste does not expire in the tube. The expiration date of thermal paste usually is 2018 or 2019, but this should be written on the box when you buy it so that there are no misunderstandings since some people have reported expiring thermal paste with a 2021-2022 date marked on it. If expired thermal compounds still work then they can be used for either newly installed components, or to reattach already attached ones if they come loose due to wear and tear.
Can I use old or bad thermal paste on my computer components?
The answer to whether you can reuse your old (or even bad) compound comes down to how much time has elapsed between its purchase and now. There are two factors to take into account:
Most manufacturers recommend that thermal paste is replaced every couple of years. The other factor, and what will make or break whether you can reuse your old compound, is the quality of it when it was originally applied… If your old compound has already dried up then there’s a chance that it might have formed air pockets as indicated by white streaks within the package. These air bubbles mean they are no longer useful for effective heat transfer and also expose any metal components which could cause corrosion (although this isn’t common).
The rule-of-thumb with most pastes is if more than six months have passed since its original installation date then chances are good that expired thermal paste won’t work either due to degradation.
If you’re still unsure about whether your paste has gone bad or not then pop it in the fridge for a day. If it’s no longer sticky to the touch when removed after 24 hours, then chances are good that it won’t perform as well anymore and should be replaced.”
Thermal paste does not expire. It is a good idea, though, to keep the thermal pastes in your system and computer clean by regularly cleaning them with alcohol or other safe liquids. You also want to make sure that you’re using the right amount of thermal paste for optimal heat transfer. Too much will cause air bubbles whereas too little might lead to high temperatures and shorting within the computer chip/s.”
“The rule-of-thumb with most pastes is if more than six months have passed since its original installation date then chances are good that expired thermal paste won’t work either due to degradation.” > “Therefore it’s best to periodically replace any old liquid coolant systems as well because both can be a cause of overheating.
“If you’re using liquid coolant then it’s a good idea to check the system for leaks from time to time as well.” > “However, even though thermal pastes and liquids don’t necessarily expire on their own, expired products may not work as effectively in providing an optimal amount of heat transfer between your processor/s or other components due to degradation over time.”
Does thermal paste have an expiration date? The fact is that most commercial grade pastes do not have an actual expiration date because they are designed with materials that will last years without any problems. However, there are some cases where quality control declines over the course of those years and this might lead to different results such as impurities in the paste.
“However, even though thermal pastes and liquids don’t necessarily expire on their own, expired products may not work as effectively in providing an optimal amount of heat transfer between your processor/s or other components due to degradation over time. Most commercial-grade pastes do not have an actual expiration date because they are designed with materials that will last years without any problems. However, their quality control declines over the course of those years and this might lead to different results such as impurities in the paste.”
