How can I keep thermal paste from hardening?

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

Hello! This is something I should know the answer to or just google it, but I'm retarded.

Whenever I buy thermal paste, it tends to harden very quickly and I basically lose it. Do you guys have any advice to keep it soft?

Keep in mind I live in the tropics, so it's very hot and humid here.

Oh and, do you have any recommendations for thermal paste? Again, I live in a hot environment and don't own A/C.

 

[seri0us]

graphite thermal pads supposedly last a lot longer in humid environments

 

[TenMilesWide]

Usually when I buy thermal paste it comes in a little syringe or a tub/cup with a lid, and just keeping it closed when not in use is enough? My current tube of arctic silver is like 5 years old at this point, paste is still applicable.

 

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

Usually when I buy thermal paste it comes in a little syringe or a tub/cup with a lid, and just keeping it closed when not in use is enough? My current tube of arctic silver is like 5 years old at this point, paste is still applicable.

I once bought a tube and even when I kept it sealed tight, it still hardened.

 

[ghastlyretard]

I once bought a tube and even when I kept it sealed tight, it still hardened.

Over how long? And what are you buying? I live in an environment thats hot and arrid, and I'd expect I should have it worse than you. It never dries out in the tube. I generally buy Noctua's paste and it lasts. I've had a huge tube of Arctic MX-4 that was in a drawer for the better part of a decade and it held up.

You might want to try keeping it in a ziploc baggy with the air pressed out.

 

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

Over how long? And what are you buying? I live in an environment thats hot and arrid, and I'd expect I should have it worse than you. It never dries out in the tube. I generally buy Noctua's paste and it lasts. I've had a huge tube of Arctic MX-4 that was in a drawer for the better part of a decade and it held up.

You might want to try keeping it in a ziploc baggy with the air pressed out.

I don't remember the brand. I think it was something cheap, so maybe that's why. It was a huge tube too. Such a waste...

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

Thermal paste?

 

[The Repeated Meme]

Thermal paste?

Thermal paste (also called thermal compound) is the stuff on your cpu that acts a thermal conductor to your heatsink to keep your cpu cool. It hardens over time so it's good practice to replace is every few years or so.

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

Thermal paste (also called thermal compound) is the stuff on your cpu that acts a thermal conductor to your heatsink to keep your cpu cool. It hardens over time so it's good practice to replace is every few years or so.

I just put some ice on the CPU when I check its temperature and see that it's above 70C, no need for your fancy paste. I already ordered a small freezer so I can put the motherboard in there instead of using ice cubes.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

I just put some ice on the CPU when I check its temperature and see that it's above 70C, no need for your fancy paste. I already ordered a small freezer so I can put the motherboard in there instead of using ice cubes.

Yeah, I'm sure that's a real thing that you definitely did.

 

[oldTireWater]

Thermal paste?

Yeah. Your typical Elmer's, or knock off brand, emits carcinogenic/mutagenic/radioactive/greenhouse gasses when microwaved so if you want to eat your paste above room temperature you need to get thermal paste.

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

Yeah, I'm sure that's a real thing that you definitely did.

Here is a picture of me. Yes, I know you will doubt the authenticity but I assure you that this is me.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

View attachment 6926030
Here is a picture of me. Yes, I know you will doubt the authenticity but I assure you that this is me.

Unless this is your instagram https://www.instagram.com/slavic_science/p/CgJwJ9aND4n/ that is not you. That picture was taken 2 1/2 years ago. And if you actually use a setup like that you're a retard. Using your fridge/freezer like that is a good way to break it.

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

Unless this is your instagram https://www.instagram.com/slavic_science/p/CgJwJ9aND4n/ that is not you.

This account has posted my picture, but it's not my account.

And if you actually used a setup like that you're a retard.

My computer is incredibly fast and never goes above 30C.

 

[The Repeated Meme]

This account has posted my picture, but it's not my account.

Bullshit.

My computer is incredibly fast and never goes above 30C.

Good for you.

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

@Daddy's Little Kitten you should just buy more expensive paste. Don't buy shit from china ever.

 

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

@Daddy's Little Kitten you should just buy more expensive paste. Don't buy shit from china ever.

I know, but how can I preserve it?

 

[Sparkletor 2.0]

My computer is incredibly fast and never goes above 30C.

Yeah, but how fast is your refrigerator?

 

[Daddy's Little Kitten]

Yeah, but how fast is your refrigerator?

Pretty fast. I have a hard time catching it.

 

[Eternal Spirit of Light]

Yeah, but how fast is your refrigerator?

Incredibl fast.