These are the dire consequences for 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 major problem for your system, as it will expire and stop working normally. It's even worse to remove it and leave the CPU to fend for itself, as it may become completely damaged.
That's why you should be aware of how important thermal paste is to your computer. In fact, there are several negative consequences that can result from not replacing this material frequently, and this article will discuss each of them.
- What are the consequences of expired thermal paste on a computer?
The main function of thermal paste is to absorb 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 through air cooling or liquid cooling.
Whatever your situation, if the thermal paste on your computer dries up and is no longer useful, it can no longer dissipate heat and generates overheating which, if persistent, can cause cascading hardware problems.
In this way, the computer's inefficient heat conduction will begin to negatively impact the overall operation of the device. Here's a list of some of the things that affect it:
- Performance loss: When a critical temperature is reached, protection mechanisms are activated that reduce speed. This directly impacts 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: The lack of thermal paste forces the fans to work harder, forcing them to accelerate. This can be annoying when using your computer.
These are some of the things that can happen if you don't learn to change your thermal paste from time to time. However, in more severe cases, the damage to components can be permanent. This means an expensive repair or even the replacement of major system parts will be required.
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.