💻 Thermal Grease CPU: review of options

Why thermal paste to the processor and how it works?

Any modern CPU, even a mobile can contain billions of transistors inside. Transistor - one of the basic electronic components. In operation, the processor thereon flowing current, i.e. physically moving electrons. And as we know from school physics course - this is accompanied by release of heat. What will happen if the current will simultaneously flow through billions of transistors? There will be a huge volume for such heating. Therefore processor design requires removal of heat.

By the way, the processor itself - is only a small piece of silicon. And that is already installed in the computer - it is the body, inside of which is the crystal itself. An exception may be notebook processors - where the crystal can not be the case. In any case, the surface of the housing, and the crystal heat removal systems may not be completely smooth. That is, can have irregularities. And when the two contact surfaces are formed between them air gaps, which reduce thermal conductivity. Which ultimately leads to a heating of the processor. Here also need thermal paste. It forms a close contact of the two planes - the housing and radiator. And since the thermal grease is composed of thermally conductive material, is formed integrally, and that It brings the heat to the radiator, and he has, in turn, is cooled forcibly by a fan or water.

Thermal grease or thermal pad - which is better

And thermopaste thermal pad and operate the same task - to form a thermally conductive layer between the two planes. That's just the purpose of use they are different.

Thermal pad is used to create heat-conducting layer to cool the chips which have a different height or distance between the two planes is too large. That is, in fact, the thermal pad - this is an extreme solution when using thermal paste to create a reliable heat-conducting layer is not possible. For surfaces, the gaps between which are fractions of millimeters is better to apply thermal paste, if the gaps are greater than or imbalances - it is better to take the thermal pads.

Which to choose the thermal grease to the processor

In fact, the issue of thermal grease selection is no single solution. Some users have reported one species, while others with the same kind of problems may occur. Therefore, thermopaste selection is performed in practice rather by scrolling through the options. However, the characteristics and parameters can make at least a general picture of the application of a paste. So let's talk a little bit about them.

Thermal Conductivity

As follows from the definition of the thermal conductivity - the ability of materials to conduct heat. Thermal conductivity coefficient shows how this ability is great. It is measured in W / (m · K). The higher this setting - the higher the conductivity. Desktop computers typically have processors with less heating indicator, so they permissible to use pastes with a low thermal conductivity. Laptops place to ensure that the cooling system is limited, plus the mobile processors for compactness have integrated graphics core, which adds the maximum temperature. Therefore, there will be a more effective thermal grease with high thermal conductivity.

consistency

Consistency for the most part chosen for the sake of convenience. Those who are engaged in service on a professional level choose paste of medium consistency, which is easy to apply, and while it does not spread across the motherboard. Those who decided to change their own thermal paste is actually the special role of its consistency for a single application will not play. But for the first time it is recommended to take too liquid.

packaging

Differences in the package are also affected, as well as consistency. That is, if you plan to use one-time thermal grease, it will be more convenient to take a small amount in the syringe, from which you can immediately apply material to the chip. Professionals take great volumes. For example, one of the most popular toothpastes - KPT-8 can be supplied in cans and tubes up to 1 kg. For large volumes of work such a purchase would be more favorable. For the average user will approach the syringe more - struck and forgot.

Which is better to buy thermal paste to the processor

The unequivocal conclusion is that this paste is the best, and this is not, we do not can. However, to talk about those who are in high demand and their qualities and characteristics - can.

KPT-8

One of the most popular and affordable thermal paste on the market. Suitable primarily for desktop computers. Most often it is used by professionals, since it comes in many different forms and volumes. Its main advantage - low cost. Although its thermal conductivity and is only 0.65 W / (m · K) at 100 ° C, in comparison with the competitors rather small. Permissible temperature range ranges from -60ºS to + 180 ° C.

DeepCool Z5

DeepCool - this is a Chinese brand, producing many components for personal computers. In particular, this cooling system, coolers, power modules, housings and thermopaste. This model is slightly inferior to the popularity KPT-8. The thermal conductivity of the paste was 1.46 W / (m · K). The maximum high temperature at which the paste can work + 300ºC. It is supplied in the form of a syringe, which is very convenient to use at home.

Zalman ZM-STG2

And this is a Korean brand which produces mainly the cooling system. Well, the thermal paste too. This paste is also quite popular. Its thermal conductivity relative to other marks is sufficiently large - 4.1 W / (m · K). The maximum temperature is + 150 ° C. And it comes in a convenient syringe.

Evercool Compound

This paste is generally similar to the previous. Its thermal conductivity is approximately the same range as that of Zalman - 3,8 W / (m · K). That is suitable for desktop computers and notebooks. It can be supplied in tubes of 25 g or syringes for 10 g. Included is a blade for leveling paste on the chip.

How to apply thermal paste on the CPU

Now a little about how to apply the paste. At the beginning of this article, we figured out what it was for and how it works. Therefore the basic problem - how to apply a thin layer as possible. Liquid paste can drip on the center of the chip and is distributed over the surface itself after the connection planes. However, here it is possible to overdo it and cover with the motherboard surpluses. To play safe, it is better to distribute the paste by hand shovel from a kit, sim-cards or payment cards. It is important to remember - you need to create a thin layer that only has to increase the heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink.