The expert named the signs of loss of thermal paste properties and gave recommendations for replacement.

Humidity and high temperatures can cause overheating and damage to computer equipment. Artyom Pishulin, brand communications manager at the Russian computer manufacturer iRU, told Izvestia on November 16 why thermal paste plays a crucial role in cooling the processor, how to understand that it has lost its properties, and when it needs to be changed.

"Thermal paste is a heat—conducting material that is applied between the processor and the cooling system (radiator). Its task is to ensure the most efficient heat transfer from the processor chip to the radiator. The fact is that the surface of the processor and radiator is not perfectly smooth, there are microscopic pores on it. Without thermal paste, air remains in these gaps, which does not dissipate heat well," the expert explained.

As a result, the processor heats up more than it should. Thermal paste fills in these irregularities, eliminates air gaps and ensures tight thermal contact and stable heat dissipation, Pishchulin added.

In addition, he stated that overheating is dangerous not only for the processor, which wears out faster, but also for the video chip, batteries, memory and SSD drives. Constant high temperatures shorten the life of the fans and impair the overall stability of the system.

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You can replace the thermal paste yourself, but in laptops the procedure requires care. Incorrect disassembly can lead to damage to the cables and thermal pads. The specialist recommends contacting authorized service centers if the user is not sure of their skills. When replacing it yourself, it is important to choose a paste with a thermal conductivity of 6-10 W/m ·K, thoroughly clean the surface and apply a thin, uniform layer.

"The service life of thermal paste strongly depends on the conditions and whether "freezes" are observed. If the computer is working around the clock (for example, a server, workstation, or gaming PC), the thermal paste can be changed every year. With moderate use, it is enough to make a replacement every two years or even less often. In laptops and monoblocks, where the heat sink is more difficult due to the layout, it is required to replace the paste more often than in stationary PCs - once every one to two years," Pishchulin emphasized.

It is also worth remembering that high-quality thermal paste lasts longer, and regular maintenance and the right choice of material help extend the life of the processor and maintain stable system operation.

On August 28, Pishchulin told Izvestia how to upgrade home computers for educational tasks. The expert calls replacing the HDD with an SSD one of the most effective updates — many users can perform this upgrade on their own. It is also relatively easy to install additional RAM if there is a free slot. However, with compact systems such as nettops and monoblocks, you should be careful: in some models, access to the components is difficult and disassembly requires professional skills. In such cases, it is better to contact the service to avoid damage to fragile parts.

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