Well, that is the million-dollar question. The thermal paste helps increase the overall efficiency of devices, which makes sense given that it is usually responsible for getting rid of excess heat. However, I have seen some instances where laptops have not used thermal paste. So, do laptops need thermal paste?
The thermal paste is a substance applied to the laptop’s CPU. This paste helps the CPU dissipate heat to the outside of the laptop. Thermal paste is used to prevent overheating of the laptop. If the laptop overheats, it may cause severe problems like the laptop getting damaged, the battery being destroyed, and the LCD screen getting damaged.
When it comes to laptops, thermal paste plays a vital role. Without thermal paste, the temperature of the laptop will rise. The heat is produced inside the laptop because of the hard disk. The CPU of the laptop is placed inside the motherboard, and this is the part that will be affected by the heat. So, the heat produced by the CPU can’t go out of the motherboard.
The heat will be accumulated and increase the temperature of the CPU. If the thermal paste is applied to the CPU of the laptop, then the CPU will be able to release heat, and the laptop will not overheat. The heat will be released outside the laptop and will not accumulate inside.
Table of Contents
Do Laptops Need Thermal Paste?
If you have a laptop, then there is an excellent chance that you will have to replace the thermal compound at some point. This is one of those things that you might think is very easy to do but tricky. So we have decided to put together this blog to help you with some of the questions that you might have.
What is the Thermal Paste?
We all know that our laptops are becoming more powerful and have better specs than ever. To handle such powerful laptops, we have to use thermal paste. This thin and sticky substance transfers heat from the CPU to the heat spreader.
Thermal paste is also used in smartphones and tablets, and it is applied on the back of the motherboard and helps cool the device.
Why use thermal paste?
Laptop cooling is an important aspect when it comes to performance. The CPU and RAM are the most sensitive parts of a laptop, and if you are using a laptop for a long time, then the heat from the CPU will directly affect the battery life.
The heat sink is the main component that helps transfer the heat from the CPU to the radiator. This is where the thermal paste comes into play. If you want to know more about thermal paste, then read on.
Thermal paste is a type of grease that is used to transfer heat from the CPU to the heat sink. This is done by coating the CPU and the heat sink. It is used for cooling laptops, smartphones, and tablets.
Types of thermal paste And Their Uses
Many types of thermal paste are available on the market, depending on the user’s requirements. Here are the types of thermal paste:
- Silicone thermal grease
- Fluoride thermal paste
- Silica-based thermal paste
- Thermal silver compound
- Thermal paste in copper
- Aluminum thermal paste
Silicone thermal grease
It is the most commonly used thermal paste, and it is primarily used in laptops. It is a silicone-based grease applied to the heat sink, which helps increase the heat transfer. It also helps in providing a smooth surface for the CPU.
Fluoride thermal paste
This is also a silicone-based thermal grease applied to the heat sink. It contains a fluoride compound that helps increase the heat transfer from the CPU to the heat sink.
Silica-based thermal paste
It is a very thin and delicate thermal grease, and it is used in smartphones and tablets. It is a very soft material that can easily be applied to the heat sink.
Thermal silver compound
It is a silver-based thermal paste, the most popular type of thermal paste used in smartphones and tablets. It is a very soft paste and can easily be applied to the heat sink.
Aluminum thermal paste
It is a fragile and soft type of thermal paste that is used in smartphones and tablets.
Thermal paste in copper
It is a copper-based thermal grease that is used for smartphones and tablets. It is a very soft and thin type of thermal grease.
How to Apply Thermal Paste On a Laptop?
Many people might be confused about applying thermal paste to their laptops because they don’t know how to do it. They don’t know whether they should use grease, spray, or powder. If you are confused about applying the thermal paste on your laptop, read this blog.
The most important thing for your laptop is to keep it cool, so you must use thermal paste. The thermal paste will keep the heat away from the laptop and help cool it down. If the thermal paste is not involved, it will consume more energy and also face several problems like overheating, shutdowns, etc.
Related Also: How To Use Laptop In Bed Without Overheating? 9 Easy Ways
Which Thermal Paste Type Is Popular?
Many types of thermal paste will help your laptop perform appropriately. The most popular type of thermal paste is called thermal compound, and it will help keep the heat away from the laptop and keep it cool.
To apply the thermal paste, you need a small amount of compound, which you can buy at the market or from the website. Some of the thermal compounds that you can use are liquid thermal compound, grease thermal compound, and spray thermal compound.
Best Thermal Pastes for Various Laptop Models
All of these types of thermal paste will be available on the market. You can apply the liquid thermal compound if you have a laptop with an Intel CPU. It will take around 5 to 10 seconds to get used to the feel of the combination and give you the protection that your laptop needs.
If you are using a laptop with an AMD CPU, you need to use the thermal grease compound. It will also take 5 to 10 seconds to get used to the feel of the mixture and provide you with the same protection that your laptop needs.
The Best Way To Apply Thermal Paste
The thermal paste will help your laptop work correctly, and it will also keep your laptop cool. To apply the thermal paste, you must remove all the dust from your laptop. After removing the dust, you can clean your computer and use the thermal paste.
The best way to apply thermal paste is by following the steps mentioned below:
- First, you need to open your laptop and remove the screen protector.
- Then, it would be best if you found the thermal pad. It will either be in the bottom right or the upper left corner.
- After that, you need to hold the thermal pad and apply the thermal paste to it.
- Now, you need to put the thermal pad back in its place and close the laptop’s lid.
- Finally, shut the computer down and start it up.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Using Thermal Paste?
Every technology will have its pros and cons. Nowadays, thermal paste is the most valuable and necessary tool for laptops. When you want to use the laptop for long hours, you should use the thermal paste because it will help cool down the laptop.
Thermal paste is a kind of grease that comes in a tube and helps to distribute the heat from the laptop’s core to the exterior. Sometimes the laptops become overheated while using many applications or playing games.
Let’s now discuss the pros and cons of using thermal paste.
Pros
1. Lower temperature
The thermal paste is not only used to cool down the laptop but also helps lower the temperature. As the temperature is reduced, the laptop can efficiently work for a longer time without breaking down.
2. Reduce noise
It is essential to keep the laptop free from noise. The fans in the laptop always run faster when there is a high temperature, and thermal paste will help reduce the noise and keep the fans quiet.
3. Lubricate the laptop
Thermal paste is a kind of grease that is applied to the laptop, and it helps to lubricate the laptop. When installing the thermal paste on the laptop, the fans will work efficiently and smoothly.
4. Remove dust
Thermal paste is used to remove the dust and dirt from the laptop. The dust will obstruct the fans, and they will get stuck.
5. Reduces the gap
The thermal paste helps to reduce the gap between the laptop and the laptop’s case. The opening is where the heat can be transferred to the external surfaces.
6. Prevents overheating
It is imperative to prevent the overheating of the laptop because the laptop will be damaged if it gets overheated. The thermal paste will help to keep the laptop cool by reducing the heat.
Cons
1. Overheating
If you are planning to buy a new laptop, then you should know that the laptop’s temperature will increase after installing the thermal paste. After applying thermal paste, the laptop will have a higher temperature.
2. Hard to apply
Many people have a problem applying the thermal paste; it takes a long time to use, and the application will be complex. It is a minimal amount of paste, so you should be careful while applying.
3. Make the screen dirty.
As the temperature of the laptop increases, the thermal paste will melt and get sticky. If you don’t clean it, it will cause a big problem for your laptop.
How Often Should You Change Thermal Paste Of Laptop?
There are many issues that a person will face while buying a laptop, but the most common one is the thermal paste. It is the thermal compound that you can use between the CPU and the heat sink.
Changing it every three months is recommended, but you can do it whenever you feel it necessary. You can use many reasons to explain why you should change the thermal paste.
The most common problem is the overheating of the laptop. When the CPU gets heated, it creates heat that is transferred to the motherboard. The thermal paste is used to reduce the heat. If the heat transfer is insufficient, the CPU will get damaged, and your laptop will stop working.
Another reason is that your laptop might be overheating. In this case, the thermal paste will be melted and will not work anymore.
If you do not use your laptop for a long time, it will not get used to the thermal paste. So, when you use the laptop for the first time, you will have to change the thermal paste.
What is a laptop thermal pad?
A thermal pad is an accessory that will help keep the laptop cool and free from dust. The thermal place is available in the market in two versions: a sticky thermal pad and a non-sticky thermal pad.
A sticky thermal pad provides many advantages, as it will cover all the vents, it is easy to use, and it will help improve the airflow.
Which Is The Best For Laptops Thermal Paste or Thermal Pad?
It depends on the user how much he wants to install the thermal paste on his laptop, and also, there is a little difference between the two.
If you plan to use the sticky thermal pad, you should buy a damp thermal pad that is compatible with your laptop.
But if you plan to install the thermal paste by yourself, you can also use the non-sticky thermal paste, which will also work for your laptop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the proper use of a laptop?
We all know that a laptop is a computer that consists of many parts like a hard drive, display screen, CPU, RAM, and many others. If you use your laptop for watching movies, listening to music, playing games, or any other work which requires a lot of processing power, then you need to clean the laptop once in a while.
Why should we clean the laptop?
You will indeed feel better if you clean your laptop, because the dirt is accumulated on the hard drive of the laptop, and if you clean it, you will make your laptop work properly. You will have to wipe the keyboard, screen, and touchpad.
How to clean the laptop?
If you are wondering how to clean your laptop, you can easily remove its dust and dirt. You will need to make use of cotton cloth to clean your laptop. Make sure you don’t rub the material on the LCD screen, as it will get the screen dirty.
Conclusion
Now you know about all the types of thermal paste, but before you buy, you should consider your laptop model. Most companies provide a guide for choosing a suitable thermal paste, and you can also check the online reviews and ratings of the product. We try hard to provide you with good information in detail about thermal paste.
If you have any questions in mind, please express them in the comment section. Our team helps you find the solution.
Thank you for reading and for your time. Be safe, and live longer.
