Is it bad if thermal paste is dry?

The paste transfers heat much better than air does, but it’s still not nearly as good as metal. When it dries, it can be crumbly (leaving air pockets), so the gaps aren’t filled as well. A smooth creamy paste fills gaps much better than a dry crumbly one. The liquid probably also aids in transferring the heat.

Does thermal paste need to be wet?

That’s normal, it should be wet (though depending on the paste and heat exposure, it may dry out after a couple of years, at which time you will want to clean it off and re-apply).

Can I use my PC right after applying thermal paste?

The thermal paste serves as a medium between the chip/IHS and the heatsink to help heat transfer from the chip to the heatsink. The paste itself doesn’t cool anything. You can use it immediately.

Can dried thermal paste cause overheating?

Thermal paste will dry after about 2-3 years of being properly applied to a cpu and heatsink, the heat generated by the cpu/gpu causes this yes.

How long can thermal paste sit?

Believe it or not, much like medicine and food, thermal paste also has a shelf life and can go bad. Generally, manufacturers give their thermal paste a lifespan of 3 to 5 years. That’s if it sits under optimal conditions, which may not be the case for you.

Should I let thermal paste set?

That’s no problem. The thermal paste only “dries out” over time and especially with the normal warm-up and cool-down cycles of a CPU. Installing the paste using a proper technique and letting it sit overnight won’t have a negative effect.

How fast does thermal paste dry?

Remember that when you are applying thermal paste, you need to wait for it to dry out. This is because the thermal paste isn’t supposed to dry right after putting it on. In fact, it should dry after almost a year of use due to the hot air present in the CPU. So you can lock in your CPU after applying thermal paste.