Toothpaste and thermal paste are two seemingly unrelated objects. However, some people claim that toothpaste can be used instead of thermal paste on the CPU. Is this true? What are the risks and benefits? How to do it right? This article will answer all your questions on this topic.
What is Thermal Paste and Why is it Important?
Thermal paste is a material used to fill the air gap between the surface of the CPU and the heatsink. Its purpose is to increase thermal conductivity and reduce the operating temperature of the CPU. Thermal paste is usually made of materials such as silicone, metal, or ceramics.
Thermal paste is very important because the CPU generates a lot of heat while working. If heat is not delivered properly, the CPU can experience overheating, throttling, or even damage. Therefore, thermal paste helps maintain CPU performance and durability.
What is Toothpaste and What Does It Have to Do with Thermal Paste?
Toothpaste is an ingredient used to clean teeth and mouth. Toothpaste usually contains ingredients such as water, fluoride, detergents, binders, dyes, and flavors.
Toothpaste has nothing to do with thermal paste, except that it looks similar. However, some people think that toothpaste can be used as a thermal paste because it contains ingredients that can conduct heat, such as water, salt, and baking soda.
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Is It OK to Use Toothpaste as Thermal Paste?
The short answer is no. Using toothpaste as a thermal paste is a bad and risky idea. Here are some reasons you shouldn’t:
- Toothpaste is not designed to conduct heat, but to clean teeth. The water, salt, and baking soda content in toothpaste is not enough to conduct heat efficiently. Toothpaste can block the flow of heat between the CPU and heatsink because it has a high viscosity and does not spread easily.
- Toothpaste does not tolerate heat. If you use toothpaste as a thermal paste, the toothpaste will quickly dry, harden, and crack. This will cause the toothpaste to lose its conducting ability and may even damage the CPU and heatsink. Toothpaste can also cause unpleasant odors and smoke if it is too hot.
- Toothpaste can damage other components. Toothpaste contains ingredients that can be corrosive, such as fluoride, detergents, and dyes. If toothpaste leaks or drips onto other components, such as the motherboard, RAM, or GPU, it can cause permanent damage. Toothpaste can also cause electrical problems, as it can cause short circuits or leakage currents.
How to Use Toothpaste as Thermal Paste Properly?
Although not recommended, there are several ways to use toothpaste as a thermal paste correctly, if you have no other choice. Here are the steps:
- Prepare toothpaste, cotton swabs, alcohol, and tissue paper.
- Turn off and disconnect the power cord from your computer. Open the computer case and remove the heatsink from the CPU. Be careful not to touch the CPU pins or other sensitive parts.
- Clean old thermal paste residue from CPU surfaces and heatsinks with a cotton swab soaked in alcohol. Use tissue paper to dry the CPU surface and heatsink. Make sure the CPU surface and heatsink are clean and dry.
- Apply a thin toothpaste in the center of the CPU surface. Don’t have too much or too little. Do not apply toothpaste on the edge of the CPU or the CPU pins. Make sure the toothpaste is evenly spread and flush with the surface of the CPU.
- Carefully reinstall the heatsink into the CPU. Make sure the heatsink attaches tightly and is aligned with the CPU. Do not press too hard or too gently. Tighten the heatsink bolts balanced.
- Replace the power cord and computer case. Turn on the computer and check the CPU temperature with monitoring software. If the CPU temperature is too high or unstable, shut down the computer and repeat the steps above.
What Should You Do After Using Toothpaste as a Thermal Paste?
If you successfully use toothpaste as a thermal paste, you should immediately replace it with a real thermal paste. Toothpaste can only be used as an emergency and temporary solution, not as a permanent solution. Toothpaste won’t last long and will decrease the performance and durability of your CPU.
You can buy thermal paste at computer stores or online at affordable prices. You can choose a thermal paste that suits your needs and budget. There are many brands and types of thermal paste available on the market, such as Arctic Silver, Noctua, Thermal Grizzly, and others.
To replace toothpaste with thermal paste, you can follow the same steps as above, only you replace toothpaste with thermal paste. Make sure you clean the toothpaste well before applying thermal paste. Do not mix toothpaste and thermal paste, as it can cause problems.
Conclusion
Using toothpaste as a thermal paste is a bad and risky idea. Toothpaste is not designed to conduct heat, cannot withstand heat, and can damage other components. You should only use toothpaste as a thermal paste if you have no other choice and only as an emergency and temporary solution. You should immediately replace it with a real thermal paste to maintain the performance and durability of your CPU.