For something as basic as thermal paste, people sure believe in a lot of myths about it. I mean, the role and impact of the TIM (thermal interface material) on your PC's performance isn't remotely as significant as the CPU cooler, RAM, or even the motherboard. Still, you'll find endless debates about the right way of applying thermal paste, how much of it you should use, and which brand is the best.

Whether you blame anecdotal evidence or ill-informed advice on the internet, there are one too many things PC builders get wrong about thermal paste, and its impact on the CPU temperature. While you should never resort to toothpaste or other adventurous materials to cool your CPU or GPU, it is still okay not to obsess over your thermal paste.

5 The stock thermal paste is worthless

Take stock of your bias

I might have been guilty of recommending replacing your stock thermal paste in the past, but that's only really needed for extreme situations — maybe your CPU is throttling at idle with the stock paste, or an especially toasty chip needs all the help it can get to stay cool. In most cases, however, the stock thermal paste that is pre-applied on your CPU cooler's heatsink is perfectly serviceable, even if you're playing high-end games or running other demanding workloads.

Many enthusiasts love to bash the stock thermal paste, suggesting that one should never rely on it, and always use an aftermarket alternative. This isn't helpful for the vast majority of users, since replacing the stock paste isn't a quick or simple process, and the benefits of using a branded option are rarely worth all the hassle. The only job of the thermal paste is to form a thermally conductive layer between your CPU and the cooler heatsink for efficient heat transfer. As long as the pre-applied paste is half-decent (which it is usually with most components), you don't need to worry about replacing it.

4 High-end thermal pastes make a huge difference

To your wallet, yes

The difference between pre-applied and aftermarket thermal paste might be minor, but what about the performance of various brands of thermal paste? Does it differ terribly between, say, a $7 and $13 thermal paste? You might be debating between buying a 4g tube of the Arctic MX-4 vs. the Noctua NT-H2. The latter costs almost twice that of the former, but either of them is an excellent option (despite the MX-6 being slightly superior), and will be enough for most users and systems.

The temperature difference between different brands of thermal paste is rarely more than a few degrees, usually only around 1–4℃. This is hardly perceptible for most users who are gaming or working on their PCs, even if intensive productivity applications are involved. The minor performance differences matter only to enthusiasts, and only when they are running extreme overclocks or stress tests that put a significant load on the CPU. Of course, a more premium thermal paste might have other benefits, such as easier application, higher consistency, or more longevity, but, again, we're splitting hairs at this point.

3 Applying excess paste is bad

Worrying about it is worse

The amount of thermal paste you should apply seems like a non-issue. After all, you would know when it is too little or too much, right? It turns out that people tend to make this a lot more complicated than it needs to be. Most users, when applying thermal paste to their CPUs, will instantly know if the quantity is far too little to form an even layer between the IHS and the heatsink. The opposite, however, is what stumps most people. Many users think if they squeeze out more than a small dollop of paste, it will form a thick or uneven layer and hurt the performance of the CPU.

This belief is mostly wrong, since it's expected that you're probably dealing with maybe double the required amount, not emptying the entire tube at once. Even with that amount of paste, the pressure exerted by the heatsink when you push it down on the IHS, will automatically push out the excess paste towards the edges of the IHS. You can easily wipe it off without worrying about any electrical conduction between the paste and the other components, like the motherboard. The paste will still form an even layer, and work in the same fashion as if you had applied just the right quantity.

2 You should replace thermal paste every year

Not even close

If you see the number of years people go on without ever removing their CPU cooler, you'll never believe this myth. Most guides for thermal paste replacement recommend replacing your thermal paste every 2 or 3 years. Some users still go overboard and replace it once every year. I am happy to inform you that almost every thermal paste can last far longer than 3 years without needing replacement. Unless you're suddenly experiencing unusually high CPU temps, or you've just removed your heatsink, you can leave the thermal paste alone for 4 to 5 years from the initial application.

Thermal paste can dry up or degrade in 3 to 4 years, but you'll come to know if that's the case. Your CPU will start overheating, or your PC's performance will start tanking. If all's going well, there's no need to worry about replacing the thermal paste. In many cases, higher CPU temps might be due to other reasons, such as dust buildup, voltage bugs, or a faulty background application. So, replacing the thermal paste should usually be the last fix you think about.

1 The dot/line/X method is the best

There's no single best way

The more people you ask, the more confused you'll become. That's the state of the consensus on thermal paste application. Whichever method works slightly better for someone, that's the best method for them. They'll swear by it, and will almost force you to join their respective club, be it the dot, line, X, or any other method. Some guides even suggest applying five dots on the IHS to cover the entire area, particularly for Intel's LGA 1700 or LGA 1851 CPUs. The simple answer to this needless debate is that you can use any of the popular methods.

The objective of applying thermal paste is to fill in the microscopic gaps between the CPU's IHS and the cooler's heatsink. Hence, you need a sufficient amount to create an even layer between the two. Some people firmly believe that you need a spatula to spread the paste over the IHS manually for the best results. While doing so might work well, simply applying a dot or line of paste in the center and placing the heatsink on top will achieve the same results. The pressure of the heatsink will spread the paste evenly, creating the fine layer that's required.

Manually spreading the thermal paste has the downside of potentially creating air bubbles on the surface of the paste, hindering optimal heat transfer between the IHS and the heatsink. So, it's best to let the heatsink do its thing, and worry about application methods only if you observe unusual or irregular CPU temps.

Thermal paste gets more attention than it deserves

Some users take it too far when it comes to thermal paste and their CPUs. Obsessing over high CPU temperatures isn't healthy, since it detracts you from enjoying your machine, and, in most cases, you're probably worrying about minor differences. The role of thermal paste is important in ensuring optimal heat transfer from the CPU to the heatsink, but the particulars aren't that impactful. As long as you're using a decent thermal paste and one of the common methods of applying it, you should not worry too much about the intricacies.