Often overlooked and taken for granted, thermal paste is a necessary component in PC assembly and while the retail packaging for CPUs typically come with a heatsink and fan with thermal paste applied at the factory it typically isn't the best for ensuring that the maximum amount of heat is transferred from the processor to the heatsink especially if the CPU is going to be overclocked. Thermal paste is designed to take up the gaps between the heatsink and the IHS of the processor, thus eliminating the air in the gaps. Metal to metal contact is best for maximum heat transfer. There are many thermal pastes available, so which one does one choose from? We hope to shed a little light to this confusing topic.



Link: Hightech Hardware