Thermal strip and thermal grease: which is better to use in the computer

Why do we need such devices? The fact is that the surface of the processor or radiator can not be completely smooth. If you place the radiator directly on the processor, there will be tiny, almost imperceptible gaps between them. And since the air conducts heat poorly, these gaps will have a very negative impact on the cooling of the entire system.

What is better to use: thermal paste or thermal pad?

For this reason, an intermediate material with high thermal conductivity is required, which can fill these gaps and establish heat exchange. Thermal pad or thermal paste can be used as such material. But which one to choose? What is the difference between them, what are the advantages and disadvantages? Which option is best for a laptop? Understand this will help you our article.

What is thermal grease

Thermal grease or thermally conductive paste is a sticky substance that is applied directly to the radiator or the processor itself to ensure a snug fit. Thermal grease is the most commonly used material that provides correct cooling for electronics. To perform its task, the thermal grease must be of good quality. To properly apply this substance, requires a certain skill, as it is very dirty.

For proper application, it is common to extrude a pea-sized amount of paste directly onto the central area of ​​the processor. Then it is evenly distributed over the entire surface using a flat object: for example, a plastic card. The layer must be thin enough to fill possible gaps, but it does not create an additional barrier between the processor and the heatsink.

What is a thermal pad

The main advantage of this element is ease of installation. Unfortunately, in terms of their effectiveness, thermal pads are inferior to thermal grease, which can be applied with a thin layer and obtain the desired result. Some fans for processors are sold immediately with thermal pads, because they are easy to install, do not require additional manipulation and do not need to get dirty, while they provide the necessary performance. But, unfortunately, these items are disposable.

If you ever need to remove a radiator from the place where it was once installed, the thermal padding will have to be replaced. This is due to the fact that the surface of the thermal pads is disturbed during contact with the processor and becomes uneven. Thus, if you try to install it again, gaps form between the two surfaces. As already mentioned, this adversely affects thermal conductivity and can disrupt the operation of the processor. Therefore, it is worth remembering: if you remove the radiator, the thermal pad should be completely removed and replaced with a new one.

Also, do not use multiple thermal pads together. Two or more gaskets between the processor and the radiator instead of cooling will have the opposite effect and very quickly lead to damage to the processor. This is especially true for fast-heating notebook processors.

Replacing thermal pads with thermal grease

Technically, replacement is possible, but it is not always recommended. In most cases, this replacement will cause the CPU temperature to rise. Why is this happening? The fact is that the thermal pad not only provides thermal conductivity, but also has a certain effect on the springs and bolts that hold the entire processor cooling design.

If the gasket is removed and the paste is applied instead, the radiator will not rest on the processor as tightly as before, since an element of a certain thickness has been removed from the established system. In addition, the rotation of the fan can have a certain effect on the processor due to the resulting gap, causing friction. Therefore, it is possible to replace one element with another at your own peril and risk.

TIP. However, recently began the production of special types of thermal paste, which is used instead of thermal pads. It is more dense and viscous, can fill large gaps, in addition, it has improved thermal conductivity. Pay attention to the thermopaste brand K5-PRO, it is made for iMac computers, but also suitable for other computers.

Thermal grease and thermal padding: applying one to another

Such an action does not make sense and can only degrade thermal conductivity. Applying the paste to the gasket under certain conditions can seriously hinder the transfer of heat from the processor. Therefore, it is better not to experiment, and instead choose only one option.

Laptop option

It should start with the fact that both gaskets and pasta are of poor and good quality. Undoubtedly, good quality thermal grease will be better than bad thermal pads, and vice versa.

But if we consider the situation with elements of the same quality, then a thermal pad is recommended for a laptop. The fact is that the heating of the laptop processor is strong enough; moreover, this device is constantly shaken when moved from place to place. A good thermal pad will be more stable under these conditions, and it is better to choose it instead of thermal paste.

Thermal grease and thermal pads: advantages and disadvantages

Let's start with thermal pads. So what advantages do they have?

  • Easy to use.
  • They can be cut in different sizes and shapes.
  • Do not get dirty, easy to install.
  • Do not dry out.
  • Are made of various materials in accordance with the specification.

Disadvantages:

  • High production cost.
  • Single use.

So, at first glance, thermal pads have many advantages. Different in shape, you can quickly install a new one instead of the old one, easy to install. The various types of materials from which they are made, allow you to choose the most preferred material in terms of electrical, thermal, chemical or physical use.

However, their price can be quite high. Most often, in the production of components, thermal pads are installed manually, which immediately increases the cost of the final product.

Now consider the characteristics of thermal paste. Benefits:

  • Reliability.
  • Cheapness
  • High-quality elimination of gaps.
  • Only a thin layer is required.

Disadvantages:

  • Soiled when applied.
  • Dries up.
  • Sufficient pressure is required.

Let's sum up. Thermal pads are a good option, especially for a laptop, but you need to take a responsible approach to their choice. It is better to take a good thermal grease instead of cheap substandard thermal pads. Also, when choosing the latter, you can focus on the type and quality of the material. This gives you more control over your system.

TIP. If the price is essential to you, it is better to make a choice in favor of thermal paste. You will need to apply only a thin layer to achieve good thermal conductivity. Moreover, the thinner this layer is, the better the thermal conductivity will be. Thermal pads are almost always much thicker than the required layer of thermal paste.

Also, thermal grease copes much better with the alignment of surfaces. Since it is a viscous substance, this substance is capable of filling both the smallest gaps and rather large irregularities. It copes with this task much better than thermal pads, which do not have the ability to flow into all the grooves. If the surface of your components or radiator has significant irregularities, it is better to give preference to thermal grease.

When you make a choice, it is advisable to install a component temperature control program and monitor the indicators for a while to make sure that your choice was correct.