Can I use silicone instead of thermal paste?

Do you want to switch away from thermal paste in favor of something else? Thermal paste is not very effective at transferring heat from the CPU to the cooler. This can lead to overheating and system instability. The better option is to use silicone for this purpose. So, if you ask me, “Can I use silicone instead of thermal paste?“. Then, we’ll highly recommend you to use this.

Silicone is a better conductor of heat than thermal paste. It does not evaporate or dry out like thermal paste can. Though silicon has other problems, this material is working pretty well on the PC. In this content, we will describe both sides of silicon. So, without further any due, let’s get started.

How does CPU thermal paste work?

Generally, we use cooling paste on the CPU and GPU. There are two reasons to use this paste.

1. The first reason is to fill the microscopic imperfections between the CPU and cooler.
2. The second reason is to help transfer heat better than others.

Besides the two reasons, another reason is that it is cheap. That’s why maximum people use this. Now, we will talk about the working process of CPU thermal paste.

The working principle of thermal paste is very simple. It’s a heat-conducting material that helps to transfer heat from one surface to another. When you use it on the CPU, it will repair any tiny flaws. It allows heat to be transferred from the CPU to the cooler.

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What does thermal paste do for CPU?

We should know that the CPU is very sensitive to heat. Too much heat can damage the CPU and lead to system instability. That’s why we need to use a processor thermal paste. Here are some benefits of using processor thermal paste on the CPU.

#1 Keeps the CPU cool.

The main purpose of using processor thermal paste is to keep the CPU cool. It helps to transfer heat easily. If the CPU gets too hot, it can lead to system instability.

#2 Improves overclocking performance.

Overclocking is the process of increasing the clock speed of the CPU. It can lead to better performance. However, it also produces more heat. That’s why you need cooling paste. It helps to transfer heat very fast and smoothly.

#3 Increase CPU performance.

Increased CPU performance is the most common reason to use thermal paste. The paste has the ability to cover even the tiniest flaws. It helps to increase the performance than previous.

So, these are the primary benefits of using thermal paste on the CPU. If you want to use this paste , you should know how to apply it. But, the use of silicon is better than thermal paste.

What can be used instead of thermal paste?

If you don’t want to use thermal paste, you can use other alternatives. There are some materials that are beneficial to use in this case. Some people are using cpu glue to avoid extra money. But, some materials are perfect in this regard. So, what are they?

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Here are 5 materials that you can use instead of using thermal paste. Let’s have a look:

1. Moisturizing cream: It’s not difficult to apply a moisturizing cream to the tiny flaws. This will aid in the transfer of heat easily.
2. Toothpaste 1°C: Tooth paste is another great conductor. If you never use it, you should give it a try.
3. Butter 53.2°C: Butter is another great conductor of heat. It’s easily available in every home. So, if you don’t have thermal paste or silicon then you can use butter.
4. Silicon: Silicon is the best alternative to thermal paste. It’s a great conductor of heat. Moreover, it does not dry out or evaporate like cpu glue.
5. Copper: Copper is also a good conductor of heat. But, it’s not easy to apply. You need some skills to apply it.

So, these are the 5 materials that you can use instead of using thermal paste. Some materials are better than others. Silicon is the best alternative to thermal paste.

How to replace thermal paste on CPU.

If you previously used cooling paste for CPU and now you want to replace it, you should know the process. Replacing thermal paste is not a difficult task. You can do it by yourself. Here are the steps that you should follow:

• Step 01: Firstly, you need to remove the old thermal paste from the CPU. You can use a cotton swab for this purpose.
• Step 02: Now, you need to apply the new thermal paste or other alternative. You can use a brush or your finger for this purpose.
• Step 03: After that, you need to spread the paste evenly.
• Step 04: Now, you need to apply the CPU cooler.
• Step 05: That’s it. You have successfully replaced the thermal paste on your CPU.

Remember: You should be very careful while replacing the thermal paste on your CPU. If you make any mistake, it can damage your CPU.

Frequently Answer Question(FAQs)

Question: Can I use Vaseline as thermal paste?

Answer: You can use Vaseline as a thermal paste. But, you should add some aluminum powder. The reason is that Vaseline alone is a poor conductor of heat. That’s why we should add some aluminum to increase the conductivity level.

Question: Can I use toothpaste instead of thermal paste?

Answer: Previously said that you can use toothpaste instead of thermal paste. But, it’s not the best alternative. Sometimes toothpaste can damage your CPU. So, it’s better to use other options like silicon or copper. But, some experts recommend using it as a substitute for thermal paste.

Question: Does thermal paste expire?

Answer: Everything has its limited expiration date. The manufacturers set this date. But, most of the time it’s 3 to 5 years. So, you can use thermal paste after this period. But, it’s better to check the manufacturing date before using it. Don’t use it if it’s expired.

Question: Can I run my PC without thermal paste?

Answer: You can’t run your PC without thermal paste. The reason is that it’s necessary to transfer heat. If you don’t use thermal paste then your PC will overheat. The overheat causes damage to your PC. So, it’s necessary to use thermal paste.

Question: How long can a CPU last without heatsink?

Answer: If you don’t use a CPU cooler then your CPU can last for 1-2 minutes. After that, it will be damaged. So, it’s necessary to use a CPU cooler and heat sink compound. You can use Noctua NH-U14S as the best CPU cooler on the market. Besides, you can buy several CPU coolers based on your budget. So if you’re looking for something unique, there are plenty of options.

Final Verdict.

There is a lot of controversy between the use of silicon instead of thermal paste. Actually, it’s up to you which one is better for you. Some experts say that silicon is the best alternative to thermal paste. On the other hand, some people say that it’s not the best option.

But, one thing is sure that silicon is a great conductor of heat. Moreover, it does not dry out or evaporate like thermal paste. So, you can use it as an alternative to thermal paste.