Can u use same tube of thermal paste?

[MRebirth]

So, if I have thermal paste and use it, then put the lid back on and place it in a room that is mostly below room temperature, can I still use that thermal paste, or do I just throw it away?

 

[Veseleil]

You'll never know if you don't dare to try. Just like most things in life.

 

[pattesatan]

You should be able to do it, but I would just try on a paper or something, that it is like it was.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

If its good thermal paste. Keep it. If its bad thermal paste - like cheap rubbish. throw it away

 

[Massdeth]

If it looks like boogers when it comes out, if it comes out at all, then you know its garbage. As with all things, gotta employ youre god given common sense.

 

[bug]

So, if I have thermal paste and use it, then put the lid back on and place it in a room that is mostly below room temperature, can I still use that thermal paste, or do I just throw it away?

Depending on how long you store it, it can dry a little towards the tip. Throw that away, the rest should be good.

Also, a room cannot be "mostly below the room temperature"

 

[TheLostSwede]

Of course, I've used several years old thermal paste that has been in what I would call well above room temperature because of where I lived and it was perfectly fine, but it wasn't the cheap stuff either so ymmv.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I've stored IC diamond and Arctic Silver 5 for years and used them sporadically over time and they've been fine.

Are you going to get "peak performance" out of that tube? No. But if you're not a stickler about those extra 2-3c then it won't really matter.

 

[LabRat 891]

Dunno what TIM or what kind of container it's in, but...

You can use a drill w/ a bent paperclip in the chuck as a 'mixer' of sorts. I've (mostly) re-homogenized Arctic Silver Ceramique2 and Arctic Cooling MX-4 with this method.

Also, 'protip':
Silicone/silicon oil-containing TIMs and Sealants/Caulks/RTV/'Gasket Maker' can last much longer stored (airtightly sealed) in the refrigerator. IIRC, the (above freezing) cold retards separation.

 

[MRebirth]

Depending on how long you store it, it can dry a little towards the tip. Throw that away, the rest should be good.

Also, a room cannot be "mostly below the room temperature"

Well mine can because my room is always freezing since i have the balcony door open like ALWAYS i can lose my breath if the room gets to warm

If it looks like boogers when it comes out, if it comes out at all, then you know its garbage. As with all things, gotta employ youre god given common sense.

Its arctic mx4

 

[Athlonite]

I've got a tube of Thermolab paste that came with my Thermolab Baram in 2012 it's still as good today as it was back when I first got it I just used some on an old dell xeon system at a friends place because I'd ran out of everything else I had in the house found it laying the bottom of me tool/spare screws n bits case

 

[TheLostSwede]

Also, how long have said containers been in the shop/online store/warehouse before you got it?
I have never seen a use by date on thermal paste.

 

[MRebirth]

Also, how long have said containers been in the shop/online store/warehouse before you got it?
I have never seen a use by date on thermal paste.

Idk i bought the thermal paste 2 months to put it on the cpu but never used because the stupid aio came with some already applied but, they aio is dead now, so I used the thermal yesterday to reapply some on my ps4 and pc but I removed it from the pc because I was testing the pc thought maybe it could be a thermal paste problem I bought new paste just incase I can't use it any more

 

[TheLostSwede]

Two months ago? What are you even worrying about?
It's not super glue.

 

[MRebirth]

Two months ago? What are you even worrying about?
It's not super glue.

I used it I have 42 c on bios is that good?

 

[TheLostSwede]

I used it I have 42 c on bios is that good?

That's like asking is ice cream tasty.
It's not amazing, but it's not terrible as an idle temp, but maybe try something like HWiNFO64 in Windows instead.
My CPU operates at around 48 degrees on air in Windows when I just have some browser windows open, but that's at 24-ish degrees room temp.

 

[Shrek]

So, if I have thermal paste and use it, then put the lid back on and place it in a room that is mostly below room temperature, can I still use that thermal paste, or do I just throw it away?

It doesn't go bad, keep using it till it is used up.

 

[TheLostSwede]

It doesn't go bad, keep using it till it is used up.

Not true, but it's pretty obvious if it has, as it either dries up or the oil separates from the paste.

 

[micropage7]

yes you can, even it's several years as long as the paste looks good and looks smooth, no hardening paste or the paste become oily

 

[damric]

haha I have re-used thermal paste in a pinch when I have run out by surprise. I have scraped off the pre-applied and used that quite a few times or even scraped used TIM in a pinch. I usually don't run out because I try and keep at least 1 extra cheap tube and one extra high end tube on hand, but sometimes it happens.

 

[neatfeatguy]

I never had any issues with Arctic Silver 5. I think my last AS5 I had for about 8+ years before I used it all up. In fact, the last of it I used on my 5600X3D when I installed it and the new cooler a handful of months back. I used the same tube of AS5 when I completely pulled apart my 980Ti, cleaned it, put in new thermal pads and repasted it 5 years ago. I used the same tube when I got my 5900X and then again later when I changed to a better cooler for it. I also used some for the 10700k in the kids' gaming computer.

I really should get some more thermal paste now that I'm thinking about it. I'm out and you never know when you might need some.

 

[Keullo-e]

haha I have re-used thermal paste in a pinch when I have run out by surprise. I have scraped off the pre-applied and used that quite a few times or even scraped used TIM in a pinch. I usually don't run out because I try and keep at least 1 extra cheap tube and one extra high end tube on hand, but sometimes it happens.

Same here. Maybe I lose about 1C in temps, but even reusing paste is fine if it's still okay otherwise.

So for OP, it's totally fine. Would be weird to have those bigger syringes for consumers if all the paste should be used with one shot.

 

[Caring1]

I never had any issues with Arctic Silver 5. I think my last AS5 I had for about 8+ years before I used it all up. In fact, the last of it I used on my 5600X3D when I installed it and the new cooler a handful of months back. I used the same tube of AS5 when I completely pulled apart my 980Ti, cleaned it, put in new thermal pads and repasted it 5 years ago. I used the same tube when I got my 5900X and then again later when I changed to a better cooler for it. I also used some for the 10700k in the kids' gaming computer.

I really should get some more thermal paste now that I'm thinking about it. I'm out and you never know when you might need some.

Probably depends on the climate where it is kept, as my A.S. went off after a couple of years.

 

[neatfeatguy]

Probably depends on the climate where it is kept, as my A.S. went off after a couple of years.

Just kept it inside my little computer tool kit case that sat in my closet. No where special. The paste always came out looking the same and having the same consistency as it did the first time I used it.

 

[unwind-protect]

Just keep the firmware updated and you'll be fine.