I'm wondering if half a tube of 3g thermal paste will be sufficient for swapping out my CPU, or will I need to purchase another tube before I go ahead with the upgrade?
4 Answers
Totally enough! For a typical consumer CPU, you really only need a small blob, about the size of a pea or a grain of rice. Just a heads up though, since you mentioned your paste, if it's an older one like Arctic Silver 5, you might want to consider getting something newer and non-conductive like Arctic MX-6. Just a suggestion!
Yeah, half a 3g tube should be plenty! You can usually get several applications from a small amount. I've found that a tube like that can last through multiple swaps, so you should be good to go!
If you’re picking up a heat sink or fan during your upgrade, check the box! Some come with thermal paste included, which could save you a little hassle.
No heat sink this time, just the CPU!
You might want to know that it takes about 0.2 grams of paste to cover the IHS properly. With 1.5 grams from half a tube, you should be fine for up to 7 CPUs, so you really have enough for your swap!
I actually have an old tube of Corsair TM30 from when I built my PC back in 2020!