PSA: I spent 6 months using cheap thermal paste like a fool

I was rebuilding my old gaming rig about 8 months ago and just grabbed whatever thermal paste was on sale at Micro Center. My CPU temps always sat around 85-90C under load, and I figured that was normal for an older chip. Then a buddy came over and saw my paste was all cracked and dry after only 3 months. He handed me a tube of Arctic MX-6 and my temps dropped 12 degrees on the spot. I had been overheating my CPU for half a year because I didn't want to spend an extra $8. Has anyone else cheap out on paste and regret it later?

2 comments

2 Comments

sanchez.mia14h ago

Tbh, sounds like you were baking cookies in there, not gaming.

fisher.diana11h ago

Yeah, that's a whole different kind of heat.