The magical effect of thermal grease applied to computer processor cooling

For a computer, it is a very exaggerated and complex electronic system that generates a lot of heat. Without thermal grease, even when you're playing large 3D games, your quad-core processor might overheat and crash within an hour. Is thermal grease really that magical?

Processors like the Core i7 are advertised by Intel with flowery words, claiming how powerful their performance is, while their power consumption is so low. In reality, however, a Core i7 processor's TDP (Thermal Design Power) can reach up to 130 watts. They dissipate a tremendous amount of heat in a very small area, and we need a CPU cooler to quickly carry away the heat that is emitted. Thus, thermal grease becomes the link in the chain for heat exchange and conduction between the processor lid and the cooler.

Perhaps you might blindly think that both the processor and the cooler have smooth surfaces, but if you observe them under a microscope, you'll find that their surfaces are not as flat as they appear to the naked eye. Various grooves and surface undulations can severely affect the efficiency of heat dissipation. Small grooves and protrusions mean their surfaces can't fit together perfectly, and thus there will be air in these gaps. Air is a poor conductor of heat, and as the processor works and heats up, the air in these fine gaps will expand, further increasing the gap between the processor and the cooler.

But now we have a savior, and that is thermal grease. It can fill the gaps and grooves between the processor and cooler surfaces, allowing for a seamless fit between the processor and cooler, greatly increasing the area of heat conduction and enhancing heat exchange efficiency.

thermal grease is paste-like and is usually carried in small bags, tubes, bottles, or syringes. Some lower-end thermal greases are silicon-based oils, usually white and viscous mixtures that can effectively fill the fine gaps between the processor and cooler; while higher-quality thermal greases are usually gray and viscous mixtures.

When applying thermal grease, you must not be excessive. After long-term practice, I can tell you that just a small amount of thermal grease can do wonders. A grain of rice-sized amount of thermal grease is enough to ensure efficient heat exchange between the processor and cooler. For older or mobile processors, like Athlon XP and Pentium III, which have exposed cores, even less thermal grease is needed.

Once you have applied the thermal grease to the processor surface, you can then spread it out. At this point, you need to prepare a piece of plastic film, stretch the film, put it on your finger, and then you must use a small amount of pressure to push the thermal grease to spread over the various patterns on your processor, filling all the small gaps and grooves. Be careful at this point, and do not apply too much pressure to the processor, or else if you push too hard, your processor pins might bend.

Also remember, when applying thermal grease, you must ensure that their density remains consistent. Perhaps some thermal grease, after long storage, might have an uneven density. You need to use your sensitive fingers to pick out these larger particles, and you can also judge by observing the color of the thermal grease on the processor surface; if the color is inconsistent, then the thickness of the thermal grease applied is not the same.

Most people have a big misconception when applying thermal grease: many people apply thermal grease and then immediately install the cooler onto the processor, which is unscientific. Even ordinary thermal grease needs some time to set and solidify.

Shenzhen Anpin Silicon Material Co., Ltd. is a high-tech enterprise dedicated to the research and development, production, and operation of new materials such as thermal grease, electronic adhesives, ecapsulants, water-based paint emulsions, and thermal soft films. http://www.apsi.cn