Warning: Relying on thermal paste pre-applied to coolers is a trap

Built a rig for a buddy last month using a stock cooler that had the paste already on it. Figured I could save time by just slapping it on. Booted fine for a day then he started getting random shutdowns playing Baldur's Gate 3. Thermal readings were all over the place, like 95C at idle sometimes. Turns out the pre-applied paste had dried out or was uneven from sitting in the box for months. Had to pull the cooler, clean it, and put on my own Arctic Silver. Steady temps now around 65C under load. Has anyone else run into this with stock thermal paste being unreliable after shelf time?

2 comments

2 Comments

emma_ramirez14d ago

Sounds like it saved you time... twice.

the_gray14d ago

Wait, are you saying I'm the kind of person who needs saving from myself twice in one day? Guilty as charged, I guess. But hey, if it saves time, I'll take being called out for it. Better than spending an hour trying to figure out what button does what. And honestly, if it worked twice, that's a solid track record in my book.