CPU heatsink compound

[whoaru99]

Recently moved my pfSense firewall to a new-to-me Dell Optiplex SFF PC and in the process of doing that I blew it out and "regreased" the CPU/heatsink.

At the time was in a bit of a rush and couldn't find the stuff I'd been using (Noctua H1) so used plain old white stuff Wakefield 120.

The system is running fine and typically shows 35-37C from the CPU's internal sensor. Nothing wrong with that temp. Not like it's on the verge of meltdown where every degree C reduction is a big deal.

Since it's very easy to pull the heatsink and regrease on these Optiplex SFFs, would there be a point anyway to replace the Wakefield white grease with the Noctua H1?

Seems like probably not but I have plenty of the Noctua H1 and no more PCs in the pipeline to redo.

 

[Oerets]

You have the correct paste now.
Say it is a easy job to do.

I'd just do it and be done.


The stuff on there now may be all well and good. Just not as durable or as efficient over time.

 

[billyz]

Unless you are overclocking for extreme performance I think your fine. Or you can get anal and lap your cpu then use the exact amount in the right pattern of the most expensive compound . ‍
I love Noctura fans , super quiet and move some air.

 

[whoaru99]

No overclocking. In fact, I particularly chose to use the i5-4590T low dissipation processor (35W TDP) rather than the normal 4590 processor (84W TDP). And, have turned on the adaptive power/speed management feature in pfSense and see it's almost always running the min speed 800MHz rather than normal full speed of 2GHz. So, more like underclocked than anything.

 

[billyz]

I repasted a bunch of gpu’s and undervolted them for a crypto mining rig . Added extra fans and ran 24/7 . Looking back I should have kept mining even after the break even point at that time.