Do CPU Coolers Come with Thermal Paste? You Need to Know (2023)

Assembling a computer can be difficult, especially for beginners. The CPU cooler is one of the components that may raise issues.

You may be wondering whether CPU coolers include Best thermal paste, and if not, what you should do. These and other questions will be addressed in this article.

Before upgrading or buying a CPU cooler, consider: “Do CPU coolers come with thermal paste?”

Yes, thermal paste is included with both air and liquid CPU coolers. It is sometimes pre-applied to the heatsink, but if not, a small tube of thermal paste is included with the cooler.

Be sure to check out our many other buying guides, including the Best AM4 CPU , Best CPU for RTX 2080, Best CPU under $300 , and Best Motherboards for i7 9700K.

What is a CPU Cooler?

Before we get started with thermal paste, let’s take a look at CPU coolers. A CPU cooler is a component that aids in the cooling of your computer’s processor. As it performs tasks, the CPU generates heat, and if this heat is not dissipated, it can damage the processor or other components.

CPU coolers are classified into two types: air coolers and liquid coolers. To remove heat from the CPU, air coolers use a fan, whereas liquid coolers use a liquid that flows through a radiator.

Do CPU Coolers Come with Thermal Paste?

You already know how important thermal paste is for keeping your CPU cool. If you want to upgrade or buy a CPU cooler, you should check to see if it comes with thermal paste. CPU coolers typically come with pre-applied thermal paste.

Here’s the issue:

The answer depends on the manufacturer and the model of cooler you purchase. Some CPU coolers include thermal paste, while others do not. Most air coolers come with pre-applied thermal paste, whereas liquid coolers do not.

Some manufacturers, on the other hand, provide you with a pre-applied thermal paste cooler. Most of the time, it is not mentioned on the box. As a result, before purchasing a CPU cooler, you should carefully read the product description.

Do Intel Coolers Come with Thermal Paste?

Yes, Intel coolers come with thermal paste already applied.

It’s worth noting here that not all Intel CPUs include coolers. If the processor name includes a “K” at the end (for example, 12600K), it does not include a cooler. Because “K” chips are unlocked, they can be overclocked, and the stock Intel cooler would not provide adequate cooling.

Do AMD Coolers Come with Thermal Paste?

Yes, AMD coolers come with thermal paste already applied.

Like Intel, not all AMD CPUs include a stock cooler. Only the 5600x comes with a stock cooler in the latest 5000 series lineup. Stock coolers are frequently missing from AMD CPUs, so double-check if you’re expecting one.

AMD OEM processors are also available for a lower price, but they do not include a cooler, even if the retail version does.

Can you use a CPU cooler without Thermal Paste?

A CPU cooler can be used without thermal paste, but it will be less effective. The thermal paste fills any gaps that may exist between the cooler and the CPU. It also aids in the removal of heat from the CPU. Your CPU will most likely overheat if you don’t have it.

Is there a possibility of an explosion? If you are a gamer, you might be familiar with the phrase “Over heat”. It is a condition in which the temperature of a specific hardware device exceeds the safe limit. It could cause permanent damage to the device. It can also cause explosions or blasts.

We do not recommend using your CPU without thermal paste. However, if you are determined to do so, keep the following points in mind.

Is Thermal Paste harmful?

There is a widespread misconception that thermal paste is harmful to your CPU cooler. This is not true; thermal paste is intended to improve contact between your CPU and cooler. Actually, it extends the life of your cooler. In short, thermal paste will not harm your CPU cooler.

It’s not over yet!

Do you have any idea? Putting thermal compounds around the CPU is extremely dangerous! If you use thermal paste on the CPU cooler, it will not be a problem. However, if you use too much or place it directly on the socket, you risk shorting out your motherboard. As a result, you should exercise caution during the application process!

What is Thermal Paste?

Thermal paste is a substance that is put between the CPU and the CPU cooler. It helps improve the contact between the two surfaces, which makes it easier for heat to move between them. The paste fills in the tiny bumps on the surface of the CPU and the cooler, making it easier for heat to move from one place to another.

If you don’t use thermal paste, there can be gaps between the CPU and the cooler where air can get in. Since air doesn’t move heat very well, this can cause temperatures to rise and performance to drop.

Is Thermal Paste Pre-Applied?

If you buy a stock cooler from Intel or AMD, the paste will usually already be on the heat spreader. Some AIO coolers already have thermal paste on them. Most air coolers and some AIO coolers come with a small tube of thermal paste that you have to put on yourself.

The thermal paste should come with your cooler, whether it’s already on there or not.

How Do I Know If Thermal Paste Is Pre-Applied?

If your CPU cooler already has thermal paste on it, it should be pretty clear. At the bottom of the cooler, there will be a thin layer of silvery paste on the heat spreader.

Why is Thermal Paste Necessary?

If you play games or edit videos for a living, you know how hot your PC can get. If there is too much heat, something can blast or blow up. A YouTuber talks about how his computer blew up because it was making too much heat.
The main source of heat is the CPU, which needs to be cooled well. Because the CPU makes more heat the faster it works. If your CPU is not cooled properly, it won’t work as well as it could.

So, can thermal paste cut down on how much heat there is? Yes, the thermal paste helps to pull heat from the CPU and spread it evenly over the heatsink. It also fills in any holes so that heat can move through the house easily. This is why you need thermal paste to keep your PC cool.

How to Apply Thermal Paste?

Putting on thermal paste might seem hard, but it’s actually pretty easy to do. Here’s what you need to do:

1. Clean the CPU and Cooler Surfaces: Before you put thermal paste on the CPU and cooler, you’ll need to clean their surfaces. Use a cloth without lint and isopropyl alcohol to get rid of any dust or old thermal paste.
2. Use a Small Amount of Thermal Paste: You only need a small amount of thermal paste. A small drop in the middle of the CPU is enough. Don’t use your fingers to spread the paste, because that can make air pockets.
3. Attach the Cooler: Align the cooler carefully with the CPU and attach it according to the instructions from the manufacturer. With the pressure from the cooler, the thermal paste will be spread evenly over the CPU.

Is Aftermarket Thermal Paste Worth It?

Since thermal paste comes with CPU coolers, you might be wondering why you can buy it separately. Does it make sense to upgrade? Well, a good aftermarket thermal paste should lower temperatures by a few degrees, which can make the CPU run faster and make it last a little longer.

If you’re going to overclock your CPU or run something with a lot of processing power, you should probably use a high-quality aftermarket thermal paste, especially since they’re not that expensive. If not, the thermal paste that comes with your cooler will work fine, and you won’t notice a big difference. If you upgrade the cooler itself, you’ll see a much bigger difference than if you just use new thermal paste.

Thermal paste can be taken off and put back on, so if you want to use an aftermarket thermal paste to give your computer a small performance boost in the future, it’s not hard to do.

If you decide to buy thermal paste aftermarket, Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is a great choice.

Conclusion:

In the end, CPU coolers are important parts of every computer system. Some come with thermal paste already on them, but others do not. It’s important to use thermal paste correctly to make sure heat moves well and keep your CPU from getting damaged. If you follow the steps above, you should be able to confidently put on thermal paste.

It depends on the brand, though. Some brands come with the thermal paste already put on, while others don’t. So, check to see if your cooler has thermal paste. If the thermal paste doesn’t come with the cooler, don’t buy it. Because you have to pay more money to buy it.

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