Cooler Master painted a landscape onto a CPU using thermal paste and the hardware nerd in me can't help but think 'that's way too much' (2024)

Cooler Master painted a landscape onto a CPU using thermal paste and the hardware nerd in me can't help but think 'that's way too much' (1)

Forget digital art, give me that real-world, touchable, sniffable stuff. In fact, forget oils and pencils, give me a few tubes of coloured thermal paste and an Intel chip and let me go to town.

Oh… Cooler Master's already done it? Of course they have. For reasons probably known only to the manufacturer, Cooler Master has decided to paint a "happy little landscape" on what looks like an Intel 13th or 14th Gen chip using its multicoloured Cryofuze 5 Prism thermal paste.

First, the Cryofuze 5 paste is slopped onto a pallet and and mixed together. Then, the unknown artist goes to town. Once finished, the artwork is proudly displayed atop the CPU, which is seated in a Gigabyte Aorus Z790 motherboard.

Impressive and seemingly pointless, yes, but it makes for an eye-catching advertisem*nt for its coloured Cryofuse 5 thermal paste. This kind of paste being one that you can buy packaged together in all its colour variants under the "Prism" moniker.

I wasn't even aware that coloured thermal paste existed until now, and I can't help but wonder why it exists at all. You're not meant to be able to, y'know, actually see thermal paste once it's doing its job, so why would you care what colour it is?

Just a happy little landscape, thanks to our Cyrofuse thermal paste.🎨@AORUS_NA #pcmr pic.twitter.com/1Tki9alnVcAugust 27, 2024

It doesn't seem like Cooler Master knows, either, because its product page mentions benefits only of the actual thermal paste, not the various colours. Maybe landscape painting is the only justification—and why not?

Just don't go painting your own landscapes and expecting much thermal benefit. Hardware nerds have long recommended using the quick and easy pea-sized dollop technique (a technical term) rather than the tedious landscape painting one.

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Even today, with Intel's oddly rectangular chips, adding a few mini dollops in the corners and bigger dollops in the centre, per Noctua recommendations (PDF warning), should perform better and be quicker to set up than a completely lathered chip.

But hey, Cooler Master, you do you. I can't say my day was any the worse for seeing your peculiar creation.


Best AIO cooler for CPUs: Keep your chip chill.
Best air cooler for CPUs: Classic, quiet cooling.
Best PC fans: Quiet and efficient.

Cooler Master painted a landscape onto a CPU using thermal paste and the hardware nerd in me can't help but think 'that's way too much' (3)

Jacob Fox

Hardware Writer

Jacob got his hands on a gaming PC for the first time when he was about 12 years old. He swiftly realised the local PC repair store had ripped him off with his build and vowed never to let another soul build his rig again. With this vow, Jacob the hardware junkie was born. Since then, Jacob's led a double-life as part-hardware geek, part-philosophy nerd, first working as a Hardware Writer for PCGamesN in 2020, then working towards a PhD in Philosophy for a few years (result pending a patiently awaited viva exam) while freelancing on the side for sites such as TechRadar, Pocket-lint, and yours truly, PC Gamer. Eventually, he gave up the ruthless mercenary life to join the world's #1 PC Gaming site full-time. It's definitely not an ego thing, he assures us.

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Cooler Master painted a landscape onto a CPU using thermal paste and the hardware nerd in me can't help but think 'that's way too much' (2024)

FAQs

What thermal paste does Cooler Master use? ›

Cooler Master HTK-002 thermally conductive compounds are grease-like silicone materials, heavily filled with heat conductive metal oxides. This combination promotes high thermal conductivity, low bleed and high-temperature stability.

How can you find out if thermal paste has been applied to the CPU cooler? ›

To find out if you have pre-applied paste, check the bottom of the base plate or water block of your CPU cooler that attaches to the CPU. If the silver paste is already there, you don't need to add any more during the installation process.

Does Cooler Master liquid cooler come with thermal paste? ›

Includes premium CryoFuze thermal paste for exceptional heat conductivity.

How long does Cooler Master thermal paste last? ›

Do Thermal Compounds have an expiration date? Depends on the contents of the thermal compound but most should have a shelf life of around 2 years, if the cap was placed on properly and it was stored in a cool location out of the sun light.

Does changing thermal paste make a difference? ›

Poor quality pastes will not be as long-lasting as higher quality alternatives and will need changing more regularly. The actual build of your PC, paired with these other things can make a huge difference to the lifespan of your thermal paste.

Does thermal paste expire? ›

Depending on the formula used, the average shelf life is between 6 and 24 months. That said, the environment where it's stored can impact this. So, be wary of where you buy your thermal paste. If you're buying from a physical outlet and the AC doesn't work, chances are that your thermal paste is suffering on the shelf.

Do liquid cooled CPUs need thermal paste? ›

Cooling with Liquid

Similar to air cooling, the process starts with a baseplate that is connected to the IHS of the CPU with a layer of thermal paste. This allows for better heat transfer between the two surfaces. The metal surface of the baseplate is part of the waterblock, which is designed to be filled with coolant.

Do you put thermal paste on CPU or cooler? ›

Before clamping the cooler on top of the CPU though, you must first apply some thermal paste to the CPU. This is vital. The CPU will overheat without thermal paste between it and the cooler, but how much do you use? Too much and the pressure from the cooler will squeeze it out, making it leak all around the CPU socket.

Does it matter what thermal paste I use? ›

Good thermal paste can have a profound impact on your performance because it will allow your processor to transfer more of its waste heat to your cooler, keeping your processor running cool. Choosing the best thermal paste is also important if you plan on overclocking your rig to its fullest.

Does the Coolermaster 212 come with thermal paste? ›

The included CryoFuze Thermal Paste relies on nanoparticles for exceptionally high performance, while compatibility is guaranteed with the latest AMD and Intel sockets. Ensure you never slow down and never miss a shot with the Hyper 212 Black.

Is thermal grizzly worth it? ›

In summary, the Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is an excellent choice for anyone looking to achieve the best possible cooling performance for their system. Its high thermal conductivity, ease of application, and reliability make it a go-to thermal paste for both casual users and hardcore enthusiasts. Highly recommended!!

How to know what thermal paste to use? ›

To ensure that there are no short circuits when applying the compound, it's a good idea to choose a carbon-based compound that is free from any electrical conductivity. A compound with low conductivity can also be chosen to allow application without shorts, even if the paste touches any of the electrical components.

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