Is 2+ year old Arctic MX-3 still OK to use?

Goose · 26 Sep 2011 at 10:35

I'm gonna be building my new rig this week and i'm wondering if i need to new TIM or if my half-empty MX-3 that i've had sitting on my desk for over 2 years will still be good to use?

Thanks.

blky · 26 Sep 2011 at 10:53

im pretty sure that as long as its still moist, as in you havent left the cap off it and it hasnt turned powdery, you should be right to use it~

mejobloggs · 26 Sep 2011 at 11:03

I've just put on some old stuff and seems fine. Just squeezed a tiny bit out into the bin before putting it on cpu. Wasn't dry inside

MooMoo444 · 26 Sep 2011 at 11:25

Should be fine as long as it was stored properly ^^

They always supply paste in tubes that are way to big for what you need anyway, so you have enough to last a lifetime

Purgatory · 26 Sep 2011 at 11:26

I would try removing the 1st bit squeezed out and then try a little blob and spread it and see if it is still moist and spreads ok, if so it will be fine.

setter · 26 Sep 2011 at 19:06

Should be fine, i recently put another machine together. The only paste i had was some four year old as ceramique, stuck it on and it was fine.

moogle · 26 Sep 2011 at 20:01

I've used some 6 year old Akasa thermal paste recently and it works fine. It's been kept in a box out of the sunlight in a cool room and is still squidgy/liquid as it was when I first got it.
So your MX-2 will be fine (I've got a 3yr old MX-2 tube as well and it works well too). I had some coolermaster paste that came with a heatsink which dried up into dust so it all depends on how you store it and if the cap is on tight.

pat_c · 27 Sep 2011 at 14:08

I recently removed some AS5 from a 2004/2005 build, still sticky, still makes a mess when you remove it - that stuff lasts for ages.

Mookzen · 27 Sep 2011 at 15:52

The suspension fluid might have settled by now, but its not like shaking the thing will help much given the viscosity. Overall quite sure its fine to use, though might not perform its best. In any case, regardless of any processes that might have went on in there the end temperature difference compared to a new one will certainly be negligible.

As said before, unless it turns out powder/liquid/solid you're good to go mate.