How long does Thermal Grease last?

[LearninToBuild]

How long does Thermal Grease (one supplied with Dark Knight) last before needing to remove the HSF and apply more? (That'd be a pain in the ass since youd have to remove everything from mobo to unmount the HSF).

 

[MrWizard6600]

if you applied it correctly you shouldn't need to re-apply for years.

 

[[Ion]]

I only reapply the thermal paste when I remove or change the heatsink. No reason to reapply it otherwise IMO

 

[Nenu]

As a careful practice, I change mine every couple of years if the machine is still in my possession.
Machines I have built with Arctic Ceramique are still running fine 5 years on so at least Ceramique stands the test of time.
Its probably better to only be concerned if temps start rising without easy explanation.
Some pastes will dry out more than others, best to bear that in mind.

 

[LearninToBuild]

Thanks guys. I did apply the thermal paste exactly as my HSF indicated it needed to be.