The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    thermal paste toxic?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by hehe299792458, Jan 18, 2010.

  1. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    175
    Messages:
    1,571
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    recently, I've had to reapply the thermal paste in one of my computers. I got some thermal paste on my finger and started wondering if this stuff is toxic? Well, is it? I was using arctic cooling's mx-3 btw. Thanks!
     
    hehe299792458, Jan 18, 2010
    #1
  2. moral hazard

    moral hazard Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,779
    Messages:
    7,957
    Likes Received:
    87
    Trophy Points:
    216
    Probably bad to eat it, but I don't think it's bad for your hands.
    Don't touch your eyes with it though.
     
    moral hazard, Jan 18, 2010
    #2
  3. 1ceBlu3

    1ceBlu3 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,050
    Messages:
    829
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    31
    nah..you'll be fine..i've done that a few times..i'm still alive and kicking..LOLz
     
    1ceBlu3, Jan 18, 2010
    #3
  4. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    175
    Messages:
    1,571
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    for now... :eek:
     
    hehe299792458, Jan 18, 2010
    #4
  5. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    706
    Messages:
    4,653
    Likes Received:
    108
    Trophy Points:
    131
    Right! The toxins haven't solidified yet. :D
     
    Krane, Jan 18, 2010
    #5
  6. obsolete

    obsolete Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    104
    Messages:
    458
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Haha. It is toxic technically, but it's not going to kill you. Silver is toxic by nature. It's used on burn wounds to kills bacteria and prevent infection. Kills some of the skin cells also.
     
    obsolete, Jan 18, 2010
    #6
  7. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

    Reputations:
    477
    Messages:
    3,334
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Your fine lol, besides everything gives you cancer now adays anyway ;)
     
    MrButterBiscuits, Jan 18, 2010
    #7
  8. crayonyes

    crayonyes Custom Title! WooHoooo !!

    Reputations:
    705
    Messages:
    1,098
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    do you feel any cooler?





    jk LOL
     
    crayonyes, Jan 18, 2010
    #8
  9. MrButterBiscuits

    MrButterBiscuits ~Veritas Y Aequitas~

    Reputations:
    477
    Messages:
    3,334
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    Go break a thermometer and mix it with the paste, then rub it into your hands I hear it's quite nice.

    ;) jk
     
    MrButterBiscuits, Jan 18, 2010
    #9
  10. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

    Reputations:
    2,360
    Messages:
    5,594
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    206
    I remember some desktop testers used American (?) cheese for thermal paste. I think that would be the only one truly safe to eat and get on your skin.
     
    SoundOf1HandClapping, Jan 18, 2010
    #10
  11. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

    Reputations:
    1,312
    Messages:
    3,433
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Well, I do remember someone who ingested a small amount of it after using some and then eating pizza, and from what I recall, he was fine afterwards. I wouldn't go and eat it though, it would probably make you feel very ill.
     
    Amnesiac, Jan 18, 2010
    #11
  12. hehe299792458

    hehe299792458 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    175
    Messages:
    1,571
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    add some cyanide in there and I hear you could oc your cpu to 5ghz without it going beyond 30oC. (that is, if you leave it outside in Antarctica).

    Anyways, nice to know that the stuff isn't lethal - immediately anyways
     
    hehe299792458, Jan 18, 2010
    #12
  13. Espada

    Espada Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    57
    Messages:
    587
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Im pretty sure if you eat it your body would be cooler and wouldnt have problems overheating when doing sports or running... LOL
     
    Espada, Jan 18, 2010
    #13
  14. Peon

    Peon Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    406
    Messages:
    2,007
    Likes Received:
    128
    Trophy Points:
    81
    Is silver really that toxic? I thought all it would do is turn your skin blue and make you look like a smurf.
     
    Peon, Jan 18, 2010
    #14
  15. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

    Reputations:
    2,360
    Messages:
    5,594
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Silver metal as-is isn't (too) dangerous. It's silver ions that you have to watch out for.
     
    SoundOf1HandClapping, Jan 18, 2010
    #15
  16. Meaker@Sager

    Meaker@Sager Company Representative

    Reputations:
    9,431
    Messages:
    58,189
    Likes Received:
    17,900
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Toothpaste works better than most thermal pastes...... before it dries out.

    http://www.dansdata.com/images/goop/nofibgraph2.gif
     
    Meaker@Sager, Jan 18, 2010
    #16
  17. tianxia

    tianxia kitty!!!

    Reputations:
    1,212
    Messages:
    2,612
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    i don't consider processed cheese edible.
    probably not a good idea to have prolonged contact with the paste, finely powered heavy metal can't be good.
     
    tianxia, Jan 18, 2010
    #17
  18. catacylsm

    catacylsm Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    423
    Messages:
    4,135
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Chix dig...thermal paste? :p
     
    catacylsm, Jan 18, 2010
    #18
  19. thinkpad knows best

    thinkpad knows best Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    108
    Messages:
    1,140
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55

    Not many mercury thermometers anymore if that's what you are referring to. So many carcinogens out there these days though, but if you look at mercury in elemental form, it isn't really harmful.
     
    thinkpad knows best, Jan 18, 2010
    #19
  20. winkosmosis

    winkosmosis Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    43
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Did you wash it off??

    Silver will make you turn blue like this guy
    [​IMG]


    I tried to find an MSDS for Arctic Cooling MX-3 but found nothing. You can read the ones for Arctic Silver though
    http://www.arcticsilver.com/msds.htm
     
    winkosmosis, Jan 18, 2010
    #20
  21. 1ceBlu3

    1ceBlu3 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,050
    Messages:
    829
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    31
    LOL..
    my fingers have never turned blue! maybe my skin has a natural resistance to it! muwahahha! LUlz!!
    nah..seriously though..it doesn't happen often but that's why some ppl can't wear rings b/c it turns their skin colors! :) :D
     
    1ceBlu3, Jan 18, 2010
    #21
  22. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

    Reputations:
    1,312
    Messages:
    3,433
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Whoa! That's crazy!
     
    Amnesiac, Jan 18, 2010
    #22
  23. winkosmosis

    winkosmosis Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    43
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    winkosmosis, Jan 18, 2010
    #23
  24. Amnesiac

    Amnesiac 404

    Reputations:
    1,312
    Messages:
    3,433
    Likes Received:
    20
    Trophy Points:
    106
    Amnesiac, Jan 18, 2010
    #24
  25. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    801
    Messages:
    3,881
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    105
    I have friend in Marina del Rey who has had a pack of Twinkies nailed to the wall of his movie model making shop.

    For 15 years.

    Still the same color and squishiness as when 'fresh' from the vending machine.

    The nail however is pretty rusty and corroded.

    YMMV.
     
    newsposter, Jan 18, 2010
    #25
  26. SoundOf1HandClapping

    SoundOf1HandClapping Was once a Forge

    Reputations:
    2,360
    Messages:
    5,594
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    206
    Twinkie cream: The ultimate TIM?
     
    SoundOf1HandClapping, Jan 18, 2010
    #26