Sizing a CPU cooler by TDP: what the watt ratings do and do not tell you
What TDP, PL1, PL2 and PPT really mean, why cooler watt ratings are not a standard, and how to size a cooler for a stock or overclocked CPU, old or new. Keep reading »
Devin Okafor
Devin handles cooling: thermal paste, pads, delidding and liquid metal. He explains where the heat goes in plain numbers and is suspicious of any cooler box that prints a wattage without saying how it was measured.
Articles by Devin
Repasting a CPU step by step, from cleanup to the first temperature check
How to repaste a desktop or laptop CPU: when it helps, safe cooler removal, cleaning, paste amount and pattern, even mounting pressure and the first temp check. Keep reading »
Liquid metal vs thermal paste: when the swap is worth the risk
Liquid metal moves heat far better than paste but conducts electricity and attacks aluminium. Where it pays off, where it does not, and how to apply it safely. Keep reading »
How to delid an Intel CPU: tools, risks and what you actually gain
Which Intel chips hide paste or solder under the lid, how delid tools compare with vise and blade methods, how to relid or go direct die, and what it gains. Keep reading »