Edited By
Darius Kingston

A growing number of people in the gaming community are debating the necessity of changing thermal paste after purchasing a used Xbox Series S with limited usage. With insights flooding in from various forums, opinions vary on whether this process is essential or just unnecessary maintenance.
Buying a pre-owned console raises questions about its longevity and performance. Many gamers wonder if thermal paste replacement is required after 1.5 years of use. In this scenario, a prospective buyer seeks advice before making a purchase.
Longevity of Quality Thermal Paste: It is widely believed that high-quality thermal paste can last over eight years without issues.
Need for Cleaning vs. Replacing: Many suggest a simple dusting suffices if the console shows no signs of overheating or rebooting.
Risk of Disassembly: Some warn against the pitfalls of opening a console, especially for those inexperienced with hardware modifications.
"If the device starts rebooting because of overheating then sure, otherwise, a good air dusting should be sufficient!"
"If it ainโt broke, donโt fix it!"
Overall sentiment remains mixed, yet many support avoiding drastic measures unless practical issues arise.
โณ Most respondents affirm good thermal paste can last 8+ years.
โฝ Cleaning with air is recommended unless performance issues arise.
โป "I have never changed anything with my consolesโฆ you should be fine!"
As conversations heat up in user boards, the consensus leans toward minimal maintenance unless clear performance failures occur. Should you invest in changing the thermal paste or wait until signs of overheating emerge? Each gamer will have to weigh their comfort with hardware tinkering against the potential benefits.