Applying Thermal Paste

[Ollii]

Hey, just about to install my CPU

, however not quite sure how to apply the thermal paste.

Firstly should I do it once it's under the catch in the mobo? as I've seen some people do it outside and then put it in the mobo.

Secondly, I understand that you should spread it round with a card of some sort but how to I actually put it on? some people do blobs in the middle while others do patterns around it like a square going round followed by going into the middle. What's the best way?

Thanks

 

[SieB]

Do it when the CPU is in the motherboard, all you need is a small blob in the middle of the CPU about the size of a pea or a grain of rice then just place your heatsink on top and let it spread it for you as you screw it in place.

This vid should help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4

 

[Ollii]

Do it when the CPU is in the motherboard, all you need is a small blob in the middle of the CPU about the size of a pea or a grain of rice then just place your heatsink on top and let it spread it for you as you screw it in place.

This vid should help

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4

So don't spread it around or anything? as from the video only 75% of cpu gets covered at most so surely its better spreading it to maximise the performance?

 

[SieB]

So don't spread it around or anything? as from the video only 75% of cpu gets covered at most so surely its better spreading it to maximise the performance?

You don't need to cover all the CPU only the parts where the heatsink touches it, this is why letting the heatsink spread it for you is the best way because it will cover the area where it is needed. Too much thermal paste will give you higher temps so you should use just enough to break the metal on metal contact between the CPU and the heatsink.

 

[Ollii]

You don't need to cover all the CPU only the parts where the heatsink touches it, this is why letting the heatsink spread it for you is the best way because it will cover the area where it is needed. Too much thermal paste will give you higher temps so you should use just enough to break the metal on metal contact between the CPU and the heatsink.

Ok thanks a lot

will go and do it right now

 

[JezEngland]

I'm usin a direct touch heatpipe heatsink and put a thin line on each pipe and a little blob on the centre of the processor with OCZ FREEZE and it cools well. Is that OK method, what could be better?

A guy on Youtube puts a blob in the middle and spreads it with a finger in a durable plastic bag, covering the whole surface. I tried that with Tuniq TX 3 and fail'd because it's like rubber and the OCZ FREEZE didn't like it.

 

[SieB]

I'm usin a direct touch heatpipe heatsink and put a thin line on each pipe and a little blob on the centre of the processor with OCZ FREEZE and it cools well. Is that OK method, what could be better?

A guy on Youtube puts a blob in the middle and spreads it with a finger in a durable plastic bag, covering the whole surface. I tried that with Tuniq TX 3 and fail'd because it's like rubber and the OCZ FREEZE didn't like it.

I have used Tuniq TX-3 as well, it's terrible to work with and like you said it's like rubber, it also dries really quickly. I'm using Noctua NH-T1 now, it's pretty good stuff.

 

[Brooksie]

I use the pea size method, use to spread it but when I compared my temps for the different methods it was a waste of time.

 

[JezEngland]

OK. with direct touch heatpipe there's little gaps between the heatpipe and base so i thought a pea size blob in the middle will get lost in the gaps. Is what I did OK, it works well. Is there a better method? I think spreading it'll work better

 

[SieB]

OK. with direct touch heatpipe there's little gaps between the heatpipe and base so i thought a pea size blob in the middle will get lost in the gaps. Is what I did OK, it works well. Is there a better method? I think spreading it'll work better

I'm not sure about those types of heatsinks tbh. I have read people saying fill in the gaps with thermal past and use the pea method and i have also read people saying not to fill in the gaps and to use a thin line on each of the heatpipes.

I have never used that type of cooler myself so I couldn't say which one is wrong or which one is right.

 

[S_I_N]

best method for direct heatpipe coolers is to apply to hs and use a c.c. to fillin the lines then scrap it til you have a very very fine film left on rest but gaps filled then use the pea-size on the cpu. I actually do a lil spreading about on the cpu and have never been unhappy. And OMFG!!!! I even do that with my bare finger

but what works for me isnt always what works for others. Just saying how I do it. I know the direct cpu one as I used to have one no wait I still have it on my daughters 775 rig lol

 

[JezEngland]

thanks. what is c.c ?

 

[JezEngland]

I got a Thermalright Chill Factor 3 today. It's got instructions and gives me a plastic card for the application. It says like squeeze a line across the heatsink parallel to and near 1 side then use the card to spread it across the surface equally covering all the surface

 

[Stryker64]

I got a Thermalright Chill Factor 3 today. It's got instructions and gives me a plastic card for the application. It says like squeeze a line across the heatsink parallel to and near 1 side then use the card to spread it across the surface equally covering all the surface

I would still go with a pea sized blob for HDT heatsinks with gaps. And a small grain of rice for the normal base, note this doesn't take into account some thermal pastes are more solid than paste.

 

[SmoulderingCircuits]

Draw a cross with a slight blob in the centre, has worked flawlessly for me

 

[Rastalovich]

I use the pea size method, use to spread it but when I compared my temps for the different methods it was a waste of time.

Agreed.

 

[S_I_N]

thanks. what is c.c ?

credit dars lol

or any other stiff card with a straight edge.

 

[JezEngland]

I would still go with a pea sized blob for HDT heatsinks with gaps. And a small grain of rice for the normal base, note this doesn't take into account some thermal pastes are more solid than paste.

OK. And fill the gaps first I will.

Thanks S_I_N

 

[jonowee]

I use the long grain rice method. Compared to the above video, when you clamp down on a big HSF with a backplate, that tinny bit of thermal paste spread really quite well to cover the whole CPU heat spreader top. And since I'm using a Noctua, I apply the paste perpendicular to the length of the machining marks of the block. But if it's the stock round Intel HSF, I'll go short grain rice since they are plastic push pins and the contact point is a small round disc only.

 

[JezEngland]

Thanks jonowee I've logged that

Thank everyone