Applying Thermal Paste

[Farquaon]

How should on apply thermal paste to the cpu? Should you spread the whole surface of the cpu or just make a blob in the middle??

What is the best easily available thermal paste? I need to buy some today during lunchtime, im in the rivonia area.

 

[pupa]

Spread thinly and evenly over whole cpu surface area that can transfer heat. Take care to not mess all over the cpu pins or whatever. When the heatsink is placed on cpu try and do it once. Do not pull it off again and do not move it around. The ide is to retain the ditribution of the compund evenly without creating any disturbance. Clip the retaining brackets with minimal or no disturbance or movement of the two surfaces. If the cpu is removed again redo the thinly spread layer by cleaning first. The best is the silver compond

Arctic Silver is the best IMHO. Avaiable from any reputable computer supplier or electronic shop

 

[Inertia]

Spread thinly and evenly over whole cpu surface area that can transfer heat. Take care to not mess all over the cpu pins or whatever. When the heatsink is placed on cpu try and do it once. Do not pull it off again and do not move it around. The ide is to retain the ditribution of the compund evenly without creating any disturbance. Clip the retaining brackets with minimal or no disturbance or movement of the two surfaces. If the cpu is removed again redo the thinly spread layer by cleaning first. The best is the silver compond

I would have to disagree with you there, as spreading the paste over the CPU can cause tiny pockets of air which are liable to burst at high temperatures.

The best way to apply thermal paste in my oppinion is to place a 'tear-drop' blob of paste in the middle of the CPU, and then placing the heatsink on top will evenly distribute the paste without forming pockets of air.

 

[AntiThesis]

I'd go with Inertia on this one as well. Spreading the paste yourself does occasionally introduce air pockets and also means that some parts of the surface are not adequately covered. Using the heatsink to spread the love works as the surface is even.

 

[pupa]

I would have to disagree with you there, as spreading the paste over the CPU can cause tiny pockets of air which are liable to burst at high temperatures.

The best way to apply thermal paste in my oppinion is to place a 'tear-drop' blob of paste in the middle of the CPU, and then placing the heatsink on top will evenly distribute the paste without forming pockets of air.

Maybe read the application manuals again. Uneven distribution is worse as much as creating pockets. That is why even spreading is recommended. I am in the electronics industrie and I never had a CPU, or other component fail under temperature yet in more than 15 years due to heat compound application. On the contrary when repairing I have found failed CPU's on boards (Pii and Piii in particular) where little or uneven aplication of the compound may have been the result of the failure. But suit yourselve, I only gave advice in short, but google some more if you disagree. I am happy with my results

Two minute google result

The idea is to smear a very thin layer of the grease on the mating surfaces to fill microscopic scratches. Be careful, the heat sink fins bend very easily and the grease likes to stay on skin and smear on everything but the intended surfaces. I applied the grease by dabbing a little here and there on both surfaces and gently slicking it to a thin sheen with a disposable dishcloth. Again, be careful. The surfaces are easily scratched and you do not want to introduce any foreign materials (lint, dirt, or dog hairs).

Here is link

http://www.duxcw.com/digest/Howto/buildcom/athlon/ath_3.htm

and here from the experts

http://www.arcticsilver.com/ceramique_instructions.htm

And here

http://www.directron.com/p4install.html Good instructions scroll down

 

[Farquaon]

I dont know, the arctic silver website shows a little blob less than a grain of rice, and then to wiggle the cpu fan a bit? What to do?

 

[pupa]

I dont know, the arctic silver website shows a little blob less than a grain of rice, and then to wiggle the cpu fan a bit? What to do?

True but that blob is spread with finger covered with plastic bag on the other links. Look for the P4 section not the Pii area. Do not move or wiggle the cpu fan after placement more than once left and right or more than 2 degrees. let the pressure devices do their thing.
Read the links I posted. Use the Artic site advice step by step and you will be save.

 

[AntiThesis]

You're certainly exhaustive in your research pupa

It's odd that there should be different ways of doing it. I too have never had a problem with overheating or the ilk.

 

[RichardP]

<sarcasm>
Apply the paste at midnight as the air pressures and temperture are at the lowest. this stops the formation of air-pockets and vapor rusticles forming on the cpu when it gets used alot. a rusty cpu is as good as a dead cpu ;-)
</sarcasm>

 

[pupa]

You're certainly exhaustive in your research pupa

It's odd that there should be different ways of doing it. I too have never had a problem with overheating or the ilk.

Nope just do not want the man to loose a CPU component. He may do as he please I just gave the research area of 2 min googling. Either way will work the idea not to create open strips and air bubbles is the key. How to achieve this varies from person to person.

 

[pupa]

<sarcasm>
Apply the paste at midnight as the air pressures and temperture are at the lowest. this stops the formation of air-pockets and vapor rusticles forming on the cpu when it gets used alot. a rusty cpu is as good as a dead cpu ;-)
</sarcasm>

Put in the deep freeze for 10 minutes after applying the compound. This will limit the shrinkage and reduce the margin of error due to reduced thickness of the compound.
Also sarcastic, Uncalled for I think LoL

 

[AntiThesis]

Isn't there supposed to be dancing naked in the moonlight as well? I mean that's the whole reason I got into IT

 

[RichardP]

Put in the deep freeze for 10 minutes after applying the compound. This will limit the shrinkage and reduce the margin of error due to reduced thickness of the compound.
Also sarcastic, Uncalled for I think LoL

Sorry Sir :-(

but I find the "science of applying thermal compound" hilarious.

Richard

 

[stoke]

My first attempt on me spanking new P4 HT 3.0 GHz resulted in an air bubble smack in the middle of the paste. The CPU overheated in six minutes flat.

I disassembled and you could see the "space" leftover. I then cleaned the lot with benzine and this time used a looooooot less paste, like a drop of water's size and pressed together.

I have 2 identical machines, and between them, the mistake I made was using too much paste.

 

[pupa]

Sorry Sir :-(

but I find the "science of applying thermal compound" hilarious.

Richard

Yeah

Why is it that if someone thinks he knows something they automatically assume everybody else should know, and if they dont make a joke of it. Maturity? Like my 7 year old son or my wife or your mother. A error here can lead to an expensive loss and must have happened thats why the internet have step by step, photographed procedures, not for fun or because all should know by now ??

 

[pupa]

Yes too much paste is the worst problem, there is tests done on internet to prove this, A blob spread properly over the surface without the air bubbles and valleys works best, to achieve this in any method is the key

By the way, Aparently toothpaste works best, unfortunately only while still wet.

 

[RichardP]

Yeah

Why is it that if someone thinks he knows something they automatically assume everybody else should know, and if they dont make a joke of it. Maturity? Like my 7 year old son or my wife or your mother. A error here can lead to an expensive loss and must have happened thats why the internet have step by step, photographed procedures, not for fun or because all should know by now ??

sorry pupa, I apologised! What else must I do? But if you think the internet is a cool place for facts - then the YOU magazine is the Goverment Gazette.

Richard
END

 

[Farquaon]

thanks guys and pupa, im gonna try it, as soon as i can find some good stuff somewhere

 

[pupa]

sorry pupa, I apologised! What else must I do? But if you think the internet is a cool place for facts - then the YOU magazine is the Goverment Gazette.

Richard
END

No sweat, I like the analogy of the goverment Gazette could find better laws in YOU Hehe