Thermal paste - how do you prefer to apply it ?

[Grant]

so, seems 2 schools of thought

1) put a small drop on cpu (whatever) & allow heatsink to spread the paste as it is fastens down
or
2) put a small drop on cpu, spread it, then fasten down heatsink

 

[AthenianOwl]

2. It always works no matter how hard you push down the heatsink.

 

[Seriously]

I do method (2) with old credit card to get a thin but thorough layer! First I buff both surfaces to a flat mirror shine!

Use quality thermal paste. It's worth it!

 

[Pooky]

1

 

[mintydroid]

Method 1. On method 2 the heatsink applies further pressure and thins the paste. You don't want the paste to spill on pins.

 

[DJ...]

Sensually, all over my body. Then I rub myself up and down against my CPU. It's just more fun that way...

 

[supersunbird]

Method 1. On method 2 the heatsink applies further pressure and thins the paste. You don't want the paste to spill on pins.

Its really is a super thin layer in method 2, so you're doing it wrong...

Sensually, all over my body. Then I rub myself up and down against my CPU. It's just more fun that way...

Pffft! Rich people!

 

[Seriously]

Sensually, all over my body. Then I rub myself up and down against my CPU. It's just more fun that way...

That white sticky, smelly stuff will never work, rots after only a few hours and the volume may cause a short during the climax. It must be real thermal paste.

 

[DJ...]

That white sticky, smelly stuff will never work, rots after only a few hours and the volume may cause a short during the climax. It must be real thermal paste.

I use the thermal paste to keep the hotness off my body. Else we smoke...

 

[Seriously]

I use the thermal paste to keep the hotness off my body. Else we smoke...

 

[OverKill69]

I use the thermal paste to keep the hotness off my body. Else we smoke...

I hear you... if you get dry joints you run the risk of damaging equipment.

You over-clocking?

 

[DJ...]

No, just over-compensating...

 

[Keeper]

1.

 

[Rickster]

1

 

[Pada]

I also use method 1.

I usually squeeze the thermal paste sort of evenly onto the CPU/GPU before I attach the heatsink, which I then press in and move around to spread it some more before I properly tighten it.

One of the biggest mistakes I've made with heatsinks was when I thought the stock Intel cooler's arrows pointed in the direction that you tighten it, when it was in fact the direction that you loosen it! This mistake caused my i7 860 to quickly reach like 96'C.

 

[HavocXphere]

With an Aperture spatula of course.



I actually complete screwed up my first build (forgot paste / pad)...but the mobo had a jumper set limiting the speed to like 1/10th so it survived. Fortune favoured me on that day.

 

[Captain Beer]

A pea sized amount in the middle of the CPU, never had any issues.

 

[DJ...]

In 2004 I had to rebuild my PC as the mobo and psu blew. Decided to upgrade the CPU at the same time. I'd never had to do anything like that before. I struggled through it and got the beast operational again. It was only about three years after that, that I discovered that you needed thermal paste for the job. I hadn't used any. I also broke one of the clips for the CPU heatsink.

The machine is still working to this day without an issue. No thermal paste and broken heatsink and all...

 

[Zewp]

I make a cross from corner to corner and then let the heatsync spread it.

I saw an article about how to apply thermal paste on a hardware site once and they tested about 10 different ways to apply it, and the cross one gave the best results. I've been using that method ever since.

 

[Zewp]

In 2004 I had to rebuild my PC as the mobo and psu blew. Decided to upgrade the CPU at the same time. I'd never had to do anything like that before. I struggled through it and got the beast operational again. It was only about three years after that, that I discovered that you needed thermal paste for the job. I hadn't used any. I also broke one of the clips for the CPU heatsink.

Those heatsync push-pins are a real bitch to fasten. I broke one of mine off recently and just fastened it with a screw and a bolt instead. It's probably not the safest, but it's not touching anything so it should be fine until my next upgrade.