Best way to apply Thermal Paste.

[armandjordan58]

What is the best way to apply thermal paste on a cpu??

If possible can you send a video of the best technique.

 

[rds1220]

What is the best way to apply thermal paste on a cpu??

If possible can you send a video of the best technique.

There is no one perfect way to apply thermal paste. You can ask 100 different people and probably get 100 different answers. Most like to use the pea size dab about 5 to 5.5 millimeters in size. The most important thing to remeber is that you don't need alot to be effective. You only need a little thermal paste, to much will cause overheating and will make your temps worse.

 

[dudewitbow]

as long as you dont mess up is the best way. how you dont mess up can be attempted in several ways, none not to far superior than the others.

 

[Deleted member 217926]

There is no one perfect way to apply thermal paste. You can ask 100 different people and probably get 100 different answers. Most like to use the pea size dab about 5 to 5.5 millimeters in size. The most imoportant thing to remeber is that you don't need alot to be effective. You only need a little thermal paste, to much will cause overheating and will make your temps worse.

^ This.

Due to the different viscosity of different pastes there is no single correct way to apply a thermal paste. Even Arctic Silver recommends different ways for different CPUs. Go with the manufacturer recommended method as the different manufacturers do extensive testing to find the best method for their respective pastes.

 

[Peds013]

Try watching this video:

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

The guy uses many different methods of applying with different types of thermal paste, and shows how they do/dont leave air bubbles.

 

[welshmousepk]

I used to use the smear method, but have recently switched to the single dot. about the size of a grain of rice, and it always seems to work perfectly.

There are lots of complex ways to do it, but i'm pretty sure the single dot is the easiest and least likely to go wrong.

 

[armandjordan58]

So I should just, put a single dot, about a size of grain of rice. Then use the heatsink to spread the thermal paste?

 

[Deleted member 217926]

As I said above there is single correct way. Go with whatever way the paste manufacturer recommends.

 

[Onlyusemeisaac]

Just attach the heatsink, dont try to rub the paste around. The pressure on the paste will spread it evenly by itself.

 

[rds1220]

I would do the dot method as I said in the very beginning. I would avoid doing the spread method with a credit or buisness card as it increases the chance of bubbles which will cause heat problems. There is no real need to spread it as the pressure of the heatsink and locking will spread the thermal paste.

 

[armandjordan58]

Best answer selected by armandjordan58.