Is this enough thermal compound or too much?

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turkey3_scratch
That looks like a fine amount to me 😉 there is no such thing as a "perfect" amount. Just not overdoing it is fine. That should work perfectly fine based on my visual analysis.

I wouldn't do anymore than that, though. I usually stay on the smaller side personally.
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That looks like a fine amount to me 😉 there is no such thing as a "perfect" amount. Just not overdoing it is fine. That should work perfectly fine based on my visual analysis.

I wouldn't do anymore than that, though. I usually stay on the smaller side personally.
 
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What size pea ? I remember chuckling about this debate some years back. Some peas are really, really big :)

http://benchmarkreviews.com/206/best-thermal-paste-application-methods/4/

TIM_Before_Spread.jpg
 
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Not sure. I don't even know what a lentil looks like 😛 but I do know the size of a pea, and I know a lentil is smaller, so I do smaller than a pea. I'm not using a precision measuring tape to mimic any type of food; I just put on a small amount, close that cooler, monitor temps, and it's never not worked out for me, so it's working what I do. Trial and error, though I haven't had error.
 
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When I first saw that image I was like ... "where did he get those giant peas ?" But then I took some outta the fridge and realized that the first person who said "pea sized' prolly never took one out and compared.... just picked the 1st small roundish thing that popped into his head. Simlarly, BB seems a bit small.

Given the exacting nature of nerds / geeks in general, I'm just surprised the 1st person who came up with "pea" didn't say something like 2.5 - 3.5 mm
 
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in the end it all comes down to user experiences youn will learn as you go and see what works out best for you ?

all you get from this is a good idea of a starting point and from all this it trial and error as you do more cooler mounting

that picture from jack looks good for the surface the cooler has [copper face] but now it can be more or less depending on the coolers surface plane

main thing is if you set the cooler down and se it ooze off the edge of the chip or like jacks pic over that copper spot that's too much

also that's a solid face where a drop method work well but you got them exposed heat pipes as well where you may want to apply a bit and spread it into the ''gaps or cracks ''

like this cooler surface where the drop method may not ''flow/ ooze '' evenly

http://tech-reviews.co.uk/reviews/ocz-vendetta-2/

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Evercool/HPK-10025EA/images/pipes1.jpg


or this with a larger surface area may need a slightly bigger drop?

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Noctua/NH-D15S/images/close7.jpg

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/BigTyphoon/images/TtTyphoon_08.jpg





 
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The link above, with the peas, addresses the same point. I goes thru several application methods for various types of coolers, making different recommendations for each, rater than a one-size fits all approach. Since we don't know which type of cooler is being used, perusing that link as the best advice I thought I could give in that situation.

Prefilling the gaps and twin linesof TIM seems to be the best approach for coolers like the one you listed. Pic is from same link above.

HDT_TIM_Application_Two_Lines.jpg


 
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I've completely changed the way I run my TIM you do not have to even cover the entire heat spreader but you do need to cover the core area underneath the heat spreader, I run a thin line directly down the center over the core, and on the Intel CPU the core runs perpendicular to the 2 metal clamp fingers that actually touch the CPUs heat spreader wings.

That's probably a little too complicated for you, so just go with your picture, good luck!
 
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one more thing to check or look at


they kinda talk about it here on the uneven base

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/core-i...

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/therma...

with that it can leave uneven paste spread and air pockets or cracks hi/low spots and with that it can be the diff between a chip running nice and cool or temp issues ?

its those little things that can cost you or give headaches just comes along as part of experience as you learn its not like I never had to pull a cooler back off and redo

theres just a bit more then getting the ''best'' cooler and just slapping it on

also check the CPU lid as well for evenness
 
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ROFL :lol:

At least there were no Chick Peas in there Jack. :lol:

 
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you can see from here on page 16 to check the surface of the cooler and chip and how uneven faces could affect things as well [hope that link works] the best paste job in the world may not help you much with that issue


''Of course, an imperfect imprint like that is totally unacceptable for our today’s massive test session that will determine the fate of quite a few cooling solutions''

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/coolers/display/core-i7-coolers-roundup_16.html

http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/coolers/core-i7-coolers-roundup/CPU/04_cpu_qual_big.jpg&1=1

[hump on chip face]
http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/coolers/core-i7-coolers-roundup/CPU/03_cpu_qual1_big.jpg&1=1

http://www.xbitlabs.com/misc/picture/?src=/images/coolers/core-i7-coolers-roundup/CPU/05_mug2_stamp_big.jpg&1=1

do the same with the cooler surface as they did the chip with a straight edge as well
 
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It's almost impossible to use "Too much" with most after market cooling solutions. They exert so much pressure that they squeeze out the excess. Because of this anything between just enough to cover the heatspreader actually contacting the core to enough that it squeezes out like ketchup when you tighten down the heatsink will work.

I'd do whatever the paste manufacturer suggests on their website for "optimal" contact. That way you'll feel good about it, but it's not a big issue unless you really don't use enough.

This only applies to chips with heatspreaders, if you're putting paste right on the core you need to make sure you've got total coverage, always go over because it will just squeeze out anyway and paste beside the core is generally a good thing.
 
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Squeezing out the excess is a bad thing.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity.
(While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)
Click to expand...

index.php


index.php


Other TIMs are in fact conductive and extra special care must be taken when using these.

 
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Thermal Paste Application Methods [Heat-pipe Direct Touch coolers ]

http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limitstart=5

lapping

http://archive.techarp.com/showarticle3862.html?artno=433&pgno=1


''It's almost impossible to use "Too much" with most after market cooling solutions''

if you only see some of the messes I see around here it is easy to do even a experienced guy can find he over did it at times too much is as bad as not enough fine line between proper cooling or not and can be degrees difference in the end result

''Other TIMs are in fact conductive and extra special care must be taken when using these.'' = +1
 
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