Thermal paste not working? !!

[morgilroka]

I decided to reapply my thermal paste to my cpu as it's been a long time since installing my 212EVO.
My temps seemed a bit high so I decided i would re-apply and re-seat the cooler. i was getting around 37-40c at idle (overclocked to 4.3 atm @ 1.22v)

After the fact, i'm sitting here on my desktop with no programs running.. And i'm seeing 40-45+c avg idles. According to HWMonitor i've been spiking up to 50-55c, it jumps way up then instantly back down like 10c in a second.

Screenshot:

I used the pea method as many recommend.
The first time applied (which was seeing the lower temps) i spread it out across the CPU.

What do you guys think? I don't know what's going on...

 

[RaklopGaming]

These are probably false readings, try using HWINFO64 - http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php

 

[RaklopGaming]

If it does not work, try using some other CPU thermal paste.
If this does not help, reset your BIOS, maybe it is due to your overclock

 

[makkara]

Not really expert but shouldnt the preasure from the cooler mounting be enough to spread the paste, if the paste is spread before mounting there could be air bubbles.

 

[RaklopGaming]

Not really expert but shouldnt the preasure from the cooler mounting be enough to spread the paste, if the paste is spread before mounting there could be air bubbles.

Well, it should be, but, again, these are probably, not 100%, false readings. Come on, temp drops to 10 degrees in 1 second?!

 

[RaklopGaming]

A question: How did you overclock to 4.3 ATM(pressure, not frequency)??? Did you mean 4.3 GHz?

 

[morgilroka]

When ifirst got my cooler over a year ago i spread it out. This time i used the pea method as i know is the preffered way...

Doesn't look like it worked all too well.

 

[morgilroka]

A question: How did you overclock to 4.3 ATM(pressure, not frequency)??? Did you mean 4.3 GHz?

yeah, i meant, 4.3 at the moment. 4.3ghz

 

[RaklopGaming]

Do not spread thermal paste, just use the line method, and inform us about the results.

 

[morgilroka]

.... I did not spread it... I used the pea method.

 

[RaklopGaming]

.... I did not spread it... I used the pea method.

Try the line method

 

[Eximo]

I like to show off this little document from Arctic. It is a hybrid of spreading and the line method. (Another way to look at it is your second application should be more effective then the first)

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf

 

[morgilroka]

I haven't re-done paste again yet...

But i was curious of the temps in gaming..

I just ran two different games for 5-10minutes each... Temps haven't passed ~50-55c.
So, it's only running maybe 10c hotter when gaming compared to load.

I'm guessing this has something to do with the voltages at idle? It seems to be doing okay in-game.

If all else fails i will re-do the paste again


Here's after 7mins in WoW, moving around as much as possible in high-traffic player zones.

 

[GhislainG]

Spreading a very very thin layer using a credit card works best. Just do it again the way you did it the first time and you'll get the same results. A pea size is an awful lot of thermal paste.

 

[morgilroka]

Alright so i ended up re-applying the thermal paste again in a line/dot. put the fan on the opposite side of the cooler. Tweaked a bunch of overclock settings in the bios.. and things are looking alot better.

Idle 35-40c
Gaming 50-55c
Prime95 maxing around 72-73

I'm happy with these numbers. I did have a chance to lower my voltages by a few points which for sure helped. my guess was air bubbles in the thermal paste and/or fan orientation.

I'm satisfied enough to leave this thing alone for the day.

Thanks all