What do I mix a powdered heatsink compound with?

Fanguy

Honorable
May 23, 2012
1
0
10,510
I bought a new heatsink and fan on Ebay and when it arrived , there was a tiny packet of heatsink compound powder ('Stars' brand ) that came with it, but it doesn't say what to mix with it. Any ideas??
MB
 

willard

Distinguished
Nov 12, 2010
2,346
0
19,960
I've never heard of mixing your own thermal compound before. Sounds like paste of the lowest possible quality to me. Ditch it and buy a tube of the good stuff. Arctic Silver is a few dollars for a tube, and has great performance. You could pay a bit more and get nonconductive paste as well, which will save your board if you accidentally get some on it.
 


+1 The powdered stuff can't be very high quality, unless it's diamond dust, which I VERY highly doubt.