Best Thermal Paste Applying Method?

[Snickerzz]

I bought an after market cooler and will need to reapply thermal paste. Never having done this before i wanted to know what the best way was and how to do it properly (link a video?) iv'e seen spreading the thermal paste over the cpu with a note card and putting a pea sized drop of thermal paste in the middle of the cpu and in lines on the bottom of the cooler and then letting the coolers weight spread the paste.

[nishank93]

Different people have different methods. For me, the "pea on the CPU heat spreader and let the cooler spread it for you" method has worked pretty well. Don't put thermal paste on both the chip and the cooler!

 

 

Better to watch what is wrong as well ;)

[Eric1024]

Like this! 

 

hehehe just kidding don't do that.

 

Do this: 

[Eric1024]

Different people have different methods. For me, the "grain of rice on the CPU heat spreader and let the cooler spread it for you" method has worked pretty well. Don't put thermal paste on both the chip and the cooler!

 

 

Better to watch what is wrong as well ;)

Oh hey we linked the same video ;P

[nishank93]

Oh hey we linked the same video ;P

Haha, it is Logan after all :D I was going to link the Kentucky way too! :D

[lolmont]

Like everyone else said the pea method. It works the best and it has a cute name :)

[Snickerzz]

Different people have different methods. For me, the "pea on the CPU heat spreader and let the cooler spread it for you" method has worked pretty well. Don't put thermal paste on both the chip and the cooler!

 

 

Better to watch what is wrong as well ;)

wow, great video! Thanks and i think i'll go with the pea method :)

[Snickerzz]

Like this! 

 

hehehe just kidding don't do that.

 

Do this: 

I live in indiana right above kentucky so should i use elmers glue instead of toothpaste?

[lolmont]

I live in indiana right above kentucky so should i use elmers glue instead of toothpaste?

Stick with toothpaste your CPU needs to smell good or it won't get a date with a socket ;)

[mgsstar]

Linus liked using the line method because it has the best consistency in his opinion. Here is a TechQuickie on applying thermal paste: 

[Lukiose]

Depends on your thermal paste! For normal(?) thermal paste i use the pea method, for 'harder' thermal paste like arctic silver i would use the line method

[Snickerzz]

Depends on your thermal paste! For normal(?) thermal paste i use the pea method, for 'harder' thermal paste like arctic silver i would use the line method

i'm using what comes with the cooler, iv'e read its pretty good, only 1-2 degree difference than using arctic silver

[Lukiose]

I'm using stock compound too :)

Pea method should work fine

[Snickerzz]

I'm using stock compound too :)

Pea method should work fine

stock compound buddies for life! :D

[Dieman566]

Pea method don't question it just do it

[mumbojumbogumbo]

It depends on the viscosity of the TIM. AS5 has uber high viscosity so it's a bit hard to spread, same with other metal TIMs. Ceramic TIMs have low viscosity and therefore great consistency.

 

I would use the line method with thicker compounds. The dot method should be used with ceramics. PK-1 FTW!!

 

Also, if you're re-applying TIM on GPUs, use the dot method. The die is a square for both AMD and NVidia cards. NVidia uses an IHS on some cards but the die underneath is a small square. AMD doesn't use an IHS at all.

[tbc]

i know we're all dudes...but seriously: just read the instruction manual that came with the TIM or the cooler you're using.  it'll tell you either line or pea.

[Snickerzz]

i know we're all dudes...but seriously: just read the instruction manual that came with the TIM or the cooler you're using.  it'll tell you either line or pea.

what are these... Instructions.. You speak of? X3

[Snickerzz]

It depends on the viscosity of the TIM. AS5 has uber high viscosity so it's a bit hard to spread, same with other metal TIMs. Ceramic TIMs have low viscosity and therefore great consistency.

 

I would use the line method with thicker compounds. The dot method should be used with ceramics. PK-1 FTW!!

 

Also, if you're re-applying TIM on GPUs, use the dot method. The die is a square for both AMD and NVidia cards. NVidia uses an IHS on some cards but the die underneath is a small square. AMD doesn't use an IHS at all.

i'll be useing the paste that comes with the CM hyper 212 evo

[mumbojumbogumbo]

The Evo TIM has high viscosity, even more than my AS5.

[brownninja97]

Im a bit different i use a circle with an x in the middle as i get better temps with it and its not mainstream(his hipness is over 9000)

[Spannerhands]

 

Am I doing it right?