To much thermal paste?

[OGKRG]

This is taken from Cooler Masters product demo of MasterGel Maker. I just got mine in the mail today and wanted to try to follow their application process exactly. I did 3 edge to edge IHS applications. Mine has a little more coverage than theirs. In the past I've never had spillage with spreading, only when I have done huge dots.

[Mister Woof]

With non-conductive pastes, it's hard to have "too much" so long as its not seeping over the edges and spilling over into the cpu contacts.

 

A bit too much is prob. better than too little.

[OGKRG]

6 minutes ago, Mister Woof said:

With non-conductive pastes, it's hard to have "too much" so long as its not seeping over the edges and spilling over into the cpu contacts.

 

A bit too much is prob. better than too little.

That's always what I have believed also. I ran out of NT-H2 right before ordering the MasterGel Maker, (when I got the Wraith Prism), and the NT-H2 application was very light, I could tell temps were not as consistent. I always used the spread method on my 7700K with an AIO and temps were good. I always get anxiety reapplying because I know where my temps were, and if something is off, then it's prob application, because all other variables stayed the same. 

 

Here is a picture of my NT-H2 application. I was running 28c - 32c idle @ 4.1GHz, but I am re-clocking my Ryzen 3600 back up to 4.4GHz + to see if I can get some lower voltages per clock speeds. Max temps right now @ 4.2GHz is 71c. It's on air, so I am not expecting AIO performance, but good vs. bad thermal  paste I believe makes a difference, even if it's a few degrees difference I'll take that. 
 

[Mling]

i always get good temps by spreading the paste thin with a plastic card. My current system was built with an X and i do wonder if i could go a few degrees lower if i reapplied.

[OGKRG]

4 minutes ago, Mling said:

i always get good temps by spreading the paste thin with a plastic card. My current system was built with an X and i do wonder if i could go a few degrees lower if i reapplied.

I agree, I’ve tried X, dot and spread. I usually do the X, but with the NT-H2 it comes out to fast and it tends to be to much. Only reason I did spread on this one is cause the MasterGel Maker tube has a spread applicator built in, which is nice. 

[Guest]

I spread in a square or the entire IHS.

 

Like this. 

 

[OGKRG]

Just now, ShrimpBrime said:

I spread in a square or the entire IHS.

 

Like this. 

 

Most of the heat is going to come from the center of the IHS anyways, that's a good application though, most dot applications will spread like that also. Also idk how accurate this image is, but it's cool  to see the different applications. 

[Guest]

9 minutes ago, OGKRG said:

Most of the heat is going to come from the center of the IHS anyways, that's a good application though, most dot applications will spread like that also. Also idk how accurate this image is, but it's cool  to see the different applications. 

 

I don't do dots or X's usually because it's not the same shape as the cpu

In my mind the square works well for even coverage with little push out. But it really depends on how thick you lay it on.

 

When running Naked Die, full spread and no deviation from that. So that's something to be said about full cover spreading.

People fear it for air pockets however. The trick is to twist back and forth on the cpu when setting down the cooler just as if your where going to remove the cooler.

 

Best temps could be said for lapping the cooler and Cpu as flat as possible. You can reduce the amount of TIM needed during application.

Most IHS plates are concave, especially AMD's.

 

Since AMD's chips have cores in 3 or 4 locations, I would suggest as much coverage as possible even if it's a little or even a lot too much. You want as much of that thermal paste touching 100% of the contact area of the cpu cooler and IHS plate. 

 

All in my humble opinion of course.

[OGKRG]

Thanks for the advice! I def out to much on before with the 3 edge to edge IHS spread lol. The third image is the fix, and should be better. This TIM spreads really well. Probably turned out bad because it looks like when I put Mayo on sandwiches. #CPUSandwich

 

this application looks better lol. 

[OGKRG]

New application method dropped my temps by 9c - 10c, current test is 4.1GHz @ +0.042v (1.116v-1.152v)

[Guest]

2 minutes ago, OGKRG said:

New application method dropped my temps by 9c - 10c, current test is 4.1GHz @ +0.042v (1.116v-1.152v)

 

Yeah! There you go. Tomorrow or the next day, after the paste as had time to set up and stop spreading, the temps might even come down a couple more Celsius.

 

I took the time to look up the specs of the paste. It's 5 W/mk which is a pretty average paste. This number is what you look for when shopping pastes.

The one I like best is Antec Forumla 7. It's a nano diamond, most people don't like it cause it can sand the etching off the IHS plate when you wipe and clean.

But I like it for the 8.5 w/mk, it does seem to show a vast difference vs Corsair TM30 which is only 3.8 W/mk and also Thermaltake TG-7 which is only 3.3W/mk. 

Kryonaut From themal Grizzly is 12.5 w/mk and is about 1-2c cooler than the Antec Formula 7. 

 

So you have room to drop temps more.

But.

The cooler will take the BTU load from the cpu quicker from a less resistant paste. If the temps don't seem to change much going from like 5 W/mk to at least 8.5 W/mk or higher, than you would evaluate the cpu and case cooling.

 

[OGKRG]

2 minutes ago, ShrimpBrime said:

Yeah! There you go. Tomorrow or the next day, after the paste as had time to set up and stop spreading, the temps might even come down a couple more Celsius.

 

I took the time to look up the specs of the paste. It's 5 W/mk which is a pretty average paste. This number is what you look for when shopping pastes.

The one I like best is Antec Forumla 7. It's a nano diamond, most people don't like it cause it can sand the etching off the IHS plate when you wipe and clean.

But I like it for the 8.5 w/mk, it does seem to show a vast difference vs Corsair TM30 which is only 3.8 W/mk and also Thermaltake TG-7 which is only 3.3W/mk. 

Kryonaut From themal Grizzly is 12.5 w/mk and is about 1-2c cooler than the Antec Formula 7. 

 

So you have room to drop temps more.

But.

The cooler will take the BTU load from the cpu quicker from a less resistant paste. If the temps don't seem to change much going from like 5 W/mk to at least 8.5 W/mk or higher, than you would evaluate the cpu and case cooling.

 

This is what the website says the conductivity is. 

 

For case cooling I have two fans in my case right now. It's the fans that came stock with the N200 cooler master case. They aren't bad, I have one intake one exhaust. I could def use one more intake in the front, and one exhaust at the top of the case, just to take some extra heat off the CPU. What are some cheap fans you recommend? I was going to get two of these Amazon.com: Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 RGB 120mm Square Frame Fan with Customizable LEDs, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, Sealed Bearing, PWM Control for Computer Case & Liquid Radiator: Computers & Accessories

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, OGKRG said:

This is what the website says the conductivity is. 

 

For case cooling I have two fans in my case right now. It's the fans that came stock with the N200 cooler master case. They aren't bad, I have one intake one exhaust. I could def use one more intake in the front, and one exhaust at the top of the case, just to take some extra heat off the CPU. What are some cheap fans you recommend? I was going to get two of these Amazon.com: Cooler Master SickleFlow 120 V2 RGB 120mm Square Frame Fan with Customizable LEDs, Air Balance Curve Blade Design, Sealed Bearing, PWM Control for Computer Case & Liquid Radiator: Computers & Accessories

 

Looks like they have 2 different versions then. This one below is the "regular" kind I guess. 

Link

https://www.coolermaster.com/catalog/coolers/thermal-grease/new-mastergel-regular/

Screen shot

 

What's the part number on your package??

 

[Guest]

Cheap fans on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Antec-120mm-Addressable-Performance-3-pin/dp/B08CDL5R83/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=120mm+RGB+case+fans&qid=1610162568&s=electronics&sr=1-6

[OGKRG]

[OGKRG]

1 minute ago, ShrimpBrime said:

Cheap fans on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Antec-120mm-Addressable-Performance-3-pin/dp/B08CDL5R83/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=120mm+RGB+case+fans&qid=1610162568&s=electronics&sr=1-6

Thanks! I honestly don't need RGB but I was considering it, kind of like the non RGB fans, and only have RGB on my CPU fan, and also this that I got and should be here Sunday. Amazon.com: Cooler Master ELV8 Addressable RGB Vertical Universal Graphic Card Holder, Built-in ARGB Strip, Adjustable Length & Height Support: Computers & Accessories I was like what the heck, why not. My card doesn't have a lot of sag, but it looks cool, kind of accent the card. 

[Guest]

1 minute ago, OGKRG said:

Thanks! I honestly don't need RGB but I was considering it, kind of like the non RGB fans, and only have RGB on my CPU fan, and also this that I got and should be here Sunday. Amazon.com: Cooler Master ELV8 Addressable RGB Vertical Universal Graphic Card Holder, Built-in ARGB Strip, Adjustable Length & Height Support: Computers & Accessories I was like what the heck, why not. My card doesn't have a lot of sag, but it looks cool, kind of accent the card. 

Wasn't sure, saw the solid blue, thought why the heck not. XD Honestly, I was never really a huge fan of RGB, but it's slowly grown on me over time. It's on the boards, the stock fan..... lol. Can't beat em' join em'

 

[freeagent]

I always give the cooler a titty twister before I apply the clamps. Not too much, just a few degrees to the left and right.. and I always engage the clamp evenly, just a few turns at a time until I feel the top clamp start to engage. Check edges for center, and clamp it down until no screw is left unturned 

 

For Intel a line down the center starting just before and ending just after the cores, and for AMD.. I'm still learning.. have to get back to you on that.. 

[Guest]

6 minutes ago, OGKRG said:

snip pic

Yep. you got the good one! 

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, freeagent said:

I always give the cooler a titty twister before I apply the clamps. Not too much, just a few degrees to the left and right.

AMD too. Same deal. Give a little twist. 

[Mister Woof]

I ran P95 for 5 minutes before removing the spire off my 1600. there was almost zero resistance.

[OGKRG]

Just now, Mister Woof said:

I ran P95 for 5 minutes before removing the spire off my 1600. there was almost zero resistance.

There is either no resistance, or you pull the CPU out the socket. lol. 

[RejZoR]

I always spread thermal paste across entire IHS surface in a very thin layer. So you're always certain entire IHS is making contact with entire cooler cold plate. Which is what you would want. With a "pea sized" drop of thermal paste you can't ever be sure and I'd hate the idea of applying thermal paste and then not having 100% coverage int he end. And since it's hidden, you can't tell. Shrodinger's thermal paste essentially. If you apply it just enough that it covers IHS and making it not visible anymore and that's enough. Been using this method for some 20 years and it works perfectly. I don't even know who the F began this whole pea sized thing here and X shaped thermal paste there. It's all stupid and half assed job.

[Tan3l6]

The spreading method is bad for the reason there might be air pockets if the spread is not perfect. 
I prefer a central drop, at least its ceratin to have no air pockets...

Though most tests show marginal diffrences between reasonable spread methods.

[Mister Woof]

Linus did a test on this and ultimately they determined all methods work just as well as long as you use enough paste