Thermal Pad vs. Paste for my application?

[WhyNot92]

I am putting together a new build with a 2600x and using the stock ryzen cooler. I was wondering if I should use thermal pad or paste? It is my first build so I am kind of unsure how much paste or the right amount and all that. Would it be worth it for me to just get a thermal pad instead? I don't plan on overclocking and probably won't even push my cpu too hard.

[RAS_3885]

If the CPU and cooler are new in-box the cooler will have thermal paste pre-applied. Just go with that.

[WhyNot92]

4 minutes ago, RAS_3885 said:

If the CPU and cooler are new in-box the cooler will have thermal paste pre-applied. Just go with that.

I actually bought it used from a friend so I need to do my own application

[Stahlmann]

Always go for paste. Just a pea-sized dot in the middle and then mount the cooler. The mounting pressure alone will spread the paste enough.

 

Pads only make sense if you need to change the cooler frequently and don't want to clean everything up all the time. For example a test bench.

[JohnDeereBro]

7 hours ago, WhyNot92 said:

I am putting together a new build with a 2600x and using the stock ryzen cooler. I was wondering if I should use thermal pad or paste? It is my first build so I am kind of unsure how much paste or the right amount and all that. Would it be worth it for me to just get a thermal pad instead? I don't plan on overclocking and probably won't even push my cpu too hard.

Like Stahlmann said, with the thermal pad, Linus and other youtubers use them for tests benches. That's why he says things like "your temps will be a few degrees cooler than this in practice if you use thermal paste". Just use the paste.