Applying thermal paste with a screwdriver

[brownninja97]

Heres my questions will it do anything bad if the cpu metal gets scratched because the thermal paste should cover the scratches.

[virusal19]

I'm not sure, but the point of thermal paste is to fill in all the gaps to ensure that the heatsink and CPU have a good contact. 

 

Scratching the metal part of the CPU isn't a HUGE problem but this might effect temperature. 

 

So I would say that you are.. fine? 

[TheArium]

Why would you use a screwdriver?

[Theo]

One question, why would you use a screwdriver for that? haha

[Wats]

scratches are ok, you want it flat.

 

 

 

screwdriver thermal paste video related?

[XiaoPigs]

I'm really confused about the screwdriver thing

[X1XNobleX1X]

I'm not sure but I think he's referring to this video :

[brownninja97]

I'm not sure but I thinkk he's referring to this video :

yep thats the video. Its funny when i used a screwdriver my temps went down by a good 5oc

[tito]

There is absolute no chance that using a screwdriver will take down your temps 5oC. Its like better than the best custom water loop!!

 

Anyways, it wont hurt the chip to use a screwdriver, but it would be like using a fork to brush your hair, not the best idea, but gets the job done.

[FireFox]

So long as you don't really dig into the heat spreader it'll be fine, that is what thermal paste is for at the end of the day.

 

I've done it a few times because I couldn't find any little bags to put my finger in and spread the thermal paste around.

[FireFox]

I'm not sure but I think he's referring to this video : http://youtube.com/watch?v=I4HpGaKkXnA

 

Ahh Carey Holzman, I watch his videos all of the time.

 

He was been in the computer game for a while so with his advice and what not I think you'll be good

[Leonard]

It will get scratched. Use a flat piece of flat plastic if you really need to spread the TIM. Personally, the bead or line meathod and just pressure from your heatsink/waterblock is more than enough to evenly spread the TIM on the CPU.

[Midnight]

It will get scratched. Use a flat piece of flat plastic if you really need to spread the TIM. Personally, the bead or line meathod and just pressure from your heatsink/waterblock is more than enough to evenly spread the TIM on the CPU.

 

No, it won't.

[Art Vandelay]

If your CPU is scratched, put a small blob of thermal paste over the scratch and then do the normal blob in the middle technique.

 

Don't spread it; that really doesn't work.

[FireFox]

Don't spread it; that really doesn't work.

 

It's worked for me for quite a number of years

[Art Vandelay]

It's worked for me for quite a number of years

 

It still tends to get you inferior performance to just doing an x across the IHS. Spreading it gets air bubbles under the cooler. I did it on my first build and the CPU ran way hotter than it should have under load.

[brownninja97]

It still tends to get you inferior performance to just doing an x across the IHS. Spreading it gets air bubbles under the cooler. I did it on my first build and the CPU ran way hotter than it should have under load.

I do a circle with a x in the middle. Seems to work for me quite well and i have tried quite a few methods

[Art Vandelay]

I do a circle with a x in the middle. Seems to work for me quite well and i have tried quite a few methods

Wouldn't that just trap air inside the circle?

 

Of everything I've tried, nothing works particularly well. The X seems to get a more even coverage than the dot.

[FireFox]

I was informed that air bubbles aren't as critical as people make out but then again I'd sooner avoid air bubbles altogether.

 

And about the inferior performance I didn't notice any difference at all because if I couldn't be bothered I'd just put a little pea sized amount on and put the heatsink straight on and have done with it, both ways gave me the same thermal performance

[Guest Gazzer96]

yep thats the video. Its funny when i used a screwdriver my temps went down by a good 5oc

I might actually try that if brings it down by that much.

[brownninja97]

I might actually try that if brings it down by that much.

Take it with a gain if salt at i only tried this once so that doesnt make the results very reliable and the thermal paste may of not be as good before(in application not quality). But i will saty with my circle x method and i can tell air bubbles to gtfo AND THEY WILL LISTEN

[R4STABAN]

Do a rice-grain sized amount along the center of the heatspreader above the cpu die, then let the cooler spread the paste, lol. (small cpu?)

[Hyydrah]

Heres my questions will it do anything bad if the cpu metal gets scratched because the thermal paste should cover the scratches.

You shouldn't have to apply it with anything other than the included syringe. If yours didn't include one, simply use your finger if it is verified to be safe.

[brownninja97]

Do a rice-grain sized amount along the center of the heatspreader above the cpu die, then let the cooler spread the paste, lol. (small cpu?)

3820 so i would rather stay away from that. Anyways im about to get a 8320 or a 8350 so how big is that compared to 1155

[FireFox]

3820 so i would rather stay away from that. Anyways im about to get a 8320 or a 8350 so how big is that compared to 1155

 

Fair amount of common sense should also apply, if the heat spreader is bigger it would then require a little more :)

 

From the pictures I'd say its about 20% bigger overall.