Best method for applying thermal paste?

[royal_mihir]

I know pea method is recommended but my only concerns it is that it does not touch all of the CPU. Is that a matter for concern?

 

I am probably gonna start WWIII here.

[Amazingasian]

The paste will spread out when you tighten the heatsink.

[Swndlr]

Pea method or gtfo

But in all honesty if you use enough it should easily reach all necessary spots of the chip.

[Lavish]

I saw a guy get a small plastic bag [That wasnt washed] put thermal paste on the cpu, and spread it around, I cringed the whole time .-.

[royal_mihir]

The paste will spread out when you tighten the heatsink.

I know that but it still doesnt spread to every part of the CPU

[SImoHayha]

I know that but it still doesnt spread to every part of the CPU

 

doesn't matter

 

The cores are in the middle mate.

 

not on the outside and stuff. As long as the middle is covered it's fine.

[Infernal Burrito]

I always make it an x.

[Sam Z Man]

I always make it an x.

[Rusty_Shackleford]

I heard someone say you don't want the entire cpu to be covered, this is probably wrong though. Anyway just put a pea size amount. 

[Drixen]

Really, methods vary based on experience/knowledge. In cases where people do not know, or are just looking for reassurance, explore all methods EXCEPT to spread it manually.

Apply to CPU where it is sized of a pea, or about a pea.. for LGA 2011 and LGA 2011-3 sockets, it is suggested HIGHLY you apply a pea and a half sized... yes a P.5 amount.

 

In my professional setting (data centers), we apply a pea and a half for bigger, more TDP-hungry CPU's.. we're talking of using Xeon E7 v3's... upwards of $4,000 CPU cost EACH.

Have we had to "write off" Xeon E7's because techs don't take their time and care for proper thermal paste application? You 'betcha!! Just did a $12,000 write off for three of them the other week... NOTE: TAKE YOUR TIME AND DON'T ASSUME! KNOW AND THEN QUESTION YOURSELF! Peer checking is always good too, or in this case.. upload your installation and verify with others on the forum.

 

The best rule of thumb is a pea sized amount is good for 95w - 120w TDP situations, where as a pea and a half is for 120w + TDP.

 

You will encounter many contradicting, and other personal opinions, however, I assure you if you just take your time and apply my rule of thumb, it'll be worry free and all will be well.

 

Don't sweat, have fun!

[Drixen]

http://ark.intel.com/products/84681/Intel-Xeon-Processor-E7-8867-v3-45M-Cache-2_50-GHz

 

These are our security servers CPU's... at 165w TDP, if you were to do a pea sized only application, I guarantee in 172 hours or less time, the CPU will be gone. A pea and a half sized application best suits this example. Just wanted to give the example where the traditional "pea size" drop can be ineffective.

But note, this is one of the ONLY times where the standard suggestion does not float.

[theProvider]

The problem with the pea size is if the waterblock/heatsink did not land evenly on all sides when you're installing it, the paste may only spread to only (about) half the CPU.  Sadly, happen to me before

[techguru]

 

proper method to apply thermal paste

 

IT SHOULD BE PAPER THIN AMOUNT!

[coder-guy22296]

https://www.youtube.com/embed/-hNgFNH7zhQ