applying thermal paste

[APM98]

How much do u guys use on ur cpus

 

[fruscai]

put one drop less than the size of a pea on the cpu, then attach everything else, the pressure will spread it out, be very very very careful not to put too much

 

[APM98]

So u just put a small drop on the very center of the cpu?

 

[SFG99]

I used a thermal patch and that seems to still work fine. I have never seen a higher CPU temp than 58C and that is when I just today ran prime95 under torture mode...

 

[fruscai]

So u just put a small drop on the very center of the cpu?

yup, and let the heatsink pressure spread it out, btw, just out of curiosity, what thermal compound are you using?

 

[fade2green514]

it really depends on the heatsink and the cpu. i finished mine down to a mirror with some 320-600-800-1000-1500- and then 2000 grit sandpaper. i could see myself in the copper. that means that the surface was ultra flat and i didn't barely need to use ANY.
so basically, just fill in the cracks on the cpu + heatsink surface and that should be enough. generally i like to use about the size of a half grain of rice. if not, less. again though, it really depends on the heatsink. the less you need to use the better though.
i used arctic silver 5 just because its the second best on the market... but the first best is dangerous around aluminum so i didn't bother lol. i mean, expose the thing to aluminum at all (which there could be traces anywhere on the heatsink, a screw or something) and you've wrecked your cpu.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm
instructions in detail straight from arctic silver.

 

[APM98]

that arctic silver is what I was looking at. Now what happens if u upgrade ur heatsink and fan? Would wipe of the paste and reapply?

 

[fruscai]

lightly wipe the heatsink, make sure its removed from the cpu unless you are using antistatic wrist wrap or cloth, otherwise you could fry your processor, then just apply your arctic silver, no problemo

 

[ChrisDVD]

I used a thermal patch and that seems to still work fine. I have never seen a higher CPU temp than 58C and that is when I just today ran prime95 under torture mode...

My CPUwas already in the 60's, very slow :S I had to close it, open the case, and put a strong fan beside it....i have to do this every once in a while, since the computer can't cool off sometimes...