how much paste?

V

viper110110

New Member
I am replacing my mobo in my pc (along with some other parts) but I want to keep the same cpu. I realise that there is thermal paste already on the CPU, but I will probably scrape this off. When I put the CPU and heatsink back in, how much thermal paste should I use?

ps. It's the cheap stuff I think.
 
Enough to cover the CPU but not too much if you put too much on it can have the same effect as putting too little on. So just enough to cover the CPU.
 
get a piece of kitchen roll or a soft lint free cloth and wipe gently in circles to remove the old thermal paste, you must do this otherwise there will be air gaps and it will overheat.

get a tiny amount, and i mean when you hear people say "a pea sized amount" about 1/8 of that, a small dot you need in the middle of the chip, not the heatsink. Then, don't spread it, just whack the heatsink straight on and it will fill all the gaps that it needs to and spread it out correctly.

Don't think more is better because it isn't, you put too much on it will come over the edges, it will prevent the metal from making full contact with the chip and this will cause overheatsing, not lower temperatures
 
After you remove the old stuff. Put a rice size amount in the center and spread it as thin as possible over the shield. I just put my finger in a sandwich bag and spread it.

I've tried it every way possible and this way seems to do the best overall. The only reason for the compound is to fill in the microscopic gaps between the shield and heatsink. Most people put to much!
 
Aastii said:
don't spread it, just whack the heatsink straight on and it will fill all the gaps that it needs to and spread it out correctly.
Click to expand...

ive always found to have got better results from spreading it myself rather than just letting it do itself.

i usualy put around half pea size on and spread it till the whole cpu cover is done evenly using a cut up old credit card or something similar.

works well.
 
Gooberman said:
what's the best thermal paste you can buy from newegg though :)
Click to expand...

People have different opinions about it. The fact is, if you use one on the top brands on 2 systems built the same, there might be a few degrees difference between them even with the same stuff.

So these reviews you see where they say, this one was 2c cooler than this one, Bullcrap.

As long as you use something like Arctic Silver 5/TX2 or MX2 you will be fine and not much difference between them as far as temps.
 
Gooberman said:
what's the best thermal paste you can buy from newegg though :)
Click to expand...

In this order i think are the best....But thats a personal choice.

Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Im currently using MX-2 Thermal Compound,Gave me lower temps than AS5.
 
Aastii said:
get a piece of kitchen roll or a soft lint free cloth and wipe gently in circles to remove the old thermal paste, you must do this otherwise there will be air gaps and it will overheat.

get a tiny amount, and i mean when you hear people say "a pea sized amount" about 1/8 of that, a small dot you need in the middle of the chip, not the heatsink. Then, don't spread it, just whack the heatsink straight on and it will fill all the gaps that it needs to and spread it out correctly.

Don't think more is better because it isn't, you put too much on it will come over the edges, it will prevent the metal from making full contact with the chip and this will cause overheatsing, not lower temperatures
Click to expand...

+1

This is the best way. When you spread out the thermal paste you can create air bubbles when the 2 surfaces meet.
 
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THERMAL-REACTOR said:
+1

This is the best way. When you spread out the thermal paste you can create air bubble when the 2 surfaces meat.
Click to expand...

Like you said you can. I've tried different ways on hundreds of processors. I have done the X, the line down the middle, the line sideways, dot in the middle, mirror finish on both the heatsink and shield with no paste, on and on. But overall the spreading does the best. Different heatsinks clamps hold down at different force levels, so just putting the dot or line is not always the best.
 
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Nevakonaza said:
In this order i think are the best....But thats a personal choice.

Tuniq TX-2 Cooling Thermal Compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835154003

ARCTIC COOLING MX-2 Thermal Compound - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835186020

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100007

Im currently using MX-2 Thermal Compound,Gave me lower temps than AS5.
Click to expand...

+1 But i would add OCZ freeze between TX-2 and MX-2.
 
paper towel
alcohol pad on both hsf/cpu
rice grain sized dab in the middle, jasmine, not long grain.
put heatsink on rotate 20 degrees clockwise 20 degrees back.
mount.
/end

if you don't have a piss poor designed heatsink this method will work. usually i skip the twist method for benching.
 
Good read

I´m just about to re-seat my HSU , I ordered up the Mx2 ( also buying into the eats others for breakfast, hype) . I used the stock paste that came with the CPU and it´s poo.

I just put my finger in a sandwich bag and spread it.
Click to expand...

+1
 
it's kinda funny because when i went to service up my pc, the tech guy didn't put enough thermal paste and so my computer ran at 85+ degrees. Then, I took more thermal paste and just put alot over my cpu and it runs at like 30 now.
 
So what is this thermal paste used for here?

Is it applied between the processor and the heatsink - or the processor and the motherboard?

I've read thermal paste a few times - and haven't quite figured out where it goes besides generally on the processor and to prevent heat buildup. This where I am guessing it's between the processor and heat sink.

Is that correct?
 
Jamin43 said:
So what is this thermal paste used for here?

Is it applied between the processor and the heatsink - or the processor and the motherboard?

I've read thermal paste a few times - and haven't quite figured out where it goes besides generally on the processor and to prevent heat buildup. This where I am guessing it's between the processor and heat sink.

Is that correct?
Click to expand...

Yes it goes between the processor and heatsink after you put the CPU in the board. The metal on the CPU, the shiny part on top, and the metal on the heatsink have microscopic holes, or pores, in them so that you don't have full metal on metal contact all over (this is what helps disperse the heat from the CPU to the heatsink). This is where thermal paste comes in, it fills in those pores to give you a better contact between the heatsink and CPU.
 
Bob692006 said:
Yes it goes between the processor and heatsink after you put the CPU in the board. The metal on the CPU, the shiny part on top, and the metal on the heatsink have microscopic holes, or pores, in them so that you don't have full metal on metal contact all over (this is what helps disperse the heat from the CPU to the heatsink). This is where thermal paste comes in, it fills in those pores to give you a better contact between the heatsink and CPU.
Click to expand...

Thanks

I've opened and looked at my Dell Processor - but haven't taken it out or messed with the heatsink just yet. Just going down the list in preparation of future build.
 
bitstech said:
You might want to consider taking the heatsink off of the processor in your Dell and applying aftermarket thermal paste. I usually do because Dell tends to use paste that is less than efficient.
Click to expand...

He's getting ready to upgrade so no point in really wasting the time.
 
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