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Did I Overdo It?

P

PC_User

Supreme [H]ardness
Joined
Sep 15, 2007
Messages
5,022
I installed my i7 yesterday. I applied a layer or Arctic Cooling MX-2 to both the entire top of the CPU and the bottom of my Thermalright Ultra-120. Is this too much? Any harm that it can cause? Should I remove it and apply less?

Currently running i7 @ 4 GHz, 1.34v, idle temps 42-45*C.

I'm worried that I put too much on and I don't want to risk any future damage. What should I do?
 
I usually put an extremely slight smear on the heat sink in the center and then a dab on the CPU and use a credit card to spread a very thin layer on the CPU. Usually, you'll know it's thin enough when you start breaking through in spots. Actually, I put the dab on another surface and pick up a little and spread it with the credit card from there. Probably not a good idea to squeeze out the thermal paste over your MB.:)
 
Yeah, it could be too much. I personally would be a tad concerned due to how nice your gear is. What I normally do is place a small drop, maybe about the size of a decent booger, and smear it around with an inside-out ziplock baggy. The thickness should be a bit more than a sh1t-stain, but much less than thin frosting.
 
I guess I did overdo it. So far, temps are nice (about 40*C idle, 75*C load).

When I put the heatsink on, no thermal paste went over the edges. Is it still possible for it to go over the edges with time or am I safe if it didn't go over originally?
 
Does MX-2 conduct electricity? If not you probably won't have much of a problem. You can always reseat the heatsink again after wiping up the excess.
 
morkboy_wonder said:
Does MX-2 conduct electricity? If not you probably won't have much of a problem. You can always reseat the heatsink again after wiping up the excess.
Click to expand...

The conductivity of thermal paste in regard to electricity is minimal. I've found people smear AS5 and others all over the place, even bridging pins inside the sockets and still haven't seen issues come about as a result.
 
Dan_D said:
What are your QPI and memory voltages?
Click to expand...

QPI - 1.3v
RAM - 1.5v
Vcore - 1.3750 (BIOS), 1.344 (CPU-Z idle), 1.328 (100% load)

I'm just worried that I can somehow damage the system in the long-run by putting too much. Thermalright's instructions (on the 1366 bolt-thru kit box) said a thin layer on the top of CPU and bottom of heatsink and that's what I did.

Temps seem to be ok and I don't see any thermal compound going over the edges of the CPU; just a bit worried is all. Don't know if I should remove all the parts and redo it...:confused:
 
I wouldn't worry. It is not like it is spilling all over the place. Personally I have on occasion applied way too much paste and with no bad results. But if you are still concerned why not remove the heatsink and start again - is a bit of hassle but should give you some peace of mind.
 
The RAM voltage for the IMC in the Core i7 is spec'ed for 1.65v. I know that 1.7v-1.8v is fine for at least short term use. I've taken them to 1.90v before, but I am not comfortable with that for protracted periods of time. QPI voltage you can take to at least 1.4v or higher without issues.
 
Dan_D said:
The RAM voltage for the IMC in the Core i7 is spec'ed for 1.65v. I know that 1.7v-1.8v is fine for at least short term use. I've taken them to 1.90v before, but I am not comfortable with that for protracted periods of time. QPI voltage you can take to at least 1.4v or higher without issues.
Click to expand...

How does that relate to the excess amount of thermal compound that I applied?
 
PC_User said:
How does that relate to the excess amount of thermal compound that I applied?
Click to expand...

Voltages have a huge impact on heat production. This is why I asked what your QPI and RAM voltages were.
 
I see. So do you think its worth it to remove the heatsink and motherboard, disconnect everything, and apply a 'normal' amount of the MX-2? Or should I just leave it as is?
 
PC_User said:
I see. So do you think its worth it to remove the heatsink and motherboard, disconnect everything, and apply a 'normal' amount of the MX-2? Or should I just leave it as is?
Click to expand...

Yes. Your voltages are low but the temps seem a bit on the high side.
 
Dan_D said:
Yes. Your voltages are low but the temps seem a bit on the high side.
Click to expand...

Yes I should leave it or yes I should remove and reapply?

Temps are high? I thought 40*C idle and 78-80*C load for the i7 920 were good temps...
 
I would reapply with a very thin layer, but I don't know much about the i7 temps. It seems to me, especially with the Thermalright heatsink, that 78-80 degrees C load is way too high and I would think a idle number below 40 degrees C should be possible. Any i7 peeps want to confirm this or not?
 
Your temps are about the same as mine. I wouldn't bother changing it out tbh. Are you using the stock TRUE 120 fan? Most people getting lower temps are running much less voltage or aftermarket fans.
 
PC_User said:
Yes I should leave it or yes I should remove and reapply?

Temps are high? I thought 40*C idle and 78-80*C load for the i7 920 were good temps...
Click to expand...

The load seems a little high, but the fan and fan speed may be an issue, or ambient temps. I forget not everyone has ambient temperatures as low as I try to keep mine.
 
Rizen said:
Your temps are about the same as mine. I wouldn't bother changing it out tbh. Are you using the stock TRUE 120 fan? Most people getting lower temps are running much less voltage or aftermarket fans.
Click to expand...

Currently using an Antec TriCool fan...will switch to a Scythe S-Flex SFF21F in a few days.
 
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