How long to let Thermal Paste set?

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Pelvidar

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 8, 2002
Messages
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When I applied Artic Silver 3 a year ago I remember reading that I should let it set for 24 hours, before using my computer.

I'm getting ready to apply some Artcic Silver 5 on my new Pent 4 3.0 and I'm wondering if I should still let it sit after I put the heatsink on, before I test it. I couldn't find any information on this on the Arctic Silver website, so I started to wonder if the whole "let it set for x hours" really matters anymore.

Any help would be appreciated.
 
Actually, you can turn on your PC almost immediately after you apply the AS and put on the HSF unit. But you must allow 24 to 48 hours of actual PC use in order for the AS to achieve its maximum performance.
 
I've always wondered if it should be run in the horizontal position otherwise if you run it in the vertical position the thermal paste may ooze out as it heats up.
 
wallijonn said:
I've always wondered if it should be run in the horizontal position otherwise if you run it in the vertical position the thermal paste may ooze out as it heats up.
Click to expand...
It's more likely to happen if you put too much thermal paste on your CPU, regardless of whether the CPU is oriented vertically (tower cases) or horizontally (severely cramped desktop cases).
 
Thanks for the quick replies!

lol, wallijonn, I've wondered the same thing. It seems to make sense, doesn't it?

I found it really amazing how thin a layer of arctic silver you can apply if you use a long sharp razor. Previously I always used the only "finger in a zip loc bag" trick, and it wasn't near as thin (or even) a layer as I could make by scrapping across the top of the heat spreader with the razor.

I know they say to make it "really" thin, but then I started to wonder if it was possible to make it too thin.

I'm probably worrying too much. I just never seemed to be able to get the great temps others do with their heatsinks and fans (and I'm using the bloody loudest and strongest fan I could find, along with a good heatsink).
 
Pelvidar said:
I know they say to make it "really" thin, but then I started to wonder if it was possible to make it too thin.
Click to expand...

Direct contact is better than thermal paste, the termal paste is to fill any imperfections in the surfaces because air is not a good conductor.

So as long as your heatsink is not so poorly constructed that you end up with airgaps because of how thin you make your TIM thinner is better.

==>Lazn
 
Pelvidar said:
I just never seemed to be able to get the great temps others do with their heatsinks and fans (and I'm using the bloody loudest and strongest fan I could find, along with a good heatsink).
Click to expand...

Make a 120mm blowhole, add a Delta or Panaflo <35dB 120mm fan on either the outside or inside of the case, add another 120mm fan to the side cover if you cannot install it in the intake area, presto. you case will run about 20 degrees F cooler.

I changed from a YSTech that pushes 131cfm 45 dB and the two 120mm fans are much quieter and cool better.

I just use white thermal paste. I killed an ABit BX6 with artic silver. I don't trust it and I saw where it melted right down into the etches. It took a few weeks for the ABit to die - but die it did. All the tests I've seen say that artic silver is good for 1 degree C cooler over white thermal paste. I can beat that just by adding a blowhole. Add a side cover 120mm intake and the artic silver is a non issue. why bother?

I usually cover the two 80mm fans in the back, but never the psu outlet fan. This way the air and heat has to go up through the blow hole. If you are overclocking I'd add one 120mm fan over the mem area, one 120mm fan covering the video card and the cpu area, and one 120mm blowhole fan. you shouldn't have any problems then.

http://www.excess-solutions.com/12vdc_fans4.htm
http://www.cooltechnica.com/Merchan...roduct_Code=FAN-AL-12025BM&Category_Code=120F
http://www.inflowdirect.com/120mmfans.html
http://www.performance-pcs.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=36_49&osCsid=67f7b41ec4cf437d70373da38dcb80f2
http://www.xpcgear.com/fans.html

do a google search for 'Delta WFB1212M'.

also do a google search for 'thermal paste review'.
 
Well, I've put the new motherboard and CPU into the system, and my temps are what you see in my sig.

They seem higher then what others are getting. I don't get it. I've got 7 fans + the three fans in my power supply and artic silver 5 on the cpu. Shouldn't my temps be better?
 
Wasn't there a problem with ABIT mobos reporting higher than normal temps? was there a BIOS update fix?
 
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