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thermal paste ? can i use cpu right away?

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NathanP2007

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So tomorrow i get my thermal paste in the mail so i can put my cpu in my computer. I am curious after applying it and putting on my heatsink/fan. How fast does it "set". Its OEM so it doesnt have directions hence im asking. Can i use the computer right away or should it sit and "set" for a ___ amount of time/days? Thanks guys
 
NathanP2007 said:
So tomorrow i get my thermal paste in the mail so i can put my cpu in my computer. I am curious after applying it and putting on my heatsink/fan. How fast does it "set". Its OEM so it doesnt have directions hence im asking. Can i use the computer right away or should it sit and "set" for a ___ amount of time/days? Thanks guys
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You should be able to use the pc right away. The time to "set" or cure refers to the time some paste require to reach their maximum thermal conductivity.
 
Thanks guys thats awesome news, i havent ever dealt with thermal paste before so thanks for enlightening me :)
 
Since it doesnt come with instructions, i feel i should point out that you do NOT want to use a whole ton of it.

Someone can probably correct me on the exact size, but about the size of a grain of rice right in the center of the heat spreader, then put the heatsink on, the act of fixing down the heatsink will squish the tiny drop out to the whole surface of teh heatspreader. It's just ment to take up microscopic gaps and uneveness between the two surfaces. Not as an additional layer for heat to transfer through.
 
Briliu said:
Since it doesnt come with instructions, i feel i should point out that you do NOT want to use a whole ton of it.

Someone can probably correct me on the exact size, but about the size of a grain of rice right in the center of the heat spreader, then put the heatsink on, the act of fixing down the heatsink will squish the tiny drop out to the whole surface of teh heatspreader. It's just ment to take up microscopic gaps and uneveness between the two surfaces. Not as an additional layer for heat to transfer through.
Click to expand...

+1 to this.
 
Briliu said:
i feel i should point out that you do NOT want to use a whole ton of it.
Click to expand...

This is very important. Even more important than choosing expensive compounds over the standard silicon based stuff that has been used for over 30 years.


Someone can probably correct me on the exact size, but about the size of a grain of rice right in the center of the heat spreader, then put the heatsink on, the act of fixing down the heatsink will squish the tiny drop out to the whole surface of teh heatspreader. It's just ment to take up microscopic gaps and uneveness between the two surfaces. Not as an additional layer for heat to transfer through.
Click to expand...

Sounds fine. I generally scrape off any old compound and also wiggle the heatsink over the cpu a little to spread out compound. After the CPU heats up the compound will be forced in the cracks.
 
I always heard it was "pea" sized...which is significantly more than a grain of rice.
 
"Pea size" is excessive, unless that is what the instructions states.

Too much thermal paste will actually decrease the effectiveness.
 
Yes, you can use it right away.

I would urge you, however, to ignore the rest of the advice given here and follow the directions of the particular thermal paste you're going to use for the CPU you're going to apply it to.
 
I've always found the directions available at Artic Silver's website for single, dual and quad cores to work well regardless of the brand of TIM I used.
 
I would urge you, however, to ignore the rest of the advice given here and follow the directions of the particular thermal paste you're going to use for the CPU you're going to apply it to.
Click to expand...

He's right, find out who make your paste and look up the instructions. Some manufactureres may say differently than we did.

I'd still hesitate if they asked me to put a teaspoon of paste in there.. But thats just me..
 
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