thermal paste pattern

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Kaldskryke

[H]ard|Gawd
Joined
Aug 1, 2004
Messages
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So I'm taking apart my computer to install a new power supply and I figured while I was at it I would see if I could improve the contact between my IHS and heaksink. I noticed that the heatpaste had dried/cured in the centre but remained fluidic around the outside as shown in these two pictures:







I'm using Arctic Silver Ceramique, which I didn't think was supposed to cure.

So my questions for you are:
A) is it a problem that the heatpaste dried in the middle or is this what I want?
B) should I bother lapping my IHS or is this okay?
C) was that too much heatpaste or appropriate?
 
I've never used ceramique on CPUs, i believe it's rated for GPU cores since they put out a lot more heat under stress. It seems like most of it just got pushed out when you put on the heatsink, so you probably put enough on originally. It seems like it made decent contact, causing the paste to ooze off to the sides like that. I would try AS5 or a thermal paste made for CPUs, your problem may be that the Ceramique never really thickens up enough to stay on as it doesn't get hot enough.

The dry spot in the middle is right over the cores and so it got the most heat, causing it to harden like that.

Lapping always helps, but I don't think it will make your TIM stay on better.

If you're satisfied with the temps you get the contact doesn't look that bad, but I would suggest a change in paste.
 
+1 to the upper one. Ceramique is for CPU and some tests show it is better than AS5 and give you better temps right away, not like AS5 which takes time.
 
Google around, AS5 is slightly electrically conductive but performs better under reasonable temperature ranges. (small amounts of silver)
Ceramique is ceramic based, non conductive, and hands much higher temperature ranges (both hot and cold).

Ceramique seems to be the choice for GPUs and "extreme cooling" (<0c)

The difference is probably negligible but AS5 is still what I would recommend for CPUs as it is easier to apply and performs the same as or slightly better than ceramique.
 
Artic Cooling's MX-2 is better than ceramique and AS5. It's non conductive and does not cure and you don't have to wait to get the full benefit like you do with AS5.

http://http://www.arctic-cooling.com/further_prod2.php?idx=140

http://http://www.petrastechshop.com/arcomxthco.html

Newegg sells it now also but it's like $1 more than at Petra and Petra offers US Mail option.

I have used Ceramique on my CPU and then switched to AS5 and the temps were pretty much identical. Ceramique did me pretty much the exact same way as OP.
 
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