Thermal Paste Question

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claudius

Weaksauce
Joined
Nov 26, 2005
Messages
120
Greetings!

So I just got my new zaalman heatsink in the mail yesterday and had a question about applying the Arctic Silver 5 thermal paste.

Should the paste be completely covering the cpu/heatsink???

Thanks a bunch!
Claudius.
 
Most people like to spread it themselves with a razor blade.

Remember, *very* thin, almost translucent layer is all you need. Metal is still a much better conductor than the paste, you're just trying to fill in microscopic holes in the base.
 
I found the best/easiest way is to just put a small dab in the middle of the processor the size of a BB from a bb gun. Then wrap your finger in a plastic bag, and spread it around evenly. Like mentioned before, it should almost be a translucent layer. Thats how little you want to use. :)
 
Put a dab about the size of a grain of rice in the middle, and push the HS down on the processor firmly and then give it a twist or two. Then pull off the HS and see how the spread was. If it looks pretty even that means that your contact is pretty even on the surface so you can put it on with a razor blade. However, if its not an even spread on the test, you should no spread it with a razor blade and put a dab about the same size in the middle again (after cleaning the surfaces thoroughly regardless of which method you use) and press firmly, twist twice 90 deg in each direction and tighten down well with screws.

Personally, I have had good luck with zalman HS being pretty well flat on the bottom so I always use the razor blade method and it allows for me to get an extremely thin layer of paste between the two. My friend claims that if you do the razor blad method, you should put a dab in the middle smaller than a grain of rice and then do the twist thing anyway, but i disagree. You can see which method works best for your situation though, every HS and processor are different.
 
w1retap said:
I found the best/easiest way is to just put a small dab in the middle of the processor the size of a BB from a bb gun. Then wrap your finger in a plastic bag, and spread it around evenly. Like mentioned before, it should almost be a translucent layer. Thats how little you want to use. :)
Click to expand...

yeah thats another good way. I've heard of people smearing small amounts VERY well into both the IHS and the base, and having good results. eliminates any excess paste, makes sure the paste is thoroughly implanted in the metal, and allows for more metal-metal contact.
 
Been dealing with this issue myself, I think i am on my 10th reseat of the HSF. I tried every method listed here and what arctic silver 5 instructions said with my overlocked e6600 and a zalman 9500.

Best method I found was putting a bb size drop on the cpu heat sink cover and smearing it, from one side, then the other, then the othe covering the whole top, with a razor blade taking off a small layer everytime. Once I got it down to almost translucent and as flat a I could get it, I stuck on my HSF. Overall it gave me the best temperatures.

LESS IS MORE. As stated the whole idea of the thermal paste is JUST to fill in microscopic pits and scratches. Think of it as the BEST Method would be NO head sink paste, metal to metal and apply it with that mindset in terms of quantity.

Btw Im getting temps of
E6600 OVERLOCKED TO 3.2, STOCK (auto) voltages which I think is 1.2v (but varies slightly)

Idle at right after windows starts up, nothing going cept CORE TEMP
CPU 35c

UNDER PRIME 58c

1 hour at idle after running prime 43c

ALSO im using a SHIT case for cooling and have my fans set for SILENT.
 
FUNNY STORY,

My wife woke up in th middle of the night and looked over at me and I was sitting up in bed like i was "putting something together". I was asleep and she asked me what i was doing, I said "NOT NOW IM PUTTING IN MY FANS!" and i did it for like a few minutes, then fell back onto the pillow and was out again.

I have no memory of this! lol
 
Devastator said:
FUNNY STORY,

My wife woke up in th middle of the night and looked over at me and I was sitting up in bed like i was "putting something together". I was asleep and she asked me what i was doing, I said "NOT NOW IM PUTTING IN MY FANS!" and i did it for like a few minutes, then fell back onto the pillow and was out again.

I have no memory of this! lol
Click to expand...
That's pretty funny :D.
 
haha, sleep modding, thats when you k now your doing it to much...sorta like the dream i had about hitting 3.5Ghz with my Opteron :D
 
Devastator said:
FUNNY STORY,

My wife woke up in th middle of the night and looked over at me and I was sitting up in bed like i was "putting something together". I was asleep and she asked me what i was doing, I said "NOT NOW IM PUTTING IN MY FANS!" and i did it for like a few minutes, then fell back onto the pillow and was out again.

I have no memory of this! lol
Click to expand...

Story of the week! :p
 
The Arctic Silver people have directions on their webpage. Follow those!!

Lots of people say the razor blade technique is baddd.
 
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