Is my method of applying thermal paste correct?

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sbab123

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Mar 21, 2016
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Hi all,

I am currently building a PC for the first time and I am having a little issue with the thermal paste application.

I am actually testing the application of the thermal paste with an old damaged CPU and the old cooler first, before actually putting the thermal paste on my actual build....to see how things goes....

I applied a small blob of thermal paste, something like 3mm in diameter, to the centre of the old damaged CPU and placed the old cooler on the CPU. Then, I applied a little bit of pressure on the cooler for around 3 minutes and finally removed the cooler off the top of the CPU.

When I looked at the results, it did spread all over the CPU, although not evenly, which seems to be good. However, a thermal paste did smear on the 4 sides of the CPU....and the smeared paste did not reach the CPU substrate...

Do you think that this method is good? What can I do to improve the application?

Please let me know your thoughts.

Regards
 
Solution
Ironsounds
Hello... With thermal paste less is better... the purpose is to remove any air between the heat sink and CPU, as air has bad thermal performance... the best case is metal to metal... But the two surface's are not totally flat or smooth to each other. You can lap or wet sand the cooler surface for a smoother and flatter surface too. B /

use a flat metal straight edge to determine how Flat or bumpy you CPU lid and heatsink surfaces are... this will determine how much Thermal paste you will need, to remove all the air between them.

The method I do is to use a clean finger and smear/smooth just a thin film across both surfaces, then attach them, and then check idle temps in your BIO's. This leave out the guess work of the amount to use...
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Ironsounds

Ironsounds

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Jul 31, 2011
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Hello... With thermal paste less is better... the purpose is to remove any air between the heat sink and CPU, as air has bad thermal performance... the best case is metal to metal... But the two surface's are not totally flat or smooth to each other. You can lap or wet sand the cooler surface for a smoother and flatter surface too. B /

use a flat metal straight edge to determine how Flat or bumpy you CPU lid and heatsink surfaces are... this will determine how much Thermal paste you will need, to remove all the air between them.

The method I do is to use a clean finger and smear/smooth just a thin film across both surfaces, then attach them, and then check idle temps in your BIO's. This leave out the guess work of the amount to use and you know you have coated/prepared the matting surfaces. B /
 
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sbab123

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Thanks for the replies guys...
Is there a danger if thermal paste "comes out" between the CPU and cooler "slot"?? and some of it moves onto the sides of the CPU?? I use arctic MX--4...
 
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sbab123

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Cool. I can use a q-tip to remove large excess of paste between the CPU and cooler "horizontal slot"....but my actual build has an after-market cooler and it will be difficult to see the "horizontal slot" between the CPU and cooler, let alone access it.

If I leave the excess as it is.....is this ok?? You said it is non-electrical conductive....
 
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sbab123

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If I leave the excess as it is.....is this ok?? You said it is non-electrical conductive....
 
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sbab123

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Is it normal that after I apply thermal paste to the CPU, put the cooler on it, apply pressure on top of the cooler for a couple of minutes and finally remove the cooler, the CPU gets stuck to the cooler??
 
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BringerOfTea

BringerOfTea

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yeah,,, the paste is quite sticky so it would be normal unless you closed the latch.
 
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