Applying thermal paste

varis · May 23, 2017

Have the methods of applying thermal paste changed much since the introduction of direct contact heat pipes? I was reading the step by step guide, which is quite old. But some parts of our hobby don't change ... can you believe ... until they do, at least.

Understood you just take that good old razor blade and extremely thinly apply it on the heatsink (or the cpu). Not going to sand my components, doubt I'll do a better job myself than Cooler Master or whatever leading brand I pick.

So just choose the method that is your personal favourite?

Barty1884 · May 23, 2017

Nothing has really changed there.

The razor (or credit card etc) method is still an option, but the 'grain of rice' method is my preferred.
Let the even pressure of the heatsink being applied do the spreading for you.

James Mason · May 23, 2017

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Thermal-Paste-Application-Techniques-170/
Pea, Spread and X roughly the same.
But X is "the best"

varis · May 25, 2017

Thanks! That smiley face method sounds appealing, who would prefer a sad computer over a happy one?

With all those air bubbles and stuff, what I'd think matters the most is just how well you apply it and how well you regulate the amount of paste. Too little is too little and very bad, but if you have too much, I take the performance is reduced and much of the extra spurts out - is there an easy way to clean it out from the side of the cpu/heatsink base without risking damage from static?

Also most of us probably do this only once in a decade, or never before - I'd think the method which is the easiest to use effectively, ie. lets you make sure there's just the right amount of paste is the best for us. So, even if spreading it evenly is laborious, wouldn't you say it's the most certain way for irregular system builders?

James Mason · May 25, 2017

Well, there's only a 2c difference between the best and worst methods of applying the paste, and even the 3rd best and easiest method "Rice sized pea" and the best "X Shape" is 0.25c.

The biggest problem with the rice sized method is not every knows how big a grain of rice is, but everyone knows what a x shape is.

Overpasting isn't a huge problem, and you could clean it up with a Q-tip(cotton swab) and or paper towel if you really were concerned.

0ldsch00l · May 25, 2017

I do both pea and an X with pea in middle and little x arms stretching out. Razor blade? Uhh no
Lapping? nah

Milos_10 · Jun 19, 2017

pea sized drop of thermal paste in the middle all the way.

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