Arctic MX-4 application on 3750k...best way to apply?

gazjam

gazjam

gazjam

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16 Oct 2007
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Building new box of tricks today, using MX4 as TIM as my old Arctic Silver 5 is years old and nearly done.

No chip specific application guide for MX4 (unlike AS5), so wondering if theres a "best way" to put it on an Ivybridge chip.
Was just going to put a small pea sized blob in the middle of the chip and let the heatsink spread it out.

Just looking for some experienced wisdom here. ;)

*EDIT*
AS5 was quite specific on its application, so couple of questions?

Should I "mist" the chip and heatsink with MX4 then apply the blob or just whack it on bare metal?

Any other potential gotcha's?
From what I've read its a no brainer to put this stuff on (non conductive etc etc)


cheers.
 
I used the pea method when I replaced my 2 year old MX3 with MX4 a few weeks ago, dropped about 5C so I guess that method works.
 
Grain of rice size for me.

Ocassionally I used a old credit card to spread a rice size blob on cpu's.
 
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Cool, thanks.
Pea for me I think. :)
Did you "mist" (VERY thin discolouration layer) the chip and heatsink first or just put it on bare metal?


ta.


...I'm thinking about this too much aren't I?
 
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BigChief said:
what is the downfall of putting too much on?
Click to expand...

As long as you tighten the heatsink enough, there should be none as it will seep out the edge. Since MX4 isn't conductive, other than creating a mess there aren't any issues.

I'd rather make sure there is enough rather than too little (i.e. isn't spreading across the entire IHS).
 
Hopefully going to be getting a non stock soon myself so the more info the better. Is it a necessity to remove the previous paste before applying any new stuff?
 
BigChief said:
Hopefully going to be getting a non stock soon myself so the more info the better. Is it a necessity to remove the previous paste before applying any new stuff?
Click to expand...

yes.
i just use kitchen roll and elbow grease, but you can buy thermal paste cleaner

also a blob in the middle and push it down (petit pois)
afaik pre-spreading the paste can introduce air bubbles
 
spread it all over the heatsink base, but only enough so you can still see the copper underneath, so it has to be very thin indeed.... tighten the cooler down very tightly, but take care because i broke one of the bolts last night...
 
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Mal X said:
spread it all over the heatsink base, but only enough so you can still see the copper underneath, so it has to be very thin indeed.... tighten the cooler down very tightly, but take care because i broke one of the bolts last night...
Click to expand...

Bad idea since it will leave gaps where the heatsink or IHS is slightly concave or convex.
 
Cool, seems simple enough. Thanks for all the info. Hope that helps the OP too, feel like I've hijacked the thread a little :(
 
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