Applying thermal paste - have i done it wrong?

[PiKe]

I have a directcu cooler and I applied thermal grease directly on to the chip, smoothing it out with a rubber glove, I then put some on the base of the cooler and rubbed it around to fill the grooves between the pipes and alu, any excess was then wiped away.

Is this the best practice or have I done it entirely wrong?

 

[Helios1234]

Only way to check is to run it and see what it's like but generally what I do is apply a thin line along each heat pipe and let the pressure spread it when installing.

 

[kristmace]

My tube said to put a pea sized amount on the centre of the chip then the pressure from the heatsink spreads it. Don't lift it up after to look cos it creates air pockets.

 

[El Jimben]

I have a directcu cooler and I applied thermal grease directly on to the chip, smoothing it out with a rubber glove, I then put some on the base of the cooler and rubbed it around to fill the grooves between the pipes and alu, any excess was then wiped away.

Is this the best practice or have I done it entirely wrong?

Each to their own really but that's how I do it though I tend to use a plastic card to smooth the TIM out.

 

[Zeed]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/What-is-the-Best-Way-to-Apply-Thermal-Grease-Part-1/1303/10

there you go

 

[Helios1234]

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/What-is-the-Best-Way-to-Apply-Thermal-Grease-Part-1/1303/10

there you go

The dot method is great generally but a lot of the coolers with direct touch technology have gaps between the heat pipes and the base plate they reside in. Using a single dot means they don't spread as effectively and get trapped in those gaps. That's why in these cases, it's best to apply thing stripes along the heat pipes.

 

[TwsT]

The dot method is great generally but a lot of the coolers with direct touch technology have gaps between the heat pipes and the base plate they reside in. Using a single dot means they don't spread as effectively and get trapped in those gaps. That's why in these cases, it's best to apply thing stripes along the heat pipes.

Yup we tend to do a Pea sized Dot and then fill the gaps in the heatpipes with a bit on the base of the cooler and just spread it in. Many coolers don't have this problem. The Corsair A50 for example does have small gaps in it.

 

[Amidar]

Good guide on how to apply paste to HDT coolers.


http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.p...ask=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=5