Best method to apply thermal on a graphics card?

[DarkShadow]

I have a Sapphire X1950 XT and my new Zalman VF900 should be due on Wednesday.

In preperation, what would be the best way to apply Thermal compound? How much is required? The stock zalman stuff is meant to be good. Should I use AS5?

Cheers.

 

[Darkwave]

The stock Zalman stuff is gunge, use AS5.

Just put a rice-sized blob on your GPU core and smooth it out with a credit card or something (don't worry, it'll wipe off) until it's nice and even but still quite thin. Make sure you don't do this until you're ready to put the Zalman straight on, or it'll dry up.

 

[Arthalen]

The stock Zalman stuff is gunge, use AS5.

Just put a rice-sized blob on your GPU core and smooth it out with a credit card or something (don't worry, it'll wipe off) until it's nice and even but still quite thin. Make sure you don't do this until you're ready to put the Zalman straight on, or it'll dry up.

As Ulf said really. Done this myself a few times now and found its really helps with temps compared to stock manufacturer applications of thermal goop.

 

[DarkShadow]

Just put a rice-sized blob on your GPU core and smooth it out with a credit card or something (don't worry, it'll wipe off) until it's nice and even but still quite thin. Make sure you don't do this until you're ready to put the Zalman straight on, or it'll dry up.

I can never smoothen it out evenly and thinly with a CC! It starts to 'stretch' thus not covering most areas

Anyone else?

 

[Cartho]

I think credit cards work well, but any other plastic spatula type thing works well
Just make sure you dont put too much on - if you do it spreads out over the edges when the cooler clamps down onto the GPU, this is not ideal...

 

[Dmack]

youtube matey some good videos

 

[Cartho]

of all kinds of things