Best way to apply CPU paste?

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 18:58

I know this is going to get me a lot of difference answers but in general which is the best way to apply thermal paste?

I've got to put a new CPU cooler on my brother PC and I'm just curious of the best way?

I've always spread it on making sure pretty much all of the chip is covered seems like the logical thing to do?

andy_mk3 · 6 Feb 2015 at 19:01

Depends on the paste, but the majority is best done with a pea sized blob in the middle. The cooler clamped down will ensure the paste spreads evenly with no air gaps.

DragonQ · 6 Feb 2015 at 19:45

andy_mk3 said:
Depends on the paste, but the majority is best done with a pea sized blob in the middle. The cooler clamped down will ensure the paste spreads evenly with no air gaps.

Agreed but I have no idea if there's any good evidence to support a particular method over another. MSI have a "how to" video showing awful paste application so even the so-called experts don't know what's best.

Blue160 · 6 Feb 2015 at 19:51

I do the pea sized blob as well. Never had any problems so I'm not going to try anything different.

You'll find lots of different advice on this. If what you usually do works then keep doing it.

Zefan · 6 Feb 2015 at 19:58

DragonQ said:
Agreed but I have no idea if there's any good evidence to support a particular method over another. MSI have a "how to" video showing awful paste application so even the so-called experts don't know what's best.

Sort of hypocritical isn't it? To say you aren't aware of what makes one application method better than another only to then cast judgement on one!

In any case, I did see a comparison somewhere some years ago, with different application methods described, tested and compared. Damned if I can find it now though. I really wouldn't be that bothered about it tbh.

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 19:59

Blue160 said:
I do the pea sized blob as well. Never had any problems so I'm not going to try anything different.

You'll find lots of different advice on this. If what you usually do works then keep doing it.

I've heard a lot of pea sized blob!

The only reason i ask is that i've read that spreading isn't good because it will create air bubbles causing over heating that's all.

Pea sized blob it is!

DragonQ · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:01

Zefan said:
Sort of hypocritical isn't it? To say you aren't aware of what makes one application method better than another only to then cast judgement on one!

The method they used wasn't objectively awful, the actual application was awful. Spilled some of it onto the motherboard!

Also, pea sized blob is faster and easier so unless there's a good reason to do a longer/harder method, it'd be silly to.

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:05

DragonQ said:
The method they used wasn't objectively awful, the actual application was awful. Spilled some of it onto the motherboard!

Also, pea sized blob is faster and easier so unless there's a good reason to do a longer/harder method, it'd be silly to.

Alright boys, calm down!

Well i wouldn't call it hard to be honest!

Usher · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:12

What confuses me is the Intel stock cooler come with 3 thin strips of paste & I can't imagine they spread out & join togeter under pressure but presumably they do

tribz · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:14

I used to use the spread until I watched the below, now I do the pea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:15

tribz said:
I used to use the spread until I watched the below, now I do the pea

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyXLu1Ms-q4

I watched that exact video earlier, was part of the reason why i asked!

V F · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:15

Ah, doh! Somehow missed the video. By less than a minute.

Some people use awfully big peas though.

DragonQ · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:19

Cool video, thanks for posting.

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:34

V F said:
Ah, doh! Somehow missed the video. By less than a minute.

Some people use awfully big peas though.

I was unsure of the size of a pea (I can't stand the things) so i got one out of the freezer and offered it up for size

wazza300 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:36

use your finger

small tiny blob and spread it as thinly as possible so it just covers the surface

DragonQ · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:46

wazza300 said:
use your finger

small tiny blob and spread it as thinly as possible so it just covers the surface

Not sure using a finger is a good idea even if you wanna go with the "manual spread" method. Oils and stuff.

savagesam117 said:
I was unsure of the size of a pea (I can't stand the things) so i got one out of the freezer and offered it up for size

Garden peas are too big. Use petit pois for reference.

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:49

DragonQ said:
Garden peas are too big. Use petit pois for reference.

Yeah I didn't go full pea, the thing was huge!! It must have been mutated or something this thing was a little smaller than a 5p coin!

tnx · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:49

I like the little cross in the middle.

Always give things a good clean with summet like these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-000-SR

savagesam117 · 6 Feb 2015 at 20:57

tnx said:
I like the little cross in the middle.

Always give things a good clean with summet like these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=TH-000-SR

The thermal paste came with it's own stuff so i just used that

s innes · 6 Feb 2015 at 21:06

aye looked a few different methods on tube to see what give best result
but the pea blob does seem to be the favorite method
presonaly i prefer to give the complete area a light coat clamp the cooler and remove to test results adding a little more if needed then just forget about it

i guess it depends on the thermal paste used