The only problem with putting too much on, is potentially making a mess - it doesn't affect performance. As long as you have 'enough' paste it doesn't matter.
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Cleaning Thermal Paste
- Thread starter Nate75
- Start date
The only problem with putting too much on, is potentially making a mess - it doesn't affect performance. As long as you have 'enough' paste it doesn't matter.
Soldato
- Joined
- 6 Sep 2016
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- 13,401
I've always been told that too much acts as an insulator and reduces contact with the cooler, reducing cooling efficiency.
I hope that's just compound.
I've always been told that too much acts as an insulator and reduces contact with the cooler, reducing cooling efficiency.
The tests pretty much speak for themselves - presumably the pressure when screwed down will prevent the layer of paste being thick enough to have an insulating effect, but the down side of that is any excess will ooze out of the edges.
We'll have to disagree on that one
I had previously thought that this true, and it was just a matter of excess waste/mess around the socket. So I put what I'd consider too much normally, and left it like that for 2 years.
Recently, I decided to treat the PC to a spring clean and repaste. Now baring in mind when I did the last paste, it was a brand new HSF, case, fans, so no dust anywhere - so a fair comparison.
So this time, I used less, but this time used the old school method that I'd used on Socket A's - using a credit card and smoothing it edge to edge all over, which ended up being pretty thin, compared to what the CPU and HSF looked like when I'd removed it to do this.
My temps went down 6-7C when gaming/benchmarking.
There definitely is a sweet spot, after all, thermal paste is meant to merely fill in microscopic cracks between the contact patch of the HS/IHS, so it does make sense that less is more.
I however, doubt there's any difference in the way you apply it, unless you are too stingy and say do an X and it misses out so parts, but that's rare - I only choose the credit card method, as I could see the coverage before mating the HS.
FWIW, I have had the same thing happen with a different CPU, that ran hotter, so this isn't just fluke.
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We'll have to disagree on that one
There definitely is a sweet spot, after all, thermal paste is meant to merely fill in microscopic cracks between the contact patch of the HS/IHS, so it does make sense that less is more.
FWIW, I have had the same thing happen with a different CPU, that ran hotter, so this isn't just fluke.
Two years old though?
You'd have to use the same paste and wait another two years for a more conclusive comparison, IMO...
Excess paste should squeeze out, personally think this issue is conflated with mainly intel designing crappy sockets where using high contact force causes the chip to bend in the socket so people tend not to tighten coolers as much these days.
I used brand new paste the first time, and for 2 years the temps never increased?
Yes, I did re-use the same tube of paste to re-paste it, and it was at that point, said tube of paste was now 2 years old
Thermal paste doesn't tend to go off after X years, from my experience, and I've heard others say the same
So the fact that I still got a lower temp despite it's age, means there's definitely something in using less.
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These are perfect for cleaning paste off.
I literally do this every timeSo is a bit of spit and kitchen roll, and it's much cheaper, but what do I know?
I've only ever used methylated spirit. Never seems to have been a problem.Hi.
My https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ther...20-se-black-cpu-air-cooler-coo-tlr-03291.html has arrived (that was quick!).
Thermalright Phantom Spirit 120 SE Black CPU Air Cooler
I have some Isopropyl Alcohol 99.9% due to be delivered next week.
However, would like to get on with this today.
Question, would white spirit be okay to use or should I wait it out?
Cheers
I've used meths before with no issue.
Like white spirit though (I think) it can leave a very light greasy residue so it's technically not good practice.
Do you have a first aid kit? Some surgical spirit or alcohol wipes would be better.
Or if you dabble in car mechanics, carburetor or brake disk cleaner would work.
Or just give it a good wipe with regular old kitchen towel..
Like white spirit though (I think) it can leave a very light greasy residue so it's technically not good practice.
Do you have a first aid kit? Some surgical spirit or alcohol wipes would be better.
Or if you dabble in car mechanics, carburetor or brake disk cleaner would work.
Or just give it a good wipe with regular old kitchen towel..
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I used some lint free screen wipes that I had in the end.
Did the trick. Made sure the CPU was dry after use.
Agreeed. I did the manual spreading method too when I installed my 9700X 2 months ago, but I used one of those thermal paste spatulas by Thermal Grizzly, as I already had an unused one from years ago. Doesn't really make much difference compared to a credit card though!
The pea method doesn't really work all the time, but for me it was actually too little paste that caused an issue with the pea method a few years ago. Although the CPU cooler was supposed to "spread" the paste when it's placed, that pea of paste wasn't spread everywhere. There were a few missing spots that didn't have paste, which resulted in the CPU temps being higher than normal.
At least with manually spreading, you'll know the fact that the entire CPU will be evenly covered with a layer of paste, and not so much that it ends up going into the socket (RIP).
Glad it worked for you though @Nate75
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