How do YOU apply thermal paste?

OliverDavis · 11 Mar 2013 at 13:14

Hello 8Pack,

Being an overclocking God, how do you apply thermal paste?

Some say use a credit card, others with a finger in a plastic bag and the most common being let the heatsink do it.

I would like to know this for CPU's and GPU's, AMD and Intel, AMD and Nvidia.

Thanks

8 Pack · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:13

On all CPU and GPU I simply let the heatsink spread the paste. With experience I judge how much is needed by the size of the heat spreader and go from that. I use the same technique for Air through to LN2 cooling.

setter · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:20

I used some liquid ultra on the ihs of both my cpu's. Pretty strange stuff, bit hard to spread at first. Used the small brush that came with it. Bit like trying to spread a ball of mercury to start with.

illuz · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:34

I find it best to just let the heatsink do it, tiny amount in the center of the processor and bobs ya uncle!

P3N9U1N · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:35

I use a credit card and get a nice even layer.

Uncle Petey · 12 Mar 2013 at 22:57

Blob in the middle. Job done.

OliverDavis · 13 Mar 2013 at 02:09

Thank you. What about cards with the copper pipes direct on die? As they have gaps between them like Asus' DCU II

8 Pack · 13 Mar 2013 at 10:52

I have not reapplied TIM on a DCU2 style cooler. I would be removing for waterblock or the cold. In this case I would possibly spread.

OliverDavis · 13 Mar 2013 at 23:54

Would you just apply it to the cooler then?

8 Pack · 14 Mar 2013 at 14:39

No to the GPU core. Use non conductive i.e MX4 or similar.