best method to apply thermal paste and how much to use!

RoyalMarine · 15-12-2007 12:53am #1

is it possible to use too much thermal paste?

i applied about a decent pea sized amount last night on the northbridge chipset and seated the cooler on it.

should i cover the whole lot?

whats the best method? spread it out or paste it on?

DirkVoodoo · 15-12-2007 1:00am

Yes, quite possible.

The old adage: "less is more" applies here.

The thermal paste is only there because it basically goes, in order of conductivity: [heat sink metal] > [thermal paste] > [air].

All you want is to have TIM where you would have air, too much and you end up with a "finger cream" interface, where the limiting factor for thermal conductivity becomes the thermal paste.

Ideally you would want to have a metal-to-metal interface between heat sink and heat spreader.

Remember, air is bad!

DirkVoodoo · 15-12-2007 1:03am

Woops, rambled on a bit there and forgot other parts of your post.

Generally a pea size amount is fine, the pressure of your northbridge cooler will smear it out over the entire surface.

Some people like applying a very thin layer all over, using a credit card or something similar. Just as long as all those nasty imperfections where air can be trapped are clogged up with TIM, that's all that matters.

You can experiment with different methods, but it may take time in between "setting in" periods.

RoyalMarine · 15-12-2007 1:04am

so should i remove it, clean it, and re-apply?

DirkVoodoo · 15-12-2007 1:12am

Well, what way did you apply it initially?

My advice: run a few tests, overclocking FSB, raise northbridge voltage, etc. see how it holds up. Then, remove, clean and reapply using one of the methods listed. Rinse and repeat and see which one gives you the best results.

RoyalMarine · 15-12-2007 1:14am

i put a pea size on. and slightly spread it around. then installed the cooler.

it looks decent enough. and i dont think its too much. ill see how the clocking goes first, and what temps im getting etc.

thanks for the help

nibble · 15-12-2007 1:07pm

Well with a NB it's not really going to matter anyway because they don't produce that much heat. But yeah, you generally want to put a small amount in the centre or a line on dual core cpu's and then use the pressure of the cooler to spread it.

PogMoThoin · 15-12-2007 2:12pm

I tried & tested several different amounts once & found that a rice grain size amount produced the best results, but then again i always lap my cpu & cooler to have as much metal to metal contact. I also tried out cool laboratory liquid which gave amazing results (6'c +), pity it welded the Ihs to my cooler tho, got them apart eventually but had to lapp again. Not trying that again

MooseJam · 15-12-2007 4:08pm

PogMoThoin wrote: »

but then again i always lap my cpu & cooler to have as much metal to metal contact.

what do you use to lap it ?, how much does it drop temps by ?

MooseJam · 15-12-2007 4:12pm

actually nevermind, more details in other thread

awhir · 15-12-2007 5:04pm

hey just seen this and it most likly answers ur question :

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticle&articID=635

PogMoThoin · 15-12-2007 6:10pm

MooseJam wrote: »

what do you use to lap it ?, how much does it drop temps by ?

I used a sheet of each of the following grade sandpapers, 240, 400, 600, 800, 1200, 1500. You can also go a step further and finish with 2000 grade, but i couldn't find any in the motor factors. Temps drop by 5-7'C (and a further 3-5'c by usin cool labs over silver5, pity bout it welding it). Remember it completely voids your warranty. There are a few good guides if ya google.

You'll probably end up taking the skin off the tips of your fingers till they bleed, I did 1st time, so be prepared.

papu · 16-12-2007 2:30am

Thermal paste goes here

RoyalMarine · 16-12-2007 4:39am

oh jesus. i didnt use that much!

not being silly, but does puttng thermal paste there do anything special?
i thought thermal paste only goes between the cooler and the top of the processor.

Ruu_Old · 16-12-2007 4:43am

Meh, nothing really probably just render the computer useless. That was done by the same chap that cut his graphics card to fit into the slot I assume.

papu · 16-12-2007 2:49pm

yeah , doing that kinda thing is a very very very very bad idea , unless you want to see 150euros vanish in the touch of a button

DirkVoodoo · 16-12-2007 5:23pm

Holy crap! What was he hoping that would achieve?!?

requiem1 · 17-12-2007 12:18am

he came on some forum asking how to apply tim and someguy on the forum messingly told him to do that and he came on a couple of hours later saying his board went on fire and posted the pics, clearly he didn't just google his question:rolleyes:

RoyalMarine · 17-12-2007 12:29am

so maybe i should google it instead of asking here

dont want a fire now do i :P

papu · 17-12-2007 12:31am

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

so maybe i should google it instead of asking here
dont want a fire now do i :P

hehe , tim goes on the outside of the processor :P

RoyalMarine · 17-12-2007 12:33am

ah now i know where to put it :P
just wasnt sure of the amount.

i decided i might take a shot at lapping. but want to get it running first.

papu · 17-12-2007 12:36am

RoyalMarineComm wrote: »

ah now i know where to put it :P
just wasnt sure of the amount.

i decided i might take a shot at lapping. but want to get it running first.

well yeah ,some people spread , some people but 2 lines , some people 1 line , some people use a small dot ,

aslong as you dont do what he's done it'll be grand

best method to apply thermal paste and how much to use!

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