Apply thermal paste on both CPU and Heatsink?

[HeXen]

Do you or should you apply thermal paste to both CPU and Heatsink? What are your opinions/experience with pre applied thermal paste that comes on heatsinks?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

One or the other. I've only ever applied thermal compound directly to the CPU. More is not better.

 

[notposting]

Follow the directions?



(Stock hsf's often come with some stuff pre-applied, that way you don't need to buy any more. Otherwise, follow directions - just used some the other day for the first time in years, if I hadn't looked up the AS5 pdf I would have forgotten about the tinting. I miss the old exposed die days. I was awesome at that. )

 

[Magic Carpet]

I don't use thermal paste at all on my main rig, so I don't have to re-apply anything when I clean my internals. No thermal paste is better than too much, heh. It's recommended to have some, though.

 

[HeXen]

I'll just use what's pre-applied then. It's corsair so I'll assume it's decent compound.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I'll just use what's pre-applied then. It's corsair so I'll assume it's decent compound.

It should be within 5C under load compared to the best TIM there is. Is it a big deal for ya? I'd leave it as is.