AS3 usage on e6400

Xarick

Golden Member
May 17, 2006
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when I re-seat my e6400 and redo the as3 would it be better to do the pea sized blob thing or to spread it evenly across the surface. I have heard both.
 

imported_wired247

Golden Member
Jan 18, 2008
1,184
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I've done both ways and couldn't notice any difference.. I only like using the "blob" if it's nonconductive so it couldn't possibly hurt anything.

for arctic silver I usually spread it out

 

mwmorph

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2004
8,877
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Depends on the heatsink. If you have something with a nonstandard base like the Xigmatek S1283 with the direct heatpipe, you should always spread it out manually. with a normal, flat base though, either way works.
 

BonzaiDuck

Lifer
Jun 30, 2004
16,310
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Originally posted by: Xarick
when I re-seat my e6400 and redo the as3 would it be better to do the pea sized blob thing or to spread it evenly across the surface. I have heard both.

I'm making a thoroughly idle comment here. Too much time on my hands.

Given the TIMs that ship with many heatsinks -- some just standard silicon grease -- AS3 would be adequate. A lot of people use AS5 -- pretty common for several years.

Given the marginally better performance of TIMs like nano-diamond thermal paste, I don't understand why people continue to use AS5. Diamond paste can result in a temperature improvement of 2C to 4C -- depending on CPU thermal wattage at load.

It's more expensive, and a $7 tube of the stuff is only good for about 4 or 5 applications. But it doesn't need to "cure," is actually "re-usable," doesn't degrade over time.