AS3 usage on e6400

[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.

 

[imported_wired247]

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]

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]

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.