Best way to apply AS5?

[Oyeve]

I used the rice sized blob, twist HS a bit and run the system for a few days. This way the stuff melts and eventually finds the sweet spot. I recently went AMD and put too much on and was getting 58c idle. Cleaned all the AS5 off and did the method I mentioned previously. Initially the chip was 53c idle but after a few daya it went to 45c idle and 59c full load after hours of intense gaming.

 

[nib95]

I use blob and spread.
Just be careful how you spread and do it very evenely.

I dont like the idea of blob and leave, because a large surface area of the chip would remain un-covered, defeating the point of using it in the first place.

 

[Synomenon]

Originally posted by: nib95
I use blob and spread.
Just be careful how you spread and do it very evenely.

I dont like the idea of blob and leave, because a large surface area of the chip would remain un-covered, defeating the point of using it in the first place.

You don't have to have it over the whole surface though. Just over the core and then a little bit around it. Squishing the blob down with the heatsink does this nicely.

 

[aboothman]

Ya less is definately better. The purpose of thermal compound is to fille the space betwen the CPU and heatsink with something more conductive than air.
However, thermal compound is not very comductive, so you want the least amount possible. You ONLY need it between the core and the heatsink,
so spreading it around the entire heat spreader is not needed. The greater area you cover, the better chance of air pockets. Not to mention making an unneeded mess.

They also recommend rubbing some compound into the heatsink to fill microscopic gaps, although the need for this is less with a wel lapped heatsink

After years and years of various techniques, I have to say the people who makes AS5 know what they are talking about. For a dual core Opteron I use a little more than
they suggest...just to make sure that I have enough when my heatsink starts slippin and sliding. It also helps when you have a bolt on heatsink, since you
may not have a chance to twist it as recommended.

If you have a dual core, look for some pictures of your chip with the ISF off so that you know where the cores are.