How much thermal paste should i be applying to my cpu?

[Hammyton]

I was told I need to make a very thin layer that covers all of the CPU's upper surface... is this true?
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

yeah
the raised part only

very thing meaning paper thin, or thinner

 

[FlippyBoy]

here are detailed instructions that should work for most forms of paste

 

[Hammyton]

Another question if its not too much trouble
The instructions on the webpage say that I should use isopropyl alcohol to take off the current thermal paste on my CPU when i;m going to apply arctic silver.... but will water work fine too?

 

[ChampionAtTufshop]

i dont know
i know idealy you are supposed to use isopropyll, but i dont lol
i just use a couple qtips
one to get most of the gunk off, then the other to "buff" it up a bit lol
also dont forget the heatsink...you want to get teh stuff off that as well

 

[RobsTV]

Originally posted by: Hammyton
Another question if its not too much trouble
The instructions on the webpage say that I should use isopropyl alcohol to take off the current thermal paste on my CPU when i;m going to apply arctic silver.... but will water work fine too?

For the white paste, isopropyl alcohol works best.

But to clean off AS, isopropyl alcohol does not work well.
Best thing to use for AS is water and Dawn dish detergent, then blow dry with hair dryer.

 

[calvink]

to take off the white paste, i usually just use a dry q-tip first. then use a solvent, i find it the fastest way.