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How much Thermal Paste to apply?

Leopardos

Leopardos

Senior member
Hello,

Im getting a new motherboard with i7 2600k ...
i dont want to ruin the parts like the last time ...

Last time i bought ‎Zalman Super Thermal Grease ZM-STG1 (3.5g)‎
i applies all the bottle which is 3.5g ... and then after 2-3 months ... i noticed that there was a leak to my CPU slot on the the motherboard between the pins ..

im getting the Antec Silver 5 ... do i have to put all the bottle or just 3/4 or 1/2 ?

Thanks
 
you put 3.5g on one CPU? seriously?

On to the point of the post a very small sized drop is more than enough. Maybe the size of a few grains of rice. You could get away with less if you manually spread it onto the CPU/HSF prior to installing the HSF, perhaps a single grain of rice sized amount but if you are going to rely on the pressure of the HSF to spread it out i would use a little more.
 
Rifterut said:
you put 3.5g on one CPU? seriously?

On to the point of the post a very small sized drop is more than enough. Maybe the size of a few grains of rice. You could get away with less if you manually spread it onto the CPU/HSF prior to installing the HSF, perhaps a single grain of rice sized amount but if you are going to rely on the pressure of the HSF to spread it out i would use a little more.
Click to expand...

Ye seriously im afraid ....
Okey .. so i will put the amount you saied , but ... should i spread it with old credit card or something ? or its risky ? (I will be applying on the CPU only ... not on the HSF)
 
a CC works fine to spread it thats what i usually use. You just need enough on there to fill the small ridges in the metal, not enough to cover the whole surface. If you see it seeping out of the edges you have used to much.
 
Half a pea-sized blob in the middle and your sorted!

Applying thermal paste used to be the scariest thing for me to do. If your slightly compulsive its not easy. Im actually considering reapplying the paste on my CPU because I used some generic paste and found a tube of OCZ Freeze in my room 🙁

Kai.
 
TemjinGold said:
I don't know if I would recommend a CC. I use a cotton ball to spread gently.
Click to expand...

and you don't get cotton fibers stuck in it?

a credit card gives a rather uniform and thin layer.

a razor blade would be even better. though might scrape off too much
 
I've found the difference between just laying down a rice-grain sized trail and actually taking 10-15 minutes to spread it out with a scalpel results in a temperature difference of at most 2-3 degrees under load.

Unless you're a benchmark-crazed hardcore overclocker, a grain of rice in the center of the chip and you're done.
 
Remember, the point of thermal paste is to maximize the metal surface to surface contact areas of the heat sink and the CPU. You want a small amount (such as pea sized) just enough to cover the die, and no more.
 
I noticed with some coolers like the Hyper 212+ you need a little more to fill in the voids of the heatpipes. I make (2) .75" narrow lines towards each end with a little dab in the center. It always seems to have good results.
 
Well thanks guys ..
i bought my new rig ...
i used just a pea-sized blob without CC or any thing ..
my 2600K temp with MINI Fan speed 28C Idle ...
i didnt try the Prime95 ;O afraid .. haha
its could be 50C max with full load ..

And im more than happy 😀 2600k and GTX570 , Super fast PC 😀
Here i come BF3 😀
 
SLK said:
I noticed with some coolers like the Hyper 212+ you need a little more to fill in the voids of the heatpipes. I make (2) .75" narrow lines towards each end with a little dab in the center. It always seems to have good results.
Click to expand...
There is no need for that.

I did not do that and my Phenom II does not exceed 50C when highly overclocked.

Less is more with thermal paste.

Put on a small rice grain sized drop, then spread it using your seran-wrapped finger. It's like putting on a thin coat of paint.
 
SickBeast said:
There is no need for that.

I did not do that and my Phenom II does not exceed 50C when highly overclocked.

Less is more with thermal paste.

Put on a small rice grain sized drop, then spread it using your seran-wrapped finger. It's like putting on a thin coat of paint.
Click to expand...



Great but I have not had any issues with how I used the thermal paste but I am using Ceramique and that stuff is really hard to spread. If I put a little pea size in the middle, I will end up with a smashed blob in the middle.
 
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