How Much Thermal Paste To Use?

[Necrosaro420]

I will be getting my E6600 C2D tommorow. According to the Artic Silver website, it shows that you should put just a pea sized amount in the very center of the cpu.

Is this correct? Ive always been under the impression that you put a very thin layer on the top of the entire cpu? Can someone give some more insight on this? Thanks!

Im using Artic Silver 5

 

[Conky]

You want to use the absolute minimum amount of thermal goop that still allows for contact with the entire top of the cpu to the heatsink/fan.

When using AS5 I usually use a clean credit card and put a super thin layer on the cpu and then position the heatsink without locking it down and then pull it off to check the "footprint" on the heatsink. If it's not making proper contact you will be able to see this and can add and adjust more goop... also, if you have too much it will also be evident at this time and you can remove the excess. Repeat until you have the least goop possible while still getting 100% contact then bolt her down.

 

[Conky]

P.S. I think the Arctic Silver website instructions are designed for noobs who don't build as many systems as I do. Their instructions are good but I believe applying the thin layer and checking for contact to be the foolproof way.

 

[daftpunkit]

Could you prehaps show us an example Beachboy the way you do it with the credit card? I was also looking at the website and was skeptical about the instructions also. (I am about to plop a CPU down too in a few days and I am worried about the AS5 procedure).

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: daftpunkit
Could you prehaps show us an example Beachboy the way you do it with the credit card? I was also looking at the website and was skeptical about the instructions also. (I am about to plop a CPU down too in a few days and I am worried about the AS5 procedure).

Sure, here is a pic of it spread on the heatsink on an older build but the concept is the same. Text

I like to spread a super thin layer on the cpu and then another super thin layer on the heatsink... I can't emphasize thin layer enough... and then mate them together and check the "footprint". I leave nothing to chance with thermal goop because once you figure out how to apply it right that is 95% of the battle.

And for what it's worth, AS-5 is great stuff but I have recently started using Arctic Coolings MX-1 thermal paste and find it to be just as good... plus it's non-conductive and non-capacitive which basically means you can spill it all over your system and it won't short stuff out like the Arctic Silver product. One less thing to worry about and it works really great.