Liquid Metal for thermal compound -- what a nightmare

[BoboKatt]

I actually used the Liquid Metal on my CPU and it was simply a nightmare. I had no idea it moved like that. Just a small fluctuation in how I was holding my board and the stuff ran all over the place. It went on down in the CPU socket and even on the board itself. No amount of cleaning or using compressed air could clean it all out. result? New and DEAD eVGA 680i mobo. Now I am so worried that the mess it caused inside my cpu socket actually fried my new e6600 as well. Crossing fingers.

Anyhow +1 for AC5 or really reading up and knowing what you are doing BEFORE you use Liquid Metal instead of a normal thermal compound.

 

[Conky]

Wow, that sucks. I would use Radio Shack $1.89 thermal paste before Liquid Metal... yikes, what were you thinking? :shocked:

 

[BoboKatt]

If I had a way of kicking myself, trust me I would

Yah lesson learned. I simply could not believe it would move like that. Somehow I thought a glob applied would just "sit" there like AC5 waiting for me to lovingly spread it. NOT.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

That Liquid Metal TIM attacks aluminum big time. Sorry for your loss.

Sell the board over at badcaps.net. Those guys will repair or use it for parts.

...Galvanized

 

[Qi]

Any pics of the damage BoboKatt? I guess people will still use that stuff, even after your warning. Pictures say more than a thousand words.

 

[BoboKatt]

The issue is that the material got spread over certain parts of the mobo. Even after cleaning it up and using a air can to see if there is any left, I can still see some hiding here or there. Apparently it shorts the board no mater how hard I try to clean. Also when a very tiny bit got inside the actual CPU socket between the pins on the board, it was for sure game over.

I tried everything to clean between the pins but you can imagine you end up doing more damage in there than if you left it alone. If I only would have used say the compressed air right at the start, I might have at least saved any of the pins being marginally moved.

Anyhow long story, the actual board seems fine -- it's only if you look deep deep using say a lens or magnifying glass, that you see remnants of that crud stuck inside the socket and some film still on my mobo.

I was actually thinking of taking pictures but honestly I can?t seem to magnify close enough to show. Also I don?t really have a before and after to compare. However I am at work and will try again tonight. What a pain

Still I bet some folks will be more careful than I was and will get amazing results. This was my fault and my fault entirely for being reckless and not informed. Just a word of warning really.

 

[RallyMaster]

damn, that sucks. guess i won't need any more warnings of not getting that stuff.

 

[SparkyJJO]

That stuff is dangerous enough (eats aluminum, can permanently bond your CPU and heatsink together) that I can never recommend using it. I can settle with a degree or two difference using AS5 and not having to worry about getting it all over or being stuck with my current heatsink forever.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
That stuff is dangerous enough (eats aluminum, can permanently bond your CPU and heatsink together) that I can never recommend using it. I can settle with a degree or two difference using AS5 and not having to worry about getting it all over or being stuck with my current heatsink forever.

I've even given up on the Arctic Silver and use "Arctic Cooling MX-1" exclusively now. It says right on the package Not electrical conductive and Not capacitive and No metal particles. Plus it works better... how you gonna beat that combo?

 

[Howard]

Boy, whoever allowed the release of a free-flowing electrically conductive thermal compound is a real genius.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: Beachboy
Not electrical conductive and Not capacitive and No metal particles.

This reminds me of something I read at OfficeMax while shipping out a package (DOA RAM :| ). There was a sign listing items that DHL will not accept for shipment. That included any RMA items worth over $100 and any thermal compound with gold or silver particles in it (in addition to other stuff like fur, deeds, lottery tickets, etc.).

 

[CurseTheSky]

I've never been suicidal enough to try the stuff out. The thought of a mercury-like substance (gallium) flowing all over my expensive electronic components wasn't exactly my cup of tea, to say the least.

You'd have to be a hardcore enthusiast willing to sacrifice anything to use it on a regular basis.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Howard
Boy, whoever allowed the release of a free-flowing electrically conductive thermal compound is a real genius.

well what I find amazing is that in the hands of even people who have built a computer or 2 its dangerous stuff. Never assume anything!!!

 

[BladeVenom]

Originally posted by: Howard
Boy, whoever allowed the release of a free-flowing electrically conductive thermal compound is a real genius.

I thik it's a brilliant idea. I was thinking about trying to use a gallium alloy before this stuff came out. It conducts heat way better than any grease ever could.

 

[VooDooAddict]

I might have to try it on an old Socket A system. Stuff sounds wonderfully fun, but too dangerous to use on anything of value (unless you are trying to break and overclocking record). Any links on the best dealers for the stuff?

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: VooDooAddict
I might have to try it on an old Socket A system. Stuff sounds wonderfully fun, but too dangerous to use on anything of value (unless you are trying to break and overclocking record). Any links on the best dealers for the stuff?

Newegg carries this evil stuff.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: Howard
Boy, whoever allowed the release of a free-flowing electrically conductive thermal compound is a real genius.

I thik it's a brilliant idea. I was thinking about trying to use a gallium alloy before this stuff came out. It conducts heat way better than any grease ever could.

Yeah, until you spill it.

 

[VinDSL]

Originally posted by: Beachboy
I've even given up on the Arctic Silver and use "Arctic Cooling MX-1" exclusively now...

Hear! Hear!

Me too! :thumbsup:

MX-1 is the... um... 1

 

[IEC]

Originally posted by: Beachboy

Originally posted by: SparkyJJO
That stuff is dangerous enough (eats aluminum, can permanently bond your CPU and heatsink together) that I can never recommend using it. I can settle with a degree or two difference using AS5 and not having to worry about getting it all over or being stuck with my current heatsink forever.

I've even given up on the Arctic Silver and use "Arctic Cooling MX-1" exclusively now. It says right on the package Not electrical conductive and Not capacitive and No metal particles. Plus it works better... how you gonna beat that combo?

You can't

That's also my thermal compound of choice where safety and longevity are concerned.

For my graphics card and laptop components though, the few degrees improvement with AS5 were worth the risk (next to nil if you know what you're doing...)

 

[Griswold]

:laugh:

 

[Praxis1452]

Originally posted by: Howard

Originally posted by: BladeVenom

Originally posted by: Howard
Boy, whoever allowed the release of a free-flowing electrically conductive thermal compound is a real genius.

I thik it's a brilliant idea. I was thinking about trying to use a gallium alloy before this stuff came out. It conducts heat way better than any grease ever could.

Yeah, until you spill it.

all the reviews for the liquid metal just show that if you just lay the cpu on the table and apply it, it will work fine. Apply to both sides and then just stick them together. I'm not sure why he had it on his motherboard... It's only runny when it's still a bead. Once pressed down with a cotton swab it'll be fine.

 

[ForumMaster]

damn...srry for your loss dude. the 680i boards cost like $400!

 

[mchammer]

ouch. I'm suprised they dont have a way by now to weld the cpu to the heatsink. But I guess if you get one of those tuniq towers and some 120m fans things are good enough anyway.

 

[Butterbean]

I had a guy working at CompUSA try to get me to use that stuff. He said it was better than AS5. But, since he didnt know what a Western Digital Raptor HD was I didn't listen to him.

 

[BoboKatt]

Yah again my bad how I applied it. I had applied the Liquid to the CPU and then kinda bumped the board as I was moving around looking for stuff. I never even noted that it moved that fast and that liquidy. It installing leaked around the CPU and the casing. TO clean it I took the CPU out and BANG some got on the pins. From the housing some leaked on the board and as I had said, when it contacted with the board the feast was over.

Anyhow I should have qualified that I am sure it works amazingly well but not applied properly or from an idiot like me (temporary really), it all went wrong. When you have been working with AC5 and the like for so long I was just not thinking this new material was so volatile.

My last concern now is that I hope I did not fry the CPU as well when I tried to see if after cleaning it would still work. Again the board no longer works but now I am still waiting on getting another one to see if I've damaged the CPU as well -- sigh.

If anyone here uses it... this really brings to front the whole "LESS IS BETTER" or at least for your first attempt and or even try applying it to some piece of metal in your garage just to practice. Next time