Putting ASIII on the HS instead of the Chip - Why does it matter??

[LarryJoe]

Really. Can someone give me a logical reason why it is better to put a thin layer on the heat spreader of the chip instead of putting a thin layer on the bottom of the heatsink?

I can't think why one would be better than the other.

 

[Nate420]

I think the reason they recommend putting the paste on the core, and not on the HS, it because you only need paste at the contact point between the CPU, HS. If you put the paste on the HS instead, you'd end up wasting your AS3(or whatever)by spreading it on areas of the HS that won't be touching the core.

That's my reasoning anyway

 

[Beaner]

Actually, you want it on both.

You put it on the HS, rub it in with a plastic bag on your finger, then wipe it off.
This fills in any microscopic "cracks" or "holes" that are on the surface of the HS.

Then you put the thin layer on the cpu (heatspreader).

They explain it very well

here.