What's the best way to apply thermal interface material?

[goofyballer]

I'm using a Xigmatek S-1283 with Arctic Silver 5 and a Q9450. According to the instructions on AS' website, the best way to apply the TIM is to make a single horizontal line across the CPU's heat spreader, such that when the heatsink is pressed down it spreads the TIM out into an oval shape.

However, the S1283's instruction manual says to spread the included TIM evenly over the whole surface of the heatsink - is this likely specific to their crappy material or would it apply to the AS5 also?

Another interesting fact is that the HSF has three heatpipes which run horizontally across the processor. As a result of using the AS5 instructions, the heatpipes on the top and bottom don't really have much TIM on their surface at all. For those of you that use this heatsink, would it be better to rotate it 90 degrees (I'm assuming the mounting holes form a square such that the HSF can be mounted in either direction?) so that all three heatpipes contact the CPU surface perpendicular to the direction that the AS5 was applied in?

 

[MadScientist]

This article maybe helpful.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Follow manufactures suggested method.

 

[aigomorla]

Originally posted by: MadScientist
This article maybe helpful.

very nice.

from the looks, apply on the sink and not the CPU.

My best advice is do the 2 lines because all the heat pipes are covered.

Covering the silver ALU part is pointless, You want pressure and contact on those heat pipes.