Used way too much thermal paste

Pieloi · 03 Dec 2009

This isn't that important, all it is is that I'm worried.
It was my first time round putting thermal paste onto a cpu, and i sort of used an entire 3.5g syringe of arctic silver 5 underneath a zalman9700.

Yes some did come over the sides, wiped it off, I'm guessing there is a layer inbetween the cpu and the fan now. (maybe even an air bubble)

Temps on a q6600@ 2.8GHZ, fan RPM 1500, 28C per core, 42C on load.
Since arctic silver takes 200 hours to set in, does anyone know what the effects be during that time and after ?

Can anyone estimate how much hotter the temperatures are (compared to if I didn't smother the cpu in paste) ?
And really is there any risks or future problems that could happen ?

Overall nothing seems to be too problematic, but then again, there might be, thats why I'm asking.

torrentg · 03 Dec 2009

Yeah, that's not too good there.

You only need a very thin layer. As long as it covers, thinner the better.

Anything more will cause unnecessary heat. A whole syringe could cause cpu failure from too much heat, in the future.

Pieloi · 03 Dec 2009

It's only been there for a day or two, I have some thermal remover if its possibly to actually take the fan off and scoop a little out, I guess I can check, but I don't know If it will have solidified already. (that would possibly be during the 200 hours..)

torrentg · 03 Dec 2009

You can always remove the paste no matter how long. Use a dry paper towel and q-tips. Be very gentle.

Pieloi · 03 Dec 2009

Thanks for the help", I'll be sorting this out tomorrow.

ignatzatsonic · 03 Dec 2009

Look here for how to, direct from Arctic Silver:

Arctic Silver, Inc. - Instructions

For a quad core, here is the pic of what you should have done. The red line represents the line of paste:

Qdos · 03 Dec 2009

It's worth bearing in mind that Artic Ceramiqué does not set quite as hard as Artic Silver, yet offers excellent thermal conductance - and it's also easier to squeeze from the syringe.

If you get excess thermal grease onto electrical contacts you should gently and very carefully clean it off with a little rubbing alcohol, since it has some electrical conductivity and capacitance properties.

Pieloi · 04 Dec 2009

Overall, since the fan is mounted on a bracket, when the fan was tightened onto the cpu, it squashed out the excess compound, basically there is a very fine layer in there now, which is in a big square across the entire cpu, although its supposed to be a nice circle, i doubt this will make too much a serious problem.

there was actually loads of excess at the sides, which i cleaned off, although now, temperatures are now 1 Celsius higher than they were before, but I guess I'm just imagining this, or thats due to any air which is now in the solvent.

Atleast I and maybe some other on looker hath learned =p