How to apply artic silver 5 paste?

F1FAN · 22 Mar 2010

ok thanks people, hopefully my temps will drop.

CommonTater · 22 Mar 2010

F1FAN said:

ok thanks people, hopefully my temps will drop.

Ummmm... how hot was it?

whs · 22 Mar 2010

CommonTater said:

stormy13 said:

Without spreading,

Attachment 62445

The pressure from the heatsink does the spreading.

I do spread it out and I'd use a lot more than your picture shows...

The reason I spread it is that you can't count on exactly even pressure from the heat sink, until it's settled and you might get hot spots on the chip.

But yea... it's all good.

I do the same because after all, peas come in different sizes and I would be afraid of the excess splattering all over.

DeaconFrost · 22 Mar 2010

whs said:

Do you mean pea size in the middle with or without spreading?

Always always without spreading. If you let the HSF do the spreading, you are guaranteed to get good contact between both surfaces. If you spread it thin, you have no way of knowing.

I think some people are overthinking this process. Put a small bead in the center of the processor, install the HSF, and go on with building the system.

michaelst · 22 Mar 2010

If you do decide to spread it out a little... Put your finger inside a plastic baggie. Thermal paste is a bitch to get off your hands.

CommonTater · 22 Mar 2010

DeaconFrost said:

I think some people are overthinking this process. Put a small bead in the center of the processor, install the HSF, and go on with building the system.

LOL... It's not like I spend an hour at it...

Apply blob to center, spread quickly with finger, just to make sure there's greas over the entire top surface... install heatsink...

Probably took you as long to read this as I spend on it.

F1FAN · 22 Mar 2010

well i have removed the heat sinc a few times to clean and that had ruined the paste that came with the computer so it gets to 40c now when on internet and things and 37 when idle when it used to be on 34c and about 36 when doing things. anything above 39 the fans start to get loud.
Im selling the pc soon and dont want to sell a noisy pc.

stormy13 · 22 Mar 2010

michaelst said:

If you do decide to spread it out a little... Put your finger inside a plastic baggie. Thermal paste is a bitch to get off your hands.

That and the oil from your skin can help with the paste breaking down.

F1FAN said:

well i have removed the heat sinc a few times to clean and that had ruined the paste that came with the computer so it gets to 40c now when on internet and things and 37 when idle when it used to be on 34c and about 36 when doing things. anything above 39 the fans start to get loud.
Im selling the pc soon and dont want to sell a noisy pc.

Hope you didn't re-install the heatsink without re-applying fresh paste.

F1FAN · 22 Mar 2010

yeah i did

now i know lol, i didnt really get into computer building till about a few months ago.

Tepid · 22 Mar 2010

Yeah,, you always want to clean the two surfaces with Rubbing Alcohol and something soft, not abrasive, to clean them really good, then let it dry or blow on it till it evaporates, to get any oils from fingers, or old paste, etc off. Then put the amount of Arctic Silver 5 you need (small amount will due) and don't touch it. When you place the heat sink on, you give a slight twist in both directions without pressing too hard, let the weight of the sink due the work. Then secure it down.
The heat from the processor and the pressure from the heatsink will spread it out evenly.

Yes, people are over doing it and over thinking it. Plus keep in mind that the paste will cure over time and spread where it needs to to fill in all the gaps. I have been doing it for decades and never had a single problem. There is no need, nor do you want to touch it and/or spread it out, you do not want foreign matter of any kind, including oils from your fingers interfering with the paste's properties.

Also,, you do not want to put too little, nor too much. The pea size people mention is about the size of a green pea. or well roughly that size.

Also read the link provided above from Arctic Silver for correct amounts. You can't go wrong with their suggestions.