Windows 7: How to apply artic silver 5 paste?

Hi, don't know if this is the right section but I ordered some of this and should be here this week some time.
I’ve heard different methods online like YouTube and other forums
Is it best to spread it out with something like a credit card, put a little blob in the centre or a line across?
I have an AMD phenom triple core.
Thanks

I'm probably going to get blasted for this, but...

The extremely thin layer you see so much noise about really doesn't give you lasting perfomance from a paste. With Champhor based "phase change" materials it's the way to go but with pastes that tend to creep out of the thermal junctions I just put a big blob in the middle of the chip, smear it around with my finger tip and then tap it out into a smooth, gooey layer, and put on the heatsink. The excess will find it's way out the sides, with no harm done.

I have power transistors and a couple of CPUs that have held their temperatures for years with this method whereas with the ever so careful technique I seemed to be redoing them once or twice a year because the thermal junction would actually dry out.

Also don't forget that pastes go through stages... the temperature will be very low when you first apply them. Then as they dry a little the temperature will creep up for a couple of weeks. Once it all settles in, your temperatures will stabalize somewhere between the coolest and hottest... and they'll stay that way for a long time.

^ x2

I just put a pea sized small blob in the middle of the CPU and let the heat sink application spread it around. Has always worked well for me.

Or you could go straight to the source,

Arctic Silver Incorporated - Route to Product Instructions for Arctic Silver 5

Just pick out your CPU and follow the instructions.

Maximum PC just discussed this. They recommend the small pea sized blob in the center as well. They've done significant testing and found no better option, and on top of that, it is the easiest method as well. I've been doing it this way for about a decade now without issue.

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

I always used the "grain of rice" size. After all, peas come in a variety of sizes.

Without spreading,



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.