How to apply artic silver 5 paste?

[CommonTater]

I've had a tube of AS5 sealed in a plastic bag, for over a year. I used a 'pea-sized' amount on my last build, and its been in that bag ever since.

How long will the AS5 be good to use?

As long as it's still in the tube the storage life is probably measured in centuries.

 

[Mombodog]

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

And rice doesn't?

Is that long grain rice?

; -)

.

 

[jasin]

I'm sorry, but honestly,, I have to reiterate, that there is absolutely not one single solitary reason in the entire universe's of all that have existed or will ever exist to use your fingers or a card or anything else of any imagination when applying Arctic Silver 5.

However, one can apply it any way they like, it's really a waste of time and effort though.
And this may not be true for all pastes, cause there is a lot of pastes out there that just plain suck.

They are not all equal, and AS5 beats them all.

It is up there with the best, but it does not beat them all.

Tuniq TX-2

http://www.innovationcooling.com/overview.htm

 

[jasin]

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

And rice doesn't?

Is that long grain rice?

; -)

.

lol

 

[CommonTater]

I'm sorry, but honestly,, I have to reiterate, that there is absolutely not one single solitary reason in the entire universe's of all that have existed or will ever exist to use your fingers or a card or anything else of any imagination when applying Arctic Silver 5.

However, one can apply it any way they like, it's really a waste of time and effort though.
And this may not be true for all pastes, cause there is a lot of pastes out there that just plain suck.

They are not all equal, and AS5 beats them all.

It is up there with the best, but it does not beat them all.

Tuniq TX-2

Innovation Cooling Overview

Don't get sucked in by short term tests done on review websites...
AND... especially not those quoted in the manufacturer's advertising.

Does this stuff hold it's temperature over time... like 6 months to a year?

As pointed out with the Toothpaste article, there are lots and lots of thermal compounds --including sandwich spreads-- that can lick the pants off AS5 for the 20 minutes required for testing... But these things go through heat catalysed changes over time and very often the "big gains" (2 degrees? LOL) disappear outright in the first month after application.

I worry about 2 things with thermal compounds...

1) Is the chip operated within it's thermal safety limits?
2) Does the compound hold it's characteristic up over time.

I could not care less what the actual temperature is... Heck that's going to change with room temperature anyway... everything runs hotter on a hot day, my friend.

Spending all your hard earned cash for 1 and 2 degree differences is a fool's errand at best.

One of the reasons Zinc Oxide paste is still around, after all these years, is that after it's initial curing phase, it will last for decades.

 

[MadMaxData]

Wow, many opinions on how to apply it. Here's mine: Plop a blob in the middle of the CPU, then spread it out evenly with an old credit card. Carefully install heatsink with even pressure. Done.

 

[Mombodog]

Go with AS 5, no BS, just works.

 

[jasin]

I'm sorry, but honestly,, I have to reiterate, that there is absolutely not one single solitary reason in the entire universe's of all that have existed or will ever exist to use your fingers or a card or anything else of any imagination when applying Arctic Silver 5.

However, one can apply it any way they like, it's really a waste of time and effort though.
And this may not be true for all pastes, cause there is a lot of pastes out there that just plain suck.

They are not all equal, and AS5 beats them all.

It is up there with the best, but it does not beat them all.

Tuniq TX-2

Innovation Cooling Overview

Don't get sucked in by short term tests done on review websites...
AND... especially not those quoted in the manufacturer's advertising.

Does this stuff hold it's temperature over time... like 6 months to a year?

As pointed out with the Toothpaste article, there are lots and lots of thermal compounds --including sandwich spreads-- that can lick the pants off AS5 for the 20 minutes required for testing... But these things go through heat catalysed changes over time and very often the "big gains" (2 degrees? LOL) disappear outright in the first month after application.

I worry about 2 things with thermal compounds...

1) Is the chip operated within it's thermal safety limits?
2) Does the compound hold it's characteristic up over time.

I could not care less what the actual temperature is... Heck that's going to change with room temperature anyway... everything runs hotter on a hot day, my friend.

Spending all your hard earned cash for 1 and 2 degree differences is a fool's errand at best.

One of the reasons Zinc Oxide paste is still around, after all these years, is that after it's initial curing phase, it will last for decades.

Don't get sucked in by marketing and popularity.

 

[SLeePYG72786]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appmeth/int/vl/intel_app_method_vertical_line_v1.1.pdf

Bottom of page 3, and I quote: "Important: Keep the surface free of foreign materials and do NOT touch the surface after it has been cleaned. A hair, piece of lint, and even dead skin cells can significantly affect the thermal interface's performance. Oils from your fingers can adversely affect the performance by preventing the micronized silver or ceramic fill from directly contacting the metal surfaces. (Fingerprints can be as thick as 0.005")" <~~~ 5 thousandths of an inch.

Therefore, do NOT use your fingers in any way for applying AS5.

I am not intending to troll around the forums or anything, but I do have a desire for others to be properly informed.