Solved Thermal Paste Question..(Noobish Question)

[osxkid]

Hey guys, I recently purchased Corsair H40 that came with pre applied thermal paste. Before I placed the H40 sink on my processor, I applied a thin layer on the on the processor with Cooler Master thermal paste. So essentially I mixed the H40 pre applied thermal paste with the Cooler Master thermal paste. Once I placedthe sink to the processor I had to do it twice when I realized that their where two pastes. I did not think anything about it so I just mounted back again (Without reapplying a new layer) I have used the system for about 2 days, and i have been getting really good temps, nothing past 40C(Gaming, browsing the web). I have searched the net for some good answers, most people say they dont recommend mixing two pastes, so my question to you guys, Am I OK? Or am I just being overprotective...

Thank you in advance.

 

[Layback Bear]

I have never tried mixing two compounds. The basic rule is to remove all thermal compound before appling new compound. Here is a good site for proper methods and instructions.
Arctic Silver, Inc. - Instructions

 

[linnemeyerhere]

I don't think you are in any immediate danger for sure. But I would remove it all from both surfaces and re-apply with one compound. I like to use a lentil size drop in the center with four small dots in a square around the center blob. The I lightly move the pump on the CPU and then slowly and evenly tighten just barely tight and then wait 5 minutes and do another tighten

 

[osxkid]

Thanks guys, I just removed the compound again and used Arctic Silver 5. I was just nervous about using two compounds and got even more worried about a chemical breakdown that will make the thermal paste useless.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Always best to be safe then sorry. A good quality compound like AS5 will hold up for years.

 

[boogieboy]

Well in real mixing two thermal pastes wont do anything dangerous so nothing's gonna explode or melt down as they carry almost same formula as far as i think only the thickness and colors are a bit different but of course im no science expert so i coulb be wrong but following the proper procedure which you already did by removing and re applying the paste is a good thing. Removing and reapplying pastes are recommended as time passes the coumpond get dry and start to take form of powder and color changes to dark which mostly happened in pentium 4 cpu's after some or several months (depending on which environment you live in hot or cold) and using good pastes like Arctic or Cooler Master etc is also a good idea as they works better and take years to dry. Although if you've recently applied paste which is still wet and applied another paste over it and they got mixed up so its normal. Mixing new paste with dry one is a bad idea where then the theory of removing and reapply comes. Hope it helps understanding

 

[LewisHolcombe]

I mixed 2 pastes once. Didn't change the temps from when it was a single paste.
I7-4ghz 43 c
And it was the same with 2
Yes I overclocked