How To Correctly Apply Thermal Grease

[danielwritesback]

Originally Posted by [Bob]

I don`t know about the correct way of applying thermal grease to single exposed die CPU`s ( like those AMD`s ) but the way you described for Intel processors with heatspreaders is pretty wrong. The correct way is to put a small amount of thermal grease on the heatspreader exactly on top of the die as the heat goes mostly right thru the heatspreader and is less important to have the heatspreader covered edge-to-edge or having a small circle of tim on the cpu.

Also casanova was right. It is best if you prepare your heatsink too by applying a small amount of thermal grease and then rub the surface with a lint-free cloth ( glass cleaning cloth ). This way all the microscopic valleys in the heatsink surface are filled too.

I attached an image to better understand what I`m saying. Also this is a good tutorial if you want to know what TIM`s are out there and how to use them.

Cheers !

For white compounds, the "blob and squish" shown is workable, after the CPU is in the socket.

Its the thicker compounds that need a bit more elegant application. Conductive (usually gray color) compounds need a "just right" amount because you don't want to squish it beyond the CPU.

In your link, Artic Ceramique (GC Waldham Type 44 is an economical and similar substitute), won the CPU competition because its fillers are thin and because their CPU heatsink had a smooth copper surface.

Likewise Artic Silver won the GPU competition because its fillers are thicker, they're metal, and the GPU heatsink had a rough aluminum surface.

Thanks for the interesting link!

P.S.
That older Athlon Socket A cpu can be most easily cooled with a graceless blob of Artic Ceramic and a smoothly copper bottom CPU cooler to match.
If the cooler is aluminum on bottom, then carefully follow the directions for applying Artic Silver and proceed cautiously because it is conductive.