Replacing CPU fan and heat sink: Thermal paste/pad question.

Ghot · Jun 4, 2024

Wisewiz said:
How about a small blob (less than pea-size) and a thin X? Cover all of the bases?

There's no need to "cover all bases".
That's why I posted those pics of the delidded CPUs, so you could "see" where the important part is.

Now, on the newer CPUs (AMD and Intel), there's more than one chip or much larger chips under the IHS.
But for the CPUs you have... that's not necessary. It won't help the cooling at all.

The other thing, since you are a non-believer... if any thermal compound leaks out of the sides... clean it up before you turn the computer ON. Use an LED flashlight to make sure you don't miss any.

The Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is non-electrically-conductive, but having it leak out the sides... is NOT a good thing.

antspants · Jun 4, 2024

Just use the pad, dan.

antspants · Jun 4, 2024

If you use paste, after the application of the heatsink, clean around the CPU (carefully) with a cotton bud/s dipped in isopropyl alcohol and then dabbed on a tissue so as to remove heavy amounts of the isopropyl alcohol, like excess drips.

You’ve got this, you’ve done it before.

Wisewiz · Jun 4, 2024

Yep. G’night, mate!

Wisewiz · Jun 4, 2024

I had no idea this (simple?) query would generate so many responses. Thank you all. Let’s put it to bed, shall we? G’night.

antspants · Jun 4, 2024

Wisewiz said:
I had no idea this (simple?) query would generate so many responses. Thank you all. Let’s put it to bed, shall we? G’night.

And one more thing…

glasskuter · Jun 5, 2024

Wait! I want my turn.
I know when I say this some will chastise me, but I use the smear method, covering the entire area paper thin but leaving room around the edges so the thermal compound won't seep out under pressure. I use a cut-up credit card sized for the job. I spend a lot of time getting it just right.
I've used Arctic Silver for years but when I run out I'm going to try Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut

I've tried all the other methods...peaball. the X, 5 dots.When I would remove it, I just didn't like the way the surface was covered. I'm kind of OCD about it, why I don't know as I've never had a cpu overheat. But I have removed the heat sink on a lot of OEM machines and the way the factory applies the paste is a joke. A single blob in the middle that covers less than half of the surface. And that blob is always hard as a rock.

XxXxX · Jun 5, 2024

i can second that 'Thermal Grizzly' CPU/GPU thermal pad expensive but its reusable.
when i upgraded our 2 AiO desktops i used that on both AMD systems.
easy to use and knocked about 10 degree's of the temp under normal running .. but i also have 'turbo boost' disabled as well ..

Ghot · Jun 5, 2024

Back in the day, Arctic Silver was king. But... it "cures" (gets hard).
Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut is a "grease". It never cures, never gets hard.

The Thermal Grizzly Carbonaut pad sounds interesting...

Thermal Grizzly Carbonaut Thermal Pads

Carbonaut thermal pads made of durable carbon fiber with specially developed polymer for high flexibility and "soft gap filler" properties.

www.thermal-grizzly.com

It does conduct electricity, so the right size is necessary, so it doesn't hang out the side anywhere.

Porthos · Jun 5, 2024

Ghot said:
It never cures, never gets hard.

glasskuter · Jun 5, 2024

Ghot said:
But... it "cures" (gets hard).

I've never had Arctic Silver harden on me but it may be because it's never on there long enough to get hard. As I said, I'm OCD when it comes to my computers but a bit lazy when it comes to everything else. At least once every 2 years or so I do a complete tear down to clean everything and apply new thermal paste. I know it's a bit overkill, but it's my thing. I am getting better at controlling it now that I'm old-er.

PerpetualCycle · Jun 5, 2024

Ghot said:
IMO, the blob is better.... but geeks have been arguing about which pattern is best, for 30 years. LOL

The only thing you have to "cover" is the area of the chip under the Integrated Heat Spreader (the hat).

That is not completely accurate. It is call a heat spreader because that is what it does. Take the heat from the area of the CPU die and spread it out. Though the area right over the die needs to be well covered by the paste, performance will be better if the whole surface of the integrated heat sink is covered.

On some coolers, spreading a uniform layer of the paste works better than a blob or pattern. I have found this to be especially true with AIO water coaling cold plates.

PerpetualCycle · Jun 5, 2024

glasskuter said:
I've never had Arctic Silver harden on me but it may be because it's never on there long enough to get hard. As I said, I'm OCD when it comes to my computers but a bit lazy when it comes to everything else. At least once every 2 years or so I do a complete tear down to clean everything and apply new thermal paste. I know it's a bit overkill, but it's my thing. I am getting better at controlling it now that I'm old-er.

This usually happens because of a process called "pump out". The paste around the edge of the cooler's cold-plate dries out from evaporation and the moisture starts diffusing out from the inside eventually leading to a dried paste. Pump-out rate is dependent on how hot the CPU runs. Also, some paste is more susceptible to pump-out. And the impact on performance from this also varies by the paste. Some of the better performing pastes are more susceptible to pump-out.

The paste I currently use is Noctua NT-H2. It doesn't pump out much but also provides very good performance in terms of heat conduction.

PerpetualCycle · Jun 5, 2024

XxXxX said:
i can second that 'Thermal Grizzly' CPU/GPU thermal pad expensive but its reusable.
when i upgraded our 2 AiO desktops i used that on both AMD systems.
easy to use and knocked about 10 degree's of the temp under normal running .. but i also have 'turbo boost' disabled as well ..

I have one of these. Have you reused one? I have heard that reuse is a bit of a sham, that it actually falls apart. I am still on my first use though. I will probably replace it with paste though. I bought along with the 13900ks CPU as to not have a paste mess if I had to return the CPU. I will probably replace it with paste.

It conducts heat pretty well (running 5.7GHz/4.4GHz p/e all core ) but not as well as paste. If it cannot be reused it is not worth the cost and the performance loss.

PerpetualCycle · Jun 5, 2024

Ghot said:
The Kryonaut thermal paste was specially developed for the extremely demanding applications and the highest demands of the overlocking community. Kryonaut is also recommended as a top product for critical cooling systems in the industrial sector.

Especially for overclocking
Excellent thermal conductivity
No curing
High long-term stability
Not electrically conductive

Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste - 1.0 Gram - Newegg.com

Buy Thermal Grizzly Kryonaut Thermal Grease Paste - 1.0 Gram with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.ca

I used to use that. But it pumps out quickly, and temperatures start to rise, if your CPU runs hot. In that case it needs to be replaced more frequently

hdmi · Jun 5, 2024

Tom's Hardware published another shootout only 2 weeks ago:

Best Thermal Paste for CPUs 2025: Over 50 Compounds Tested and Ranked

The right thermal paste will improve performance.

www.tomshardware.com

jvickers · Jun 5, 2024

Wisewiz said:
How about a small blob (less than pea-size) and a thin X? Cover all of the bases?

I'd go with one or the other. You don't want an excess of thermal paste, or it won't allow the CPU to cool as efficiently.

Wisewiz · Jun 5, 2024

jvickers said:
I'd go with one or the other. You don't want an excess of thermal paste, or it won't allow the CPU to cool as efficiently.

If I use the pea-sized blob, do I need to use the spatula they send with these things, or just carefully seat the (clean) new heat sink and adjust the bolts?

jvickers · Jun 5, 2024

hdmi said:
Tom's Hardware published another shootout only 2 weeks ago:

Best Thermal Paste for CPUs 2025: Over 50 Compounds Tested and Ranked

The right thermal paste will improve performance.

www.tomshardware.com

That has an excellent diagram of the CPU hotspot. It makes sense why a pea-sized dot would work effectively.

jvickers · Jun 5, 2024

Wisewiz said:
If I use the pea-sized blob, do I need to use the spatula they send with these things, or just carefully seat the (clean) new heat sink and adjust the bolts?

You'd just carefully seat the new heat sink and adjust the bolts.

Replacing CPU fan and heat sink: Thermal paste/pad question.

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