If you aren’t sure, put the CPU in its socket and screw in the heat sink. Unscrew it and check if the cpu is mostly covered up in thermal paste
aTacoThatGames
Test, screw in the heat sink and screw it back off to see, best solution to be 100% certain
chanunnaki
I’d go for about 20-25% more and make it more oval than round to account for the shape of the CPU
Independent-Jump8493
Why are you holding the cpu with paste on it?
Sudden-Anybody-6677
Spread it out with a credit card to see if it’s enough to cover the area.
SherLocK-55
Just put a little bit more than that and it will be fine, don’t overthink it.
Chriz_Chrone
Btw, dont let the thermalpaste be exposed to air for too long, basically the time it took for you to take that picture and upload it with anything to it would be enough for some thermalpaste kinds to start losing on viscosity or becoming brittle even. Otherwise what others said: Apply Thermalpaste on the cpu, put into socket and screw on the cooler, then screw it off again and check if theres no air bubbles or shit, then undo all, make sure theres no rest of it, and then put it on freshly in an amount thats fitting.
Ryziek
switching from crack cocaine paste to thermal paste.
Didn’t Gamers Nexus do a whole thing and basically you can’t go wrong with too much paste if you’re using non conductive paste? They found that spreading it out to cover the whole heat spreader works best.
ElectriCole
Yes now just spread evenly on there like marmite toast
Just use a spatula, plastic card and ensure full coverage.
RafaFTP
Why does no one spread the paste? Am I the only one?
Kryavan
Take a card and try to spread it. If it doesn’t reach the edges, you need more.
Cristi63014
Thanks everyone, managed to apply it with no problems, see y’all on the game!
Boogertwilliams
Sure. “The size of a pea” more or less
Xcissors280
Plus or X is better because CPUs are bigger now, also it spreads better
mayoroftittieciti
You can use CTRL – V for this. Ur welcome.
Zeddie-
I do the dot method back when the dies were open, but for a large IHS, I’d probably do an X pattern now, or at least spread thin with the edge of a card.
27 Comments
Yeah
If you aren’t sure, put the CPU in its socket and screw in the heat sink. Unscrew it and check if the cpu is mostly covered up in thermal paste
Test, screw in the heat sink and screw it back off to see, best solution to be 100% certain
I’d go for about 20-25% more and make it more oval than round to account for the shape of the CPU
Why are you holding the cpu with paste on it?
Spread it out with a credit card to see if it’s enough to cover the area.
Just put a little bit more than that and it will be fine, don’t overthink it.
Btw, dont let the thermalpaste be exposed to air for too long, basically the time it took for you to take that picture and upload it with anything to it would be enough for some thermalpaste kinds to start losing on viscosity or becoming brittle even. Otherwise what others said: Apply Thermalpaste on the cpu, put into socket and screw on the cooler, then screw it off again and check if theres no air bubbles or shit, then undo all, make sure theres no rest of it, and then put it on freshly in an amount thats fitting.
switching from crack cocaine paste to thermal paste.
🤜🤛
Pea size was the norm for the longest time. These days though, with how big some CPUs have gotten physically, it may be wise to follow the advised pattern. [This image](https://s3-eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/euc-cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/101029354952/original/io3iz0Wohp8cClTEs3VznbHgZtgTCjtOyw.png?1662038041) is an example from Noctua, and [this table](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61e0c31112c8bd0c91387bea/4d606141-91e4-4b47-acc7-cbcce88061c3/EN.png) shows the various temps for various applications, from [this article](https://koolingmonster.com/insights/what-is-the-best-thermal-paste-pattern-actual-performance-comparison). Main idea behind the patterns is to ensure the die and hotspots are covered. The idea to apply, bolt on your cooler, and take it off again, to see the spread pattern, is definitely a good one. Another one could be to spread it out with a tool, or to apply pressure with a small piece of glass, so you can see the spread action live. Many ways to do this the right way, in any case.
Didn’t Gamers Nexus do a whole thing and basically you can’t go wrong with too much paste if you’re using non conductive paste? They found that spreading it out to cover the whole heat spreader works best.
Yes now just spread evenly on there like marmite toast
No
[LTT about paste application](https://youtu.be/r2MEAnZ3swQ?si=nhfWFvW08TQ2kHc-)
Might be a little on the heavy side, but it should be fine.
Dont be shy, put a bit more on there mate
Why did I read it as “pasta” 🤦♀️
​
https://i.redd.it/o82px79rd7tb1.gif
Too much
Just use a spatula, plastic card and ensure full coverage.
Why does no one spread the paste? Am I the only one?
Take a card and try to spread it. If it doesn’t reach the edges, you need more.
Thanks everyone, managed to apply it with no problems, see y’all on the game!
Sure. “The size of a pea” more or less
Plus or X is better because CPUs are bigger now, also it spreads better
You can use CTRL – V for this. Ur welcome.
I do the dot method back when the dies were open, but for a large IHS, I’d probably do an X pattern now, or at least spread thin with the edge of a card.