I spread it around with a little piece of cardboard like buttering a slice of bread. Not so much that it oozes out the sides of course.
sli79999
Only issue is the installation of the heatsink can vary. a few degrees off, less and more pressure.. one thing we can agree on is always remove the plastic film….
Trivo3
I do 5. out of principle, but it really shouldn’t matter that much for IHS application, as long as you put enough of a blob for it to spread.
LeMegachonk
The ambient room temp was 30 degrees C and that was controlled conditions? What kind of room were they testing this in? A sauna?
BeerGogglesFTW
IIRC, #4 is supposed to be the best.
However, I still do #5. I don’t have confidence to do #4 thinking I’m using too much or too little.
Takeasmoke
i do either 2 or 4, so far only one r5 2600x had thermal issues but turns out the fan part of stock cooler was loose and when replaced temps were fine
golddilockk
it’s always X.
degencoombrain
I bet you one of the cores on #4 is sizzling.
Dami_CTB
Team #5 Spread, I have an old credit card just for that
Fgxynz
Happy face
Silver_Harvest
Entire tube Squeezed out on it. To be safe and not wasteful.
​
Really I do an X with small dot in middle of each quadrant as well. For me hasn’t over flowed at all yet.
MrTechSavvy
I do one line down the middle, works best imo at least for modern Intel CPUs as they are rectangular
Ult1mateN00B
Always done the spread.
Ancient-Sweet9863
I spread since it guarantees you get 100% coverage
HyperMazino
Y’all make things overcomplicated.
It’s really not that big of a deal.
EpicBattleMage
I got 5 on it!
datboi11029
X on cpu, full spread on gpu
Ancient-Sweet9863
I spread for the best coverage. It makes everything is nicely covered
Ancient-Sweet9863
I spread for the best coverage. It makes everything is nicely covered
RentonZero
I try to do a X but always mess up and end up just wiping the shit everywhere. Never had a problem with thermals yet lol
wogolfatthefool
I do a dot in the middle and a square around.
Necessary_Sun_4392
I actually do the cross so that’s good. Whos results are these? Link? Other specs?
Vigiance
Cross and dots on each space for me
shredmasterJ
i still use the BB method. i just do a bigger BB now for these new hotter chips. no thermal issue.
rtarb93
Man I just kinda blob some on there in a lil dollop about the size of a pea. Sometimes more. Things stay cool. It works. I don’t overthink it.
op4arcticfox
X with dots in the gaps. Might not be great but it’s been good enough for me for the last 4 builds.
bravetwig
Did they normalize so that the same amount of thermal paste was used in each test and all that was varying was the shape applied?
Also only measuring to a single degree of accuracy?
32 Comments
Last one smooth
X gets the Square!
I spread it around with a little piece of cardboard like buttering a slice of bread. Not so much that it oozes out the sides of course.
Only issue is the installation of the heatsink can vary. a few degrees off, less and more pressure.. one thing we can agree on is always remove the plastic film….
I do 5. out of principle, but it really shouldn’t matter that much for IHS application, as long as you put enough of a blob for it to spread.
The ambient room temp was 30 degrees C and that was controlled conditions? What kind of room were they testing this in? A sauna?
IIRC, #4 is supposed to be the best.
However, I still do #5. I don’t have confidence to do #4 thinking I’m using too much or too little.
i do either 2 or 4, so far only one r5 2600x had thermal issues but turns out the fan part of stock cooler was loose and when replaced temps were fine
it’s always X.
I bet you one of the cores on #4 is sizzling.
Team #5 Spread, I have an old credit card just for that
Happy face
Entire tube Squeezed out on it. To be safe and not wasteful.
​
Really I do an X with small dot in middle of each quadrant as well. For me hasn’t over flowed at all yet.
I do one line down the middle, works best imo at least for modern Intel CPUs as they are rectangular
Always done the spread.
I spread since it guarantees you get 100% coverage
Y’all make things overcomplicated.
It’s really not that big of a deal.
I got 5 on it!
X on cpu, full spread on gpu
I spread for the best coverage. It makes everything is nicely covered
I spread for the best coverage. It makes everything is nicely covered
I try to do a X but always mess up and end up just wiping the shit everywhere. Never had a problem with thermals yet lol
I do a dot in the middle and a square around.
I actually do the cross so that’s good. Whos results are these? Link? Other specs?
Cross and dots on each space for me
i still use the BB method. i just do a bigger BB now for these new hotter chips. no thermal issue.
Man I just kinda blob some on there in a lil dollop about the size of a pea. Sometimes more. Things stay cool. It works. I don’t overthink it.
X with dots in the gaps. Might not be great but it’s been good enough for me for the last 4 builds.
Did they normalize so that the same amount of thermal paste was used in each test and all that was varying was the shape applied?
Also only measuring to a single degree of accuracy?
Thermal paste?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C61Q77B6
My next build, I’m just going with one of those Graphite Thermal Pads. Perfect coverage, no mess.
I usually write my name then do a little smiley face, has always worked for me