Thermal Paste and How To Use It

djbbenn · Nov 21, 2005, 01:07 PM

To read this article go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/134

TooFast · Feb 28, 2006, 07:04 PM

will polishing the heatsink to a mirror shine make a difference???

Feb 28, 2006, 07:13 PM

Great Work! Beautiful pictures and i love the way you designed your guide as well. Unfortunately, i've been using thermal compound and cleaning materials for over 3 years now on my processors, video card's core, and chipset. So this is just a review for me really, thanks!

djbbenn · Feb 28, 2006, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TooFast

will polishing the heatsink to a mirror shine make a difference???

It can and it can't... With a mirror finish, it usually means you have lapped the heatsink very well and it's very flat. So it's extremly easy to put too much thermal paste on. It has it's advantages and disadvantages. Try checking the lapping article out.

Big thanks too Urlyin and W1zzard for most of the pictures.

-Dan

Urlyin · Feb 28, 2006, 09:03 PM

Nicely done Dan ...

wazzledoozle · Feb 28, 2006, 10:42 PM

Heh I never though about the fact that the IHS covers a core when I covered my sempron in AS5. I spent like 15 minutes getting a perfect thin layer over the whole thing

djbbenn · Mar 1, 2006, 01:21 AM

That's why it's called a heat spreader Wazz... lol

-Dan

Polaris573 · Mar 1, 2006, 02:07 AM

I've always used 90% Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning. Now that I'm at college I have access to 100% Pure Methanol. I've been wondering how well that would work. Any thoughts?

djbbenn · Mar 1, 2006, 12:10 PM

I'm not sure about methanol... never even had any before. As long as it completely evaporates and leaves no residue, it should be fine.

90% Isopropyl is great, I use 99%, but it's not very easy to get. If you clean a lot, the ArctiClean is the best.

-Dan

pentastar111 · Oct 31, 2006, 02:02 AM

very nice job in this thread. Informative an precise. @ thumbs up!

DaMulta · Oct 31, 2006, 02:21 AM

Finally someone makes a thread on how this is done. I had to learn the hard way, and **** up a card in the doing it

Edit:I see it was a while back, still good info in it.

DaMulta · Oct 31, 2006, 02:22 AM

You need to add a GPU for your guide. I'm out of AS5 or I would do it.

djbbenn · Oct 31, 2006, 02:30 AM

GPU is the same as a bare die. Just spread the paste as even as you can get it, and slap the sink on.

-Dan

DaMulta · Oct 31, 2006, 03:02 AM

I know it is, but most people don't/

ARTOSOFT · Oct 31, 2006, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaMulta

I know it is, but most people don't/

I know

.

When you make a mistake applying thermal paste, you always can correct it by remove the heatsink, clean it, applied (the correct way) thermal paste.

Regards,
Arto.

strick94u · Nov 1, 2006, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polaris573

I've always used 90% Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning. Now that I'm at college I have access to 100% Pure Methanol. I've been wondering how well that would work. Any thoughts?

methanol is corrosive I use 3m tape remover it totally drys leaveing nothing but clean, its used in the automotive field to remove tape and grease b4 painting.great artical as allways

tkpenalty · Dec 23, 2006, 02:24 AM

Is pure whitish thermal paste ceramic?

djbbenn · Dec 23, 2006, 03:16 AM

Hard to say... Arctic Lumière is almost pure white. Usually if it's a stock paste they are silicon based.

-Dan

Casheti · Dec 23, 2006, 11:24 PM

When I put my CPU cooler on I put 10 times as much TIM on the CPU as in that picture up above lol. Ah well, as long as it doesn't explode, I'm good.

Ketxxx · Dec 24, 2006, 02:05 PM

Its worth noting a HS lapped to a near mirror \ mirror finish is far superior to one that isnt. Depending on the HS, probably on average a good 5c superior. As I said though, depending on the HS, and what materials are used and how high quality the materials are used on the HS.

PyroInc · Dec 24, 2006, 05:38 PM

nice. I used to use the this

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274/3

as a reference

Casheti · Dec 24, 2006, 05:45 PM

This is just a mess

and my [IMG] tags don't work why?

PyroInc · Dec 24, 2006, 06:47 PM

yea I know.... lol that's why I used it as a reference

Aug 5, 2007, 03:43 AM

holy crap, spent a week and $50 gas trying to find some 99% isopropryl, then while picking up some rubbing alchohol at the store, I see a rack of 99%, and they told me that they can order 100% if i need it that bad.... I feel like such a jackass.

grunt_408 · Jan 5, 2008, 01:39 AM

http://www.arcticsilver.com/pdf/appi..._dual_wcap.pdf

Nov 21, 2005, 01:07 PM	#1
djbbenn Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,497 (0.84/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Thermal Paste and How To Use It To read this article go to: http://www.techpowerup.com/articles/overclocking/134 Last edited by djbbenn; May 13, 2007 at 09:49 PM.

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Feb 28, 2006, 07:04 PM	#2
TooFast Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: montreal quebec Posts: 387 (0.14/day) Thanks: 3 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts System Specs	will polishing the heatsink to a mirror shine make a difference??? __________________ ATI RULES COME TO NETCORE.24 76.65.250.134:28960 COD4

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Feb 28, 2006, 07:13 PM	#3
Dynamic Guest Posts: n/a (0/day)	Great Work! Beautiful pictures and i love the way you designed your guide as well. Unfortunately, i've been using thermal compound and cleaning materials for over 3 years now on my processors, video card's core, and chipset. So this is just a review for me really, thanks!

Feb 28, 2006, 09:03 PM	#5
Urlyin Senior Moderator Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,133 (0.67/day) Thanks: 61 Thanked 124 Times in 77 Posts	Nicely done Dan ...

Feb 28, 2006, 10:42 PM	#6
wazzledoozle Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 4,316 (1.35/day) Thanks: 23 Thanked 166 Times in 89 Posts System Specs	Heh I never though about the fact that the IHS covers a core when I covered my sempron in AS5. I spent like 15 minutes getting a perfect thin layer over the whole thing __________________ *bellybuttons are great holes, their single purpose is to suck up pinkys* -DanTheBanjoman

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Mar 1, 2006, 01:21 AM	#7
djbbenn Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,497 (0.84/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	That's why it's called a heat spreader Wazz... lol -Dan

Mar 1, 2006, 02:07 AM	#8
Polaris573 Senior Moderator Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Little Rock, USA Posts: 3,284 (1.09/day) Thanks: 68 Thanked 765 Times in 451 Posts System Specs	I've always used 90% Isopropyl Alcohol for cleaning. Now that I'm at college I have access to 100% Pure Methanol. I've been wondering how well that would work. Any thoughts? __________________ Lector benevole, legum servi sumus ut liberi esse possimus. Accipere quam facere praestat injuriam Fold for Techpowerup!

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Mar 1, 2006, 12:10 PM	#9
djbbenn Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,497 (0.84/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	I'm not sure about methanol... never even had any before. As long as it completely evaporates and leaves no residue, it should be fine. 90% Isopropyl is great, I use 99%, but it's not very easy to get. If you clean a lot, the ArctiClean is the best. -Dan

Oct 31, 2006, 02:02 AM	#10
pentastar111 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Los Angeles...U.S.A Posts: 615 (0.25/day) Thanks: 155 Thanked 31 Times in 25 Posts System Specs	very nice job in this thread. Informative an precise. @ thumbs up! __________________ Check out my rig http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2059.html http://www.techpowerup.com/gallery/2742.html

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Oct 31, 2006, 02:21 AM	#11
DaMulta My stars went supernova Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma T-Town Posts: 10,337 (4.16/day) Thanks: 1,449 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,113 Posts System Specs	Finally someone makes a thread on how this is done. I had to learn the hard way, and **** up a card in the doing it Edit:I see it was a while back, still good info in it. __________________ ocLIT The Hardware Punishers

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Oct 31, 2006, 02:22 AM	#12
DaMulta My stars went supernova Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma T-Town Posts: 10,337 (4.16/day) Thanks: 1,449 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,113 Posts System Specs	You need to add a GPU for your guide. I'm out of AS5 or I would do it. __________________ ocLIT The Hardware Punishers

Oct 31, 2006, 02:30 AM	#13
djbbenn Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,497 (0.84/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	GPU is the same as a bare die. Just spread the paste as even as you can get it, and slap the sink on. -Dan

Oct 31, 2006, 03:02 AM	#14
DaMulta My stars went supernova Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Oklahoma T-Town Posts: 10,337 (4.16/day) Thanks: 1,449 Thanked 1,477 Times in 1,113 Posts System Specs	I know it is, but most people don't/ __________________ ocLIT The Hardware Punishers

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Dec 23, 2006, 02:24 AM	#17
tkpenalty Eligible for custom title Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Australia, Sydney Posts: 5,023 (2.07/day) Thanks: 412 Thanked 361 Times in 266 Posts System Specs	Is pure whitish thermal paste ceramic? __________________ AMD Radeon X1950~HD4000 Support Clubhouse “Mac: "Woah, what are you doing?" Mac says as he levitates in the air. PC: "Playing Half-Life 2, this is my gravity gun." Mac: "Well I can sort of do that." PC: "Technically Mac, you have to become me first."” -From_Nowhere

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Dec 23, 2006, 03:16 AM	#18
djbbenn Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 2,497 (0.84/day) Thanks: 0 Thanked 46 Times in 29 Posts System Specs	Hard to say... Arctic Lumière is almost pure white. Usually if it's a stock paste they are silicon based. -Dan

Dec 23, 2006, 11:24 PM	#19
Casheti Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,042 (1.18/day) Thanks: 92 Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts System Specs	When I put my CPU cooler on I put 10 times as much TIM on the CPU as in that picture up above lol. Ah well, as long as it doesn't explode, I'm good.

Dec 24, 2006, 02:05 PM	#20
Ketxxx Eligible for custom title Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Kingdom of gods Posts: 6,380 (2.42/day) Thanks: 35 Thanked 580 Times in 412 Posts System Specs	Its worth noting a HS lapped to a near mirror \ mirror finish is far superior to one that isnt. Depending on the HS, probably on average a good 5c superior. As I said though, depending on the HS, and what materials are used and how high quality the materials are used on the HS. __________________ WARNING: I am cracking down on stupidity in the forums. Anyone caught making a dumb statement clearly not knowing many, if any of the facts, will promptly be directed to xtremesystems. Sig edited. If anyone wants to know about the E4400 (E7200 sold) drop me a PM

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Dec 24, 2006, 05:38 PM	#21
PyroInc Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 514 (0.21/day) Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	nice. I used to use the this http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/274/3 as a reference

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Dec 24, 2006, 05:45 PM	#22
Casheti Banned Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 3,042 (1.18/day) Thanks: 92 Thanked 31 Times in 30 Posts System Specs	This is just a mess and my [IMG] tags don't work why?

Dec 24, 2006, 06:47 PM	#23
PyroInc Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 514 (0.21/day) Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts System Specs	yea I know.... lol that's why I used it as a reference

Aug 5, 2007, 03:43 AM	#24
bassmasta Guest Posts: n/a (0/day)	holy crap, spent a week and $50 gas trying to find some 99% isopropryl, then while picking up some rubbing alchohol at the store, I see a rack of 99%, and they told me that they can order 100% if i need it that bad.... I feel like such a jackass.

Jan 5, 2008, 01:39 AM	#25
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