Need some assists on thermal pasting
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Need some assists on thermal pasting
It's my first time applying thermal pasting on my new scythe cpu fan to my mobo. However, I need help how to do it... I read alot of articles of how to do it and most of them barely have any images showing how to apply.. so i am wondering if anyone has a video that shows the procedures or a good recommended site with lots of images..
also does anyone here thinks i should use the the retail thermal pasting or go buy a better pasting? is there any difference?
also does anyone here thinks i should use the the retail thermal pasting or go buy a better pasting? is there any difference?
Arctic Silver 5 seems to be a pretty common recomendation around here. In the end I don't think it will make much of a difference. Either way, check this out: http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silv ... ctions.htm
This is off the AS5 page. It will give you specific instructions based on your processor, that will work for any paste.
This is off the AS5 page. It will give you specific instructions based on your processor, that will work for any paste.
As for the brand, Zalman claims that its thermal grease (ZM-STG1) is better than other "high performance thermal grease". I read some reviews that compared it with AS ones and Zalman was a clear winner. This might need to be confirmed by other sources, though.
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67101&page=1
http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=40
I decided to trust them, and I have to say I'm quite happy with it, but I have made no formal comparison.
http://www.tipidpc.com/viewtopic.php?tid=67101&page=1
http://www.bcchardware.com/index.php?op ... &Itemid=40
I decided to trust them, and I have to say I'm quite happy with it, but I have made no formal comparison.
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That's a nice feature of the ZM-STG1, it comes with a nice little brush. Much easier to apply than the regular "syringe".jessekopelman wrote:I've always used the paste that came with the heatsink. If I were to buy paste separately, I'd buy Arctic Ceramique, as this appears to be the easiest to apply correctly. It doesn't matter how good the inherent properties are if you don't apply it correctly.
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I swear by AS5 (noticeably lower temps compared to stock paste), but I haven't tried the mentioned Zalman paste. Make sure you do a dry run or two before applying the paste and doing the real thing. Arctic Silver isn't kidding when they tell you not to lift up on the heatsink so you don't introduce air into the paste.
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I liked this part...Blue_Sky wrote:check this out: http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silv ... ctions.htm
1) Initial Precautions
• Don't put it in your mouth.
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In what way is AS5 difficult to apply? Also note that AS5 isn't conductive (though it is slightly capacitive). As far as curing goes, I've always noticed lowered temps immediately with AS5 and the temps usually remain at those values. I've never seen anything indicative of curing.johnniecache7 wrote:Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound is way go now it out performs AS5 and it non-conductive and does not require curing and time. I have been using it and I find it much easier to apply and work with. Personally would not touch conductive thermal compound with 10 foot pole.
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/signjackylman wrote:In what way is AS5 difficult to apply? Also note that AS5 isn't conductive (though it is slightly capacitive). As far as curing goes, I've always noticed lowered temps immediately with AS5 and the temps usually remain at those values. I've never seen anything indicative of curing.
Arctic Silver is a piece of cake to apply. Squeeze syringe per instructions, put heatsink down, twist gently 1-2 degrees, clamp or bolt down, done.
Always an immediate effect for temperatures, no major improvement or degradation of performance after the 200-hour period.http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm wrote:While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive --
I still have an Athlon XP Thunderbird with original AS on it, applied when XPs were the new kid on the block, never been reapplied, never had to. Longevity or change of form is not an issue.
If you're sloppy enough to smother your entire CPU chip in thermal paste and not clean it up, you deserve any electrical problems that result from it.
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Consider just what the purpose is of this TIM (thermal interface material). It's used only to fill in small air gaps between two supposedly flat pieces of metal. That's it.
I've been using TIM for years on CPU heatsinks.....and never could measure any temperature difference using any brand, or any "curing" time.
Here's the only difference I've found.....some brands are easier to apply, go on smoother. But those easier to apply brands also seem to dry out quicker. A TIM that has dried up to a powdery form has also shrunk up, probably causing small air pockets to reappear between the two metal pieces.
It's probably a good idea to reapply TIM every few years or so on any CPU heatsink, no matter the brand of TIM you used.
IMHO....Properly lapping a heatsink and the heat-spreader of a CPU, will give you better results than the most expensive TIM you can find.
I've been using TIM for years on CPU heatsinks.....and never could measure any temperature difference using any brand, or any "curing" time.
Here's the only difference I've found.....some brands are easier to apply, go on smoother. But those easier to apply brands also seem to dry out quicker. A TIM that has dried up to a powdery form has also shrunk up, probably causing small air pockets to reappear between the two metal pieces.
It's probably a good idea to reapply TIM every few years or so on any CPU heatsink, no matter the brand of TIM you used.
IMHO....Properly lapping a heatsink and the heat-spreader of a CPU, will give you better results than the most expensive TIM you can find.