View Full Version : thermal paste paranoia
Hello!
Like some, i am scared of thermal paste's and compounds and that. I really, really want a new heatsink since i will soon has a see through window on my Akasa Eclipse 62 ( which i brought on this site :cool: )
But, instead of worrying about it, im simply not going to do it. I dont have the money to replace any PC parts, so i can screw up and i dont want to take the risk. BUT! lets say, i used...a cloth, with a little bit of grease from my skin, but lint free...used plastic to remove the thermal pad on the CPU, used cloth and some akasa TIM remover...and used too much generic thermal paste.
how big a preformence hit will there be if its not done properly? It sounds easy, but please understand my fear ^_^ i dont want to lose a CPU.
Can the pins of a CPU be zapped with static?
Also!!! the temp is around 7 degrees higher then it was in my other case. I have my old crap fan as exaust, with the dan duct that goes almost over the CPU heatsink/fan. the fan is at the back of the case. >_< i just might as well try it when i next get the PC nekkid.
sorry for rambleing! Its a A64 newcastle 3000+ in a ZNF-250 zenith value. no overclocking.
As long as you take your time and follow the instructions that come with heat sink then its pretty hard to go wrong. Im sure you will be fine if using good quality products.
mr-white
23-02-2005, 15:58
its pretty simple to do, just follow the instructions and dont do anything stupid. if you removed the old thermal paste with alcohol, if you get it where you're not supposed to it will just evaporate and should cause no damage. dont just use any thermal paste use artic silver, its the best around and if applied right you should see a good few degrees temperature drop
MW
I use to practice putting thermal paste on a Mx440, lol...
no matter how small i put on, i end up spreading it over the sides a little. CPU's are more simple, but i dont know, since ive never tried...i mean, how hard is it to put a pea sized blob in the middle?
I mean, how hard is it to put a pea sized blob in the middle?:eek: :eek: :eek:
Pea sized?!? please tell me you are joking?!? no more than half a grain of cooked rice. With heat sink compound, less is definitely more.
Cheers,
Stephen
A.O.D (QW97)
23-02-2005, 19:30
Agreed with Fat Jez, where people go wrong with paste is they think they need to really see it for it to be doing anything. Don't forget that the space between the 2 surfaces is for the sake of argument, zero. Press the two surfaces together and there's only one way for liquid to go, out, then it wiil drip then...
Whoops 'Ker-Ching' Mr Processor selling person.
specofdust
23-02-2005, 20:12
Thermal paste application is no big deal at all. I don't think so at least. I just tear up some cardboard. Stick a tiny ammount on the CPU die, spread it evenly on with the cardboard, wipe of any excess. then shove the HSF on. Simple, it's fairly hard to go wrong :)
Cosmo_1847
23-02-2005, 20:18
i've riped my cpu attached to the hsf out before. i got a large pair of pliars to twist the cpu off, i think that one of the pins id slightly bent but i'm using that cpu atm.
but i dont care if the cpu gets screwed cos its only a celeron.
removing a standard p4 hfs is easy. the hsfi got came with thermal paste already on the bottom, u only had to remove the cover and stick it in.
Euphoria
23-02-2005, 20:26
i've riped my cpu attached to the hsf out before. i got a large pair of pliars to twist the cpu off, i think that one of the pins id slightly bent but i'm using that cpu atm.
but i dont care if the cpu gets screwed cos its only a celeron.
removing a standard p4 hfs is easy. the hsfi got came with thermal paste already on the bottom, u only had to remove the cover and stick it in.
I did the same as that when replacing my P4 standard heatsink that cost a fair amount back then! The whole CPU came out when i tried to get the heatsink off :eek: wasn't impressed!
well, i dont know how smooth the CPU metal spreader or whatever it is...but, if somone was to lap down a heatsink to near perfection, would there be any need for thermal paste? or...if it was so smooth, perfectly evenly flat, that only the smallest amount would be needed?
I replace the heatsink sooner or later, but it will take a good 1 hour, a steady hand, alot of sweat, and a whole lot of anxiety and panic attacks.
if it was so smooth, perfectly evenly flat, that only the smallest amount would be needed?
That is what the guys have been telling you - the amount of difference in the surface is very small no matter what - a small amount is all that is ever needed. I would not recommend going without though.
Fireblade
24-02-2005, 08:10
Whilst the surface might look perfectly smooth to the naked eye, it'll still have pits/grooves in it. The thermal paste fills those in, thus helping dissipate the heat across the surface of the heatsink, so you should never put a HS+F on the CPU without first applying thermal paste ;)
crazy question but can you use cellulose to clean a heatsink bottom after lapping? or is cellulose not a good idea?
just curious since its highly volatile, in that it evapourates and stinks the place out, but i know some of em eat plastic, and even allumuminium. (sorry for nicking thread but i didn't want to make a new one over it just thought id ask in here since it may help the thread starter also)
Cheers
SuB
why on earth bother when plain old IPA will do?
Hah, we've got Articlean coming next month, so every other single alcohol-based cleaner will become obsolete... if you don't know what Articlean I damn well hope you don't see yourself as a computing professional.
It's basically the BEST cleaning solution (kit) you can get for thermal compounds, wax pads (burnt on or not)... Basically anything you can get on a heatsink that doesn't modify the metal this stuff can get off. Except burnt on pasta?
Hah, we've got Articlean coming next month, so every other single alcohol-based cleaner will become obsolete... if you don't know what Articlean I damn well hope you don't see yourself as a computing professional.?
My god people really will buy anything wont they :rolleyes:
I've just read a few reviews of this and most of them rave about 'how much cleaner it looks!!!1!!' , and 'omg, i only had to wipe a few times, and i'd be wiping for at least 30 seconds with IPA!!11!!'
Did it make any noticable difference to temperatures? Course not, but it sure looks damn clean
Problem with some of the instructions on the net and on packaging...for somone like me i tend to worry about the little things, will i bend a pin if the CPU is on a hard surface and i push down on it while cleanin the CPU, or if the TIM cleaner gets on a pin it will be the death of the CPU...or...the cleanin lint free cloth is not what it says it is and, lints (?) the heatsink. I have a microfiber cloth, but i wont use it since ive touched it, lol...
Well, im offically pathetic with this. I have toyed with the idea of simply waiting intil i buy a new CPU altogether and use the pad that comes with the CPU's heatsink.
Believe it or not...im a very positive and optimistic person :D i can easily OC the processor to 2.2 but i would truely love a new heatsink. It will save me alot of money in the long run.
Anyway, anything more i will say regarding to this thread i will be repeating myself. I will go buy a very expensive heatsink, which will force me to do my worse fear, since i hate wasting money.
Whats the worse that can happen? a very hot processor? i mean, no matter how crap i do it, i dont run the risk of perminently damaging anything, right? If i **** up i can simply just try again?
Thank you for everyone who has replied!
Euphoria
24-02-2005, 13:05
As long as it is clean then shouldn't make any difference. I was told alcohol based products clean the best. I used 47% Gin believe it or not to clean the crap off my heatsink lol :D
Sounds like a better idea than drinking it!
so cellulose thinner is alright then?
so cellulose thinner is alright then?
White Spirit works just as well and cheaper.
Euphoria
25-02-2005, 08:33
Sounds like a better idea than drinking it!
That's what I thought!
To the above: :)
About white spirit: does it not leave a residue?
well i already have cellulose thinner, but i wasn't sure if it's safe, hence why i asked :P
To the above: :)
About white spirit: does it not leave a residue?
Don't know, but I've never had a problem with a cooler/cpu that would suggest theres a problem with residue from white spirit.
Articlean possibly the new kid on the block?
Until 2 months time when a supposedly newer better cleaner comes out on the market.
I've used Nail Varnish remover, White spirit, Surgical Spirit, Meths, Methanol (now, that interesting stuff but not computer related :D ) and Electrical Cleaning Aerosols.
As long as the cleaning product you use leaves a clean surface does it matter who or where it comes from?
well i know your not supposed to use nail varnish remover, because it has perfum in it and does leave a residue...
I use nail varnish remover,
Abit of residue, like thats really gonna effect the temps :)
cheep and cheerfull :)
whats for a lecture about the effects ;)
Ok...
- I will turn of comp.
- open her up, slide out motherboard tray, as ya do :rolleyes:
- since the PC is hot, it should be ok to pull out...the heatsink that is. I take that off, and put stock heatsink to one side.
- do i take out the CPU to clean???? either way, use cotton buds, or micro-fiber cloth and clean most as i can from the CPU. After i get all i can off, apply Akasa TIM cleaner to cloth, and wipe CPU top over...
- Get new CPU heaksink, clean of the thermal pad from it with cloth, once most is gone, use akasa TIM to clean it?
- apply thermal paste on CPU, a small blob. carfully place on CPU heatsink in a civilised fashion...
- screw the bugger in....slide her back in, done!
well...considering the stress, anxiety, i will be following somthing like this on paper, lol. please help refine it!
Dude, just have a butchers at this http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm
It's applicable for pretty much any heat sink compound.
Cheers,
Stephen
You must spread it thinly - don't rely on the squashing of the HS to do it for you.
Euphoria
28-02-2005, 08:56
I've just used what was on my heatsink. Had a small square patch on the bottom which I used.
Ok. No beatin around the bush ( think thats the right phrase )
I want a confirmation on if this is correct. I have brought a NV5 silencer for my nu6800 XFX.
1) take card out and admire it.
2) place card on wooden surface, and proceed to take out screws and whatnot, taking of fan and heatsink
3) Get a botton bud, or whatever those things are that ya stick in your ear. Whip away at the paste intil alot of it is gone.
4) Use Mirco-fibre clothe with Akasa TIM remover, whip intil sexy GPU shows itself nicely. ( BTW, this is the most concerning part. is a citrus based remover good enough? will the mirco-fibre cloth get rid of the lint from the buds? )
4) Place paste that i get from NV5 and make a small blob in the middle of GPU and spred it ( i could never do this. i tried on a MX 440, it went all over the sides )
5) no paste on RAM. i figured, that since there are no ram heatsinks on the board anyway, then i will choose not to worry about them using the arctic ceremqueie stuff, since i cant really do this anyway, im not risking frying the board.
6) place NV5 silencer, wiggle it? screws in with the rubber thing, put in PC, hunky dorie?
Please tell me if that is ok and correct. tell me as if you were telling somone whom takes thing very literal. if you dont say yes then i wont know, no matter how well you make it that your saying yes. I will still worry about it.
Whew!
Kye.
I have the NV5 here with here. Is it ok if i leave the RAM with no paste? TIM akasa remover ok? tis citrus based ^_^
Please understand my persistence ^_^
Edit : another question! If i put the thermal paste that came with it on the GPU, put on the NV5 then took it of to see how good the contact is, i will have to remove it from the NV5 again and smooth it over again on the GPU since risk of airbubble thingies? Merci!
Ahem, since also no-one knows or simply wont answer, i will tell them the meaning of life if they answer my woes!
Maybe im not being patient enough? I hope this is not considered spamming...
Not putting the paste on the ram since the heatsink on the card only covers the GPU anyway, and using the Akasa Citrus based CPU cleaner for the GPU. All i need answered, i have the confidence to do this, since even if i get the paste wrong, the heatsink of the NV5 is about 3 times bigger then the one i have now anyway ^_^
Please answer! i want to avoid other forums since this thread has been so successful and helpful so far,
Kye
Yup that's all fine chief, it's not rocket science, just get a tiny bit on there, just enough so you can't see the writing on the chip, put the heat sink on, a little wriggle like you said, job done.
jellybeard999
19-03-2005, 17:53
DO put paste on mem and core
Paste is going on core but not ram. that is somthing i do not want to risk doing.
If you don't have any ram sinks, you won't need any thermal paste on the RAM
Whats the worse that can happen?
It looks daft ;)
The thermal paste is NOT ment to take heat off the chip, it's not even ment to be a layer between the chip and the heatsink, it's just to fill the gaps so the heatsink has better CONTACT with the chip.
If there's no heatsink present, there's no need for the paste.
So these people who have a burger bun of paste on their CPUs and GPUs are about a billion miles away from how it's ment to be.
what if i put to thin a layer on the ram that it does not touch the copper base, or only barely?
I know this probably is very simple, but i have to know every detail and i worry about things i shouldnt. :o i even use to worry dust in the air might go on the paste and ruin everything. Considering ive moved on from that, but i still worry about things like that.
i cant spread the paste once its on the core, im really hopeless with that. i dont mind doing that on the GPU but i know that if the paste gets on a slug thats around the ram chips then im ruined.
^_^ at least it i ruin the card, i can get a galaxy 6800nu, lol
Kye.
As long as you're not doing this on the carpet in the dog's bed, dust isn't going to kill you. ;)
If a chip is touching the heatsink's base, put some paste on it, if a chip doesn't have a heatsink on it, don't paste it. That easy.
What kind of alcohol should be used to remove the thermal paste? So far the family have suggested going to the Chemist and getting 90% + pure isopropyl and using cotton swabs to gently clean the thermal paste off the CPU.
Fireblade
27-08-2005, 14:05
What kind of alcohol should be used to remove the thermal paste? So far the family have suggested going to the Chemist and getting 90% + pure isopropyl and using cotton swabs to gently clean the thermal paste off the CPU.
Yep... yer family have it spot on :D
Isopropyl Alcohol is the stuff t' ask for. It's only £5 - £7 for a [good sized] bottle ;)
specofdust
27-08-2005, 14:52
I just use my sisters cleanser, it works a treat.
What kind of alcohol should be used to remove the thermal paste? So far the family have suggested going to the Chemist and getting 90% + pure isopropyl and using cotton swabs to gently clean the thermal paste off the CPU.
I just hope you have better chemists than I do - mine didn't know what it was!
vBulletin® v3.8.1, Copyright ©2000-2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.