Greetings ,

All my hardware for my major rig revamp already arrived and I should be setting it up everything tonight.

Ermmm... I bought this Tuniq-TX2 and actually I am wondering which is the best way to apply the thermalpaste on the processor for best efficiency? I'll be installing Intel Q6600 with Xigmatek HDT-S1283 on DFI LP DK P35-T2RS.

I see some just apply a small drop like the size of a rice grain on the middle of the processor and then just hump the HSF on it. In another way, some other they apply the thermalpaste on the processor like applying "a thin layer of majerin on a slice of bread". I wonder which way would be the best effective possible?

Any guide, suggestion and recommendation are welcomed. Thanks in advance .

I think maybe difference thermalpaste got difference way to apply it one? the best way is read their manual and follow the instructions?

So far I use Arctic Silver before only and apply 2 small drop (rice grain) on the CPU. . .

I'm not quite sure regarding this that's why I'm asking the sifus and gurus here for some guidance for best performance possible .

I also used Artic Silver 5 before myself, but then that time that guy at the pc shop in LYP show me the way he apply a thin layer on the surface of the processor. I followed the same way he did, but I just wonder if that is the best way to apply thermalpaste?

... lend me your TX-2 please

anyway... i actually followed kcnyc (he MIA now; last login - August 20, 2007 )...
he taught that put small drop(s) onto the center of the processor's IHS, get it evenly with heatsink base - he also claimed, the thinner the paste is the better, well it worked well on me... just not sure if it suitable to current processor as we may already know, all multi-core processor now... it could be differ

kcnyc is my best buddy and he is currently doing his masters.
hey TS, check out the AS website

I don't mind sharing actually... it is not like I can finish one tube of TX-2 myself ... just find your own way to get it from me and remember to return as well .

So, the way you used is drop a small drop of TX-2 on the middle of the surface of the processor and then wipe it to spread it evenly around the surface with some "tool"? What you used and how you did it?

Oh... the applying technique same with Artic Silver 5?

nah, i'm kidding le...

tool? i just use an expired credit card to spread evenly

Honestly, I wouldn't mind... my previous ArticSilver5 4/5 tube penuh lagi left at a shop by my friend when he borrowed mine when assembling his rig .

Hmmm... then perhaps I can use those top-up card for hp credit

yeah...u are right. different way of applying TIM will give different results and performance. Basically it's Tiny Drop Vs Spreading...

The following website will give u a complete summary of different TIMs with different method of applying and of course the results...

http://www.madshrimps.be/?action=getarticl...953&articID=635

Thanks a lot for sharing such good info on the link provided .

Guess I'm gonna do it as the reviewer did, apply a thin layer on the whole surface of the IHS . Anyone did so with Tuniq TX-2?

Thanks alot for sharing the methods. So far I only apply the method of rice grain, never tried other ways. Was looking this kind of thread in LYN but didnt find, perhaps I didnt search thoroughly. Anyway, if we apply a thin layer on the surface and during we put down the hsf will the thermalpaste comes out from the proc ? Any worse scenario can happen ?

i actually don't really get what you mean... erm, is that what you mean overspread? well if it is, yes... it happens a lot, just wipe it clean or just use thin layer not a thick layer... thin layer mean, it's so thin until you can even can still read the processor label on the IHS

it happened on me when the processor itself actually "glued" to heatsink base... well, it's my fault anyway... just ripped it off, lucky no pins bent or broke...

I apply my TX-2 simple only..... A 5cent shaped lump in da midle... N then, spread it slow n nicely until bcome 1 cent shape.... Place my stock HSF on it.... ok je.... No heating problem... Full load 53-55c @3.0ghz.... C my sig...

quadcore die location is different with dualcore, please read AS5 instruction.

if you wanna follow AS instruction, make sure the paste put onto the IHS is thick enough.
otherwise the themalpaste spread area will not contact with the xigmatek heatpipe.
this happened to me before, the temperature is hell higher.




This post has been edited by sukhoi37: Jan 22 2008, 08:37 PM

Yeah overspread, thats what I meant. Thanks for clarifying bro penembak. So that means next time Im changing my thermalpaste just spread it until can still read the label or the code on the proc ? Thats thin man, will try it out. Hopefully it goes well as my geminII very mahfan tu put it out and back.

it's up to you le... thin or real thin, but i'm just use what's suits me... and i think real thin do the job perfectly...

it takes more than 30 min to apply thin layer on IHS?

I follow the spread until really thin philosophy. What I do is put a small grain size drop in the middle of the processor. Then use a clean plastic bag to wrap my finger and use the finger to spread the thermal paste.

This way more control over the spreading and I can ensure it is spread evenly. Then spread the paste until very thin (can almost see the processor wordings).

you guys still using the "spreading thin" method?

the link above shows that "tiny drop" method perform better than the spreading method la...

anyway, here's the comparison chart again...

Wow... da intel stock thermal paste is damm gud Luckily I didn't spread thinly...

This post has been edited by rozz_1291: Jan 29 2008, 12:59 AM

Intel stock thermal paste? thermal pad is it? damn good? how good? I really can't understand what you talking about...

Ignore dat post salah type n didn't read properly.. In a hurry Tried 2 edit, cannot lor... Once type, consider gone....

This post has been edited by rozz_1291: Jan 29 2008, 01:01 AM

I wonder what if we combine the two methods averagely?

Says like we apply a thin layer but not fully covering the IHS and then drop a smaller dollop in the middle before we hump the HSF on?

combine both method? yep... tried tat this afternoon!!

i spread the TIM ultra thin...then in the center of IHS, another ultra tiny drop, smaller than rice grain size droplet...

the result...

almost no difference compared to single rice grain size in the middle......

by the way, i cleared my old AS5 and put on a fresh TX-2 today... and the result is insignificant also...

WTA,

Now, after reading all dis post, i've notice dat i put 2 much already.... Bcuz u all say tiny like grain of rice. But i put 1cent shape... Izzit ok??? or will it overflow???

My guess is, it should be overflowing

so much ?! how to conduct heat la...

TIM is to filled the microscopic gap between your heatsink and you CPU IHS surface... dun do it like you to spread butter on bread ...

Yup.... dats wat i did. Spread it until bcome 1cent shape coin....

1st:5cent drop
2nd:Then spread until bcome 1 cent shape....

Maybe i should redo again... Dis time, very thin....

---

Added on January 29, 2008, 5:07 pmU might be rite.... Better check n reapply...

This post has been edited by rozz_1291: Jan 29 2008, 05:07 PM

actually...1cent or 5cent doesnt matter...as long as it not too thick...

do let us know the difference when u r done. btw, wat thermal paste are u using?

normally a tiny portion on the center of the surface is enough.

as for the AS5 instruction, IMO AS5 requires more care and careful application because it contains silver and copper compounds which can conduct electricity and may end up causing damage should it come into contact with parts like electrical traces, pins and leads.

please please please don't apply paste like jam. when you put the heatsink on, it will automatically spread. the purpose is to aid in surface contact. that's it.

you put it think or in huge quantity, it becomes messy.

TX-2... still got balance... Luckily... Will keep u updated...

Hmmm... then most probably mine wouldn't need any reapply I guess .

1 cent full of thermalpaste? I guess it's a bit overextreme .

So you also recommend the apply a dollop size of a single rice grain in the middle of the IHS will do? Doesn't need to apply it like in a line like AS5 instructed?

1st time lor... B4 dis, i neva reapply.... Juz take out,dust it n put it back. Until I wonder wat is dat grey thing... So found out n dis wat happen... hahahaha.... Over..

One of my friend did that before as well... he wonder what with the grey dusty on the HSF and processor when he's cleaning his rig... In the end he wipe till shiny and hump back it on without any thermalpaste .

AFAIK, AS5 doesn't conduct electricity

Quoted from Artic Silver 5 website:

Not Electrically Conductive:
Arctic Silver 5 was formulated to conduct heat, not electricity.
(While much safer than electrically conductive silver and copper greases, Arctic Silver 5 should be kept away from electrical traces, pins, and leads. While it is not electrically conductive, the compound is very slightly capacitive and could potentially cause problems if it bridges two close-proximity electrical paths.)

Source: http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm

u may want to put a bit more tim for HDT as the bottom surface is not totally flat, or u can do is put tim on the bottom of the HDT as well.

sukhoi have some bad experince for these if not mistaken, remember he ask for advice too somewhere around here

Those cheap TIM maybe able to conduct electric... Like those white goo thingy...

Waa... so wat happen, burn or heat up i guess Now dats even X-treme....hahaha...lol

I think it shouldnt heat up if the heatsink and cpu surface is 100% flat...

Surprisingly... that rig still survive even on 24/7 ... to my even greater surprise, that happen to be a P4 3.0 HT processor which is well known for the heat

And you guess what my next great discovery on his rig? I saw a heatsink on the bottom floor of the casing. Initially, I wonder why he put such thing there ... and then to my another surprise that is the heatsink of his graphic card which fall off from it ... still working fine summore Gengness...

Haha... he's really a funny guy... he just assembled a C2D E6300 with Asus P965 motherboard and Asus 7900GS last year during the first PC Fair at KL. He went back home to switch ON his rig but everytime he get an error message which indicating not enough power supplied to his graphic card. So what he did was... change that 230V switch at the back of the PSU ... you guys know what happened next

Thanks god only the PSU burnt and didn't flow to the rest of the hardware. RMAed the Coolermaster 430W PSU and everything going smooth now. I "lectured" him a lot .

@vearn27

Haha...... he got a nice rig, but dunno much bout it Better teach him all u know.... Or else,







This post has been edited by rozz_1291: Jan 31 2008, 12:28 PM

may i ask sumthing? wht u use to clean off old thermal paste? cause lst time i juz rub it wif tissue paper (quite hard) cause a few year din touch the stock heatsink when open out it feels hard but can be scratch off the surface of proc.

I heard ppl say can use nail polish remover.... I also got a question here, can use alcohol swab n lighter fluid 2 remove ar??? Bcuz I've been using those 2 remove gum stains like sticker residue...

This post has been edited by rozz_1291: Jan 31 2008, 04:37 PM

alcohol swab and lighter fluid not so suitable... use nail polish remover the best...

If you're doubting enough, then just go ahead and buy yourself a set of Artic Cleaner and Artic Purifier for best performance possible .

ooo can use nail polisher ho..... thx...

Ooo.... icic thanks B4 dis, I use alcohol swab 2 clean my P4 478 HSF . It when shinny @ 1st. Then bcome dull color

maybe due to oxidation

Yup, I wuz thinking bout dat 2...

after u lap it... if exposed to air will oxidise

So u mean after I use alcohol swab 2 clean my copper base HSF, I hav 2 put it back quickly??? Izzit???

i agree with icemocha. the best way would be that you wipe with an alcoholic swab and then use a clean cloth and wipe it. This really depends on the purity of alcohol used. If u use isopropyl alcohol, which has a 70-80% then its better. You dont have to put it back quickly

---

Added on January 31, 2008, 11:25 pm@all
all the proposed above are organic solvents. Well make sure u r wearing gloves while doing this. Just a caution always practised in chem labs while using organic solvents


This post has been edited by a1098113: Jan 31 2008, 11:25 PM

@a1098113

hahaha...we finally meet here!! not sure whether u still remember me or not...

*hint -


I just helped my friend to clean his uber dusty HP AMD CPU and HSF. I got a shock when I unmount the HSF from the proc....there were so much TIM! So much until it's like the spread of peanut butter over the bread. And after almost 2 years, the TIM was still quite "gooey" and liquid like.

Why would HP factory put so much TIM? but i've to say that, my friend's AMD cpu temp was always around 30+C which is very good for stock HSF.

@blessedvil
Of course la i remember you. you only forget me Hmm, that TIM is very cool hmm i wonder what they use. we normally use rice grain size rite.. maybe its too little, i dont know. But i dont really dare put more especially when theres conductive silver on it.

but what really surprises me is that, after reapply a new layer of TX2 TIM which is much thinner than the the factory default amount, the new temperature seems to be almost the same as . Just think about it, before this, with all the dust and the super thick stock TIM, the CPU remains as 32C (idle).

Can we conclude that some TIM perform better with thicker amount?

@blessed
bro, i can do test and see lor. But i dont wanna risk creating V circuits that can burn my board if it overspilt. But for me, i think the spread is the most important. So i guess sometimes u will need to put a bit more for that spead.

oxidation doesn't affect the performance of ur hsf...

Ok...2 My HSF is still ok n working

hahaha...if u really wan to do testing, do it on an old proc. that would much much safer than doing it on your own canggih machine...

applied my thermal paste today.. aft tht i check n look at it.. seems the TIM applied nt enuff..(will post pic later)

btw nail polisher works like a charm. remove old TIM like magic.

Proper way by Arctic Cooling.

Intel: http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_route_step2intelas5.html

AMD: http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_route_step2amdas5.html

I've found out another way(my way) 2 romove old TIM... I use:
~perfume
~lighter
~cloth
1st, spray da perfume on da old TIM, then light it up.... Wait until it burn till dry.... Wipe it of cleanly...

Dun try dis.... Bcuz I won't be responsible 4 any accident or unwanted events



Juz sharing....

lol kind of risky. How if the perfume you use has a higher burning temperature/boiling point?

i dont get rozz is doing... using alcohol then burning it... why dont u just use alcohol swabs?

Well.... It work 4 me.... Y know.... like my old 478 P4. Cannot get da old TIM out.... Stuck 2 it... So I dunno where da idea came also Seriously, eazy peazy...

why u want to burn it ?? melt the tim ?? btw the best way to remove time is by using zippo and may be kitchen tower (those thick 1), very very clean and wont get ur hands dirty........

Hahaha.... play wit fire lor.... N beside, it won't effect ur heatsink.... It won't even hav time 2 heat up also... Very small blue flame... After burn, can touch. Its not even warm.... i tried dat often...

haha. no firecracker play, so play wif fire la....

the tuniq TX-2 the best ar bro~~

hmm for price, yes tx-2 is the best bang for the buck.

since forumer here tell tat we can find alcohol in pharmacy....i went there today i got myself "Surgical Spirit", its not isopropyl, but they say its also an alcohol....so can i use them to wipe TIM...?

GTG

This post has been edited by Punish: Feb 15 2009, 12:53 AM

those who hav xig s1284/1283 or similar coolers (HDT) how much TIM u all apply approximately?1 thin line on each heat pipe?\

btw for TIM cleaning buy those isoprophyl alcohol swabs frm pharmacies.vry cheap and works like a charm

honestly ... you DO NOT have to use alcohol ... there's no diference between cleaning using alcohol or using your tissues ..

remember ... when we talk bout temps .. we do not discuss bout 0.00001 diffences ... it's >1 deg celcius .. even 0.1 is hardly cared .. i'm sure u guys wont debate bout 0.1c vs 0.2c do you? lol

What happen when i mix with 2 brands of TIM

nothing will happen .. as the heat require for such chemistry reactive might require hundred of deg celcius

i've mixed MX-2 + AS ceramique

AS ceramique + alu dust
AS creamique + copper dust
MX-2 + alu dust
MX-2 + copper dust

maybe my mixing isnt complete .. it seems to me the temps all the same, unless it's 2 deg celcius and above .. i do not think its worth the trouble, u know what else to talk right ... lol .. speaking bout improvement in point form arent that exciting

maybe the dust arent fine enough (smaller microns)

i'm planing on testing on some synthetic diamond dust .. i heard it works the best .. still trying to get some of those dust .. those fellas r real stingy

i apply a thin layer of paste with the area approximate the area of cpu, and ensuring the gaps/longkang between the heatpipes are filled.
on my C2D E8400 3GHZ, orthos small ffts load 20 minutes, load temp was 45C. ambient/room temp was 29C.

wah after reading this thread i realized dat im crazy lol...i used to apply full tubes of any thermal paste i buy lol..shld had read dis thread b4 i put in new cpu cooler..zzz..wasted entire tube of CM nanofusion.. nt cheap summore dang it..i apply all den spread out like jamzz i think 0.5cm thick lol d layer..im crazy am i

This post has been edited by ooiwbng: Mar 19 2009, 04:58 PM

Your processer should be a mess lol

apparently d TIM didnt spread out of d proc area =D still dere..but still moist XD coz its soooooooooo thick

I've heard that, for CPU with 'lids' or 'heat spreaders', it's best to just put a 'rice grain sized' thermal paste, and let the weight of the heat sink do the job. For 'exposed' CPUs, you'll need to spread the paste.