Thermal Gel

[Wayniac]

Okay...my question should be fairly simple. I have a processor that I wish to overclock.

AMD Athlon 64 3000+ Socket-939

My fan is:

Thermaltake Silent Boost K8 Heatsink/Fan

I did not get the fan in the mail yet, but I have thermal gel from the regular fan that came with the processor. My question is this... how much thermal gel do I put on the processor? I have looked everywhere and cannot find the answer to my question. Could somebody explain to me how much I need?

Also, will the thermal gel that came with my regular processor fan be okay, or do I need to order some better stuff?

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

If your useing AS5 a dot the size of a BB would do....

 

[Wayniac]

Hey, thanks.... another question though. If the processor has old thermal gel on it when I take the fan off, do I need to wipe that up somehow before applying the new gel or something?

 

[desiboi]

You pu tit on the CPU, just a little bit, about the size of a rice grain. Then with your finger in a ZIP Lock bag, you spread it around.

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Yes you do need to clean the CPU with rubbing alcohol and clean the new heatsink to.

 

[Codeine]

Just make sure thermal paste is evenly covering the processor. Thick enough to the point where you cannot see the metal of the processor.

When i apply new thermal paste. I whip off of cpu, removing thick paste. Then i just use a damp rag removing the rest.

 

[Wayniac]

Wow...covering the CPU enough so that I can't see the metal? Doesn't it squeeze out the sides when I apply pressure while putting the fan and heatsink on?

Also, does it matter what kind of thermal gel I get? ($2 cheap stuff compared to $15 stuff).

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

Get the expensive stuff it has small silver particles, and just dont get it to thick, but spread it out. BUT NOT THICK...

 

[emeraldice]

What happens when it oozes out onto the sides of the CPU?

Reading this post, I could so see someone putting thier CPU through the dishwasher to get the thermal gel/paste off their CPU...

 

[C0RR0SIVE]

It shouldn't ooze out onto the sides of the CPU, unless you put to much.... Sometimes i put a little to much and it goes off onto the sides but not enough to where it hurts.