How to apply thermal paste

[heffer]

I just bought my first heatsink and fan. inside there's a small package saying "heat sink compound" with white liquid in it. How much should i apply? Really thin and even? and what i use to apply? a brush, spatula, the package doesn't come with anything else. thx

 

[b1gapl]

It's very simple. Just squeeze a pea sized dot, in the middle of the processor. Then seat the heatsink, having the heatsink's weight spreading it. Give it a little twist from left to right and back, to squeeze any air bubbles.

 

[carnageX]

Couple different ways. The dot way, like b1g stated above, or the line method:

Arctic Silver Incorporated - Route to Product Instructions for Arctic Silver 5

 

[Luke]

i use the dot method. i slowly lower the heatsink on and the twist a bit then push down.

 

[veedubfreak]

I vote we make a sticky for applying thermal paste.

 

[carnageX]

I vote we make a sticky for applying thermal paste.

Seconded.

 

[Da Viksta]

that'll help... i need to move my cpu and cooler on wednesday onto my new mobo which will arrive then, and i have no idea currently on how to do it xD

 

[carnageX]

that'll help... i need to move my cpu and cooler on wednesday onto my new mobo which will arrive then, and i have no idea currently on how to do it xD

It's very simple. You'll just need some coffee filters, and some isopropyl alcohol. When you remove the hs/f, just clean off the CPU and hs/f base with the coffee filter/alcohol. Make sure you got all of the old thermal paste off, and then seat the CPU in the new mobo. Do either the dot method like b1gapl suggested, or the line method like I suggested, and reseat your hs/f on the new mobo. Twist it a few times, and you're done =).