How much thermal paste?

[collinE]

I'm reworking the heatsink on a 360. There's a lot of "don't use too much thermal paste between the CPU and the heatsink" talk but I'm not sure I've read how much is too much.

so how much between CPU/GPU and the heatsink, and how much between two pieces of metal?

[samjc3]

i have heard "just enough to coat the whole chip in a thin layer." so not much. a nice even layer, about 1/16" thick, max is what i have seen.

[collinE]

sweet thanks.

better get muh measurin stick out.

[rikitheshadow]

I've only had a one time experience with applying thermal paste, but it isn't hard. I've bought some from Radioshack, from Thermaltake, nice little tube of it with a ball shaped cap. Just spread enough on top of the chip and the even it out with something like the cap, and curved surface will do. Can't be too thin and can't be too thick.

Btw, my experience was that of me re-applying thermal paste to one of those tricky-dicky Pentium Processors with their redicilous heat sink and fan unit. I noticed the thermal compound they had already applied didn't work out so well after trying to apply the dang heat sink and lock it in place. Replacing the thermal compound reduced running temp by 30 degrees and idle by 10 degrees.

[bicostp]

Yeah, I don't like Intel's heatsinks for LGA775. The whole spring-loaded pin system makes you stress the motherboard until it starts crackling. Kinda scary. (I've found that putting the board on top of the antistatic bag on top of the foam it comes with is supportive enough while still having enough give to let the pins through.) The fact that they're 100% aluminum doesn't help much either. As soon as I get the money I'm getting myself a better case and one of those all-copper 120mm Noctua coolers with a backplate.

samjc3 had it right: use just enough compound to make a thin layer over the entire contact area between the CPU and heatsink. Use something like an old gift card or credit card to spread it out. If you're using Arctic Silver, be very careful to not let it get on the electrical contacts, because it's conductive.

[64M320N3]

When I did this to my 360 a while back you don't want to use more than a bead of rice on each chip. Then you simply spread it out until it is a nice even coat. After tinkering around with it, I fixed my 360 (from the RROD of course ). This is some superb stuff if you apply it correctly. I haven't had any problems since.

[collinE]

Is Arctic Silver that much better? Radio Shack had two kinds: Arctic Silver and the stuff I got which was a fifth the cost. Will I be sorry I didn't upgrade?

[snowpenguin]

I've heard AS5 is the best and worth your money, so that's what I got.

[brandonk318]

I have repaired my ps3 using dynex thermal paste(from Best Buy). It is good but not as good as artic silver 5. About a small little amount like a size of a rice grain or two....it doesn't take much. i accidentally put too much last time but it still works fine like it did before.

[nevermind1534]

I usually stick my finger(s) in a small plastic bag, apply, and smooth it out as thin as I can get it. I've found that the plastic bag approach works very well.

[XCVG]

Cheap thermal paste is good enough for most things, but AS5 is better and generally gets you a few more degrees. MaxPC says that you should use a BB size drop of paste.