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Applying thermal paste to a CPU has to be done carefully. Here is a simple guide on how to do it properly to ensure your CPU temperature stays low.
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Prebuilt computers are a good option for those that don’t have the time to purchase every single component and then learning how to put it all together.
However, if you want to become part of the PC community and if you want to get the best value out of your money, it is always much better to do a build on your own. Forget about prebuilt systems.
Building your first computer is not going to be and it shouldn’t be, but you will learn a lot.
One of the more daunting tasks of this entire process is applying thermal paste to the CPU . It may seem simple, but once you get the processor in front of you, it’s normal to start wondering: How much should thermal paste should I add? Where should I put it? Is it too much? What if it spills? And many other questions.
To help you with this scary task, we’ve made this extensive and informative guide for adding thermal paste to any CPU.
Before we can get into the details of this topic, it’s probably a good idea to expand on what it is and why CPUs need such a paste at all.
Thermal paste is a compound, a mix of various materials to achieve the best possible thermal conductivity . This amazingly thermally conductive compound is then needed to improve the contact between the heatsink (your cooler) and the heat source (your processor).
But, why? Why not just attach the cooler to the CPU and then just start working, gaming, or whatever it is you want to do? Well, that’s because establishing good contact between two very flat surfaces is difficult.
The cold plate (copper plate) on the cooler has its imperfections and so does the IHS (the CPU’s heat spreader). Both surfaces have microscopic cracks, crevices, nooks, and crannies. By filling those holes with thermal paste, these two objects can form a better physical connection which results in greater heat dissipation.
However, for proper results, the thermal paste needs to be applied accordingly to the CPU. To ensure that you get those best results, we’ll explain the best methods to do so .
You may have seen tons of videos and articles claiming “The BESTways to apply thermal paste”. But, why is finding the best method so important? And, is there really a best method?
Well, it is important because the entire IHS needs to be covered to ensure the best possible thermal performance from the CPU. Not enough thermal paste could potentially throttle the performance of your computer.
Additionally, every processor is different. Specifically, one CPU generation differs from another.
For example, AMD’s Ryzen SKUs take on a so-called “ chiplet design ”. So, instead of just one CPU die (as we’ve seen in the past), it is split into multiple dies (chiplets). This means that the heat is released from different and multiple locations, making it completely different from the way Intel processors dissipate heat.
In fact, even if we compare Ryzen 3000 to Ryzen 5000 , we would probably be able to find differences in heat dissipation.
So, since every CPU is built differently, we have to ensure that the thermal paste is spread out evenly across the entire IHS for the best results.
This is probably the most popular method of applying thermal paste to a processor. It is so popular because it is simple and it does the job. At least, most of the time.
As new types of processors and coolers start to appear on the market, more methods are showing up. Some of them being more effective.
To use the “Pea Method” all you have to do is squeeze out a drop of thermal compound from the syringe onto the IHS that is the size of a pea . Remember, apply a steady amount of pressure on the syringe, don’t press on it too hard.
And don’t worry. Even if you get some of the paste onto the motherboard, nothing should happen as most brands today develop electrically non-conductive compounds .
Still, we recommend checking to ensure that it isn’t conductive.
After that, carefully put the cooler parallel with the surface of the processor. While tightening the screws, make sure to do so diagonally . Tighten one screw and then tighten the one diagonally from it, and so on.
This is done to ensure that the pea-size thermal compound drop is spread out evenly .
Now, this is a newer method that started showing up after Ryzen came to the market. Like we mentioned previously, Ryzen is rocking that chiplet design, so the heat isn’t as centered as most Intel processors.
The cross method is effective because it considerably improves the chances of spreading the compound evenly. By adding a cross-like shape onto the IHS and tightening down the cooler, the thermal paste will find itself everywhere, surely.
Keep in mind, this method can be more wasteful than others, but it may be better to be safe than sorry.
This method is especially good for Threadripper processors as there is a lot more surface area that needs to be covered.
An older alternative that some enthusiasts have been using for years.
The essence of this method is to spread the compound all over the IHS instead of relying on the pressure of the cooler to do so.
The technique for this method is a little bit different as you’ll need an additional tool other than the syringe to do it. That tool is a spatula . Fortunately, a lot of thermal paste products today come with a plastic spatula.
Apply one pea-sized dot of the compound onto the CPU and use the plastic spatula to spread it around. Try not to spill it around the edges of the CPUs because cleaning it up later can be a chore.
When you are ready, add the cooler too, tighten all the screws to further spread the paste and then you can start your PC.
For those coming from an already built PC, we think it is a good idea to explain how to clean the thermal paste off the cooler or the CPU (if you plan on reusing them).
Cleaning off the paste is easy, you just need to have some isopropyl rubbing alcohol available. For the best results, we recommend going for 90%+ alcohol, but you could do the job even with lower than that.
First, grab a piece of dry toilet paper and wipe off most of the excess thermal paste. This step is going to make the cleaning process so much easier. With that done, grab a microfiber cloth and dip it in alcohol.
If you don’t have such a cloth, you can try using a coffee filter . These are great because they don’t leave any kind of residue, unlike toilet paper. But, it’s fine even if you use regular toilet paper if you can’t find anything else.
Once your cloth of choice is dipped in alcohol, slowly start wiping the CPU’s IHS or the cooler’s coldplate. You may have to do several dips in alcohol to get rid of all the thermal paste residue.
Applying thermal paste can be a complicated matter, fortunately, you don’t have to do it, if you don’t want to. There is an alternative. The alternative is to use a graphite thermal pad . Currently, the most popular option is Innovation Cooling’s thermal pad .
It completely replaces the need for thermal compound.
It’s a dry, thin piece of graphite with a mix of other materials that provides solid thermal conductivity and it is reusable.
You can find these pads for about $10 .
Yes, these pads don’t provide results as well as when using thermal paste, but as you can see, it is still a solid solution.
Additionally, adding a thermal pad between the cooler and a CPU (removing it too) is considerably easier and simpler . All you have to do is just align the pad with the IHS, make sure it doesn’t move, and then tighten the cooler. No need to look for the right way to apply it or remove it.
There are probably dozens of other methods practiced around the world, but the ones mentioned in this article have been proven to be most effective, so there’s no reason to experiment with any other solution.
The conclusion is that you can use any method you want. If you do everything correctly, the changes in temperature with different methods won’t be too significant.
However, if you want to play it safe, we recommend going with the cross method as it will always spread the paste evenly across the CPU’s IHS.
Keeping up with the incredibly fast evolution of computer technology is almost impossible. That's why Branko will be using his knowledge on this matter to share news and information on all the latest essential technological innovations and advancements related to CPUs.

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ASUS Striker II Extreme: Mucho Bang, Mucho Bucks
by Kris Boughton on April 11, 2008 7:00 AM EST

Posted in
Motherboards

Index
It's getting expensive…
ASUS Striker II Extreme Board Layout and Features
ASUS Striker II Extreme Specifications
Test System Configuration and Methodology
Overall System Performance with PCMark Vantage
Synthetic 3D Graphics Results
Game Testing - Crysis
Game Testing - Unreal Tournament 3
Game Testing - Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Intel 45nm Quad-Core Overclocking
Memory Access Latency and Read Performance
Memory Write and Copy Performance
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Extreme Tweaker"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Extreme Tweaker" (Cont'd)
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Memory Timing Setting"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Over Voltage"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Over Voltage" (Cont'd)
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "CPU Configuration"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Spread Spectrum Control"
Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "CPU Configuration"
Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Index
It's getting expensive…
ASUS Striker II Extreme Board Layout and Features
ASUS Striker II Extreme Specifications
Test System Configuration and Methodology
Overall System Performance with PCMark Vantage
Synthetic 3D Graphics Results
Game Testing - Crysis
Game Testing - Unreal Tournament 3
Game Testing - Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts
Intel 45nm Quad-Core Overclocking
Memory Access Latency and Read Performance
Memory Write and Copy Performance
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Extreme Tweaker"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Extreme Tweaker" (Cont'd)
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Memory Timing Setting"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Over Voltage"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Over Voltage" (Cont'd)
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "CPU Configuration"
Complete BIOS Tuning Guide - "Spread Spectrum Control"
Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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Complete BIOS Tuning Guide
- "Spread Spectrum Control"
Spread spectrum controls are really added
to motherboards for one purpose only - they are sometimes needed so that a device
for sale within the US can include a legitimate Declaration of Conformity stating
compliance with Part 15 of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Rules. This
stipulates that operation of the device (motherboard), (a) may not cause harmful
interference, and (b) must accept any interference received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation. Sales of electronic devices within the US require
the strict observation of all FCC rules and regulations.
As a general requirement, every motherboard
must be capable of generating and distributing more than one common clocking signal
used to coordinate latching times as needed for the transfer and receipt of data
across the many high-speed interfaces found in today's systems. Because it is uncommon
for different busses to share similar operating frequencies, and because each must
be kept independent of the others, a significant portion of motherboard resources
are spent locating, monitoring, and regulating these circuits. Each circuit must
include a reference frequency, or known base frequency, from which all other frequencies
can be derived. A local oscillator usual provides this functionality.
The problem is these oscillators can
sometimes cause electromagnetic interference (EMI) centered about their operating
frequencies. In an effort to prevent these types of undesired interferences the
FCC, an independent licensing organization for devices capable of transmitting electromagnetic
signals, either intended or otherwise, operating under the purview of the US government,
enacted "Rule 15," effectively limiting the output power of such devices.
Engineers, looking for a way to meet
regulation, began using a method for limiting such interferences called spread spectrum
clocking. Spread spectrum clocking causes the signal regulation circuit to slightly
vary the frequency about the target frequency, effectively "spreading"
the power over a somewhat larger frequency band. The method of operation can be
used to control system output power below the FCC standard limits, allowing for
a claim of full compliance.
As you can imagine, even the smallest
variation in a clocking signal can be enough to create data transfer errors. The
fundamentals of overclocking demand the cleanest, purest signal possible, which
is why spread spectrum should always be disabled unless you have
a good reason to enable it. Ergo, CPU Spread Spectrum , PCIE
Spread Spectrum , MCP PCIE Spread Spectrum , SATA
Spread Spectrum , and LDT Spread Spectrum should all
be set to Disabled.

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DOWSIL TC-5625 Thermally Conductive Compound
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Best Premium Paste: Top Tier Alternate
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 3.5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Best Premium Paste: All-Around Performer
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Impressive Price/Performance Per Gram
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 1 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 4.0 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Runner-Up: Best Budget Thermal Paste
Ease of Use: 4.0 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 3.5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swabs and alcohol
Requires some pressure on the syringe to apply correctly
Ease of Use: 4.5 (1=difficult, 5=simple)
Relative Performance: 3.5 (1=poor, 5=excellent)
Cleanup: lint-free absorbent paper towels, alcohol pads or cotton swa
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