Best Way to Reapply Thermal Paste

joh06937

joh06937

New Member
well i am about a day away from getting my phenom ii x4 955 be cpu from newegg and i am going to reuse my zalman 9700. i have read many different things each giving their own way to reapply the thermal paste (i will be using arctic silver 5) but i just figured i would get the forum's opinion. how do you guys do it? i have read that using 90% rubbing alcohol is one way but i have heard that is also a bad way. i figured i shouldn't just use a paper towel and just rub really hard :P thanks ahead for any replies.
 
Articlean is the best method, 91% isopropyl is an acceptable method though, get a paper towel or coffee filter, wipe off as much as possible with it dry, then get out the isopropyl(rubbing) alcohol and go to town with it until you stop seeing residue on the coffee filters. Do the same on both cpu and heatsink.
 
bomberboysk said:
Articlean is the best method, 91% isopropyl is an acceptable method though, get a paper towel or coffee filter, wipe off as much as possible with it dry, then get out the isopropyl(rubbing) alcohol and go to town with it until you stop seeing residue on the coffee filters. Do the same on both cpu and heatsink.
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oh yeah forgot to mention the filter. i was going to do that but just wanted to hear the other methods that people use. any others?
 
Well, for applying the new paste, a small rice grain sized amount in the centre is all you need. use the HSF to spread the paste and don't lift it up and put it back on. that will make air bubbles... air is a good insulator so it will make the temp higher.
 
linkin said:
Well, for applying the new paste, a small rice grain sized amount in the centre is all you need. use the HSF to spread the paste and don't lift it up and put it back on. that will make air bubbles... air is a good insulator so it will make the temp higher.
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i already know how to apply the new stuff i was just wondering what people did to remove the old stuff. sorry if i wasn't clear on that :P
 
linkin said:
Well, for applying the new paste, a small rice grain sized amount in the centre is all you need. use the HSF to spread the paste and don't lift it up and put it back on. that will make air bubbles... air is a good insulator so it will make the temp higher.
Click to expand...

Does this only pertain to AMD chips or can I do this on Pentium D chip too?
 
I use q tips to get most of the thermal paste off (Dry) then use a bit of alcohol to get the rest off. works well for me.
 
salvage-this said:
I use q tips to get most of the thermal paste off (Dry) then use a bit of alcohol to get the rest off. works well for me.
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Don't use Q-tips, they are cotton and will leave strands of cotton fiber on the thermal contact areas.

As far as OP, there are no other methods to use unless you want to use a higher strength solvent like acetone, which i've never tried, or arcticlean(which is definately worth its cost).
 
I have the same cooler. It is cheap to apply the paste, mount the fan, remove it and see what your pattern it (then clean everything). I have my own method that I developed from doing it this way.

My test showed me the Zalman liquid paste and AC5 gave identicale readings. Noctua paste was 3c warmer than AC5 for me.

One small drop size AC5 works. I also move it to a very small x pattern. When I remove the cooler it then covers everything unlike the smal drop which makes a round pattern when I remove it. However, this does not lowered my temp, it just makes me feel better knowing I have full contact. When you look at a stock intel cooler the contact is round and in the middle. Obviously that is where the heat is generated on the chip.
 
Gabe63 said:
I have the same cooler. It is cheap to apply the paste, mount the fan, remove it and see what your pattern it (then clean everything). I have my own method that I developed from doing it this way.

My test showed me the Zalman liquid paste and AC5 gave identicale readings. Noctua paste was 3c warmer than AC5 for me.

One small drop size AC5 works. I also move it to a very small x pattern. When I remove the cooler it then covers everything unlike the smal drop which makes a round pattern when I remove it. However, this does not lowered my temp, it just makes me feel better knowing I have full contact. When you look at a stock intel cooler the contact is round and in the middle. Obviously that is where the heat is generated on the chip.
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What works best for you? Small dab or 'X' pattern?
 
What is the rubbing alcohol called I went to chemist here and he didnt get what exactly I wanted would i get 90% alcohol at a chemist?
Can i use thinner(acetone) for removal is it safe
 
mihir said:
What is the rubbing alcohol called I went to chemist here and he didnt get what exactly I wanted would i get 90% alcohol at a chemist?
Can i use thinner(acetone) for removal is it safe
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isopropyl alcohol/surgical spirit/rubbing alcohol are all the same thing. Never tried acetone, but i assume it would work.
 
sirsaechao said:
What works best for you? Small dab or 'X' pattern?
Click to expand...

Both gave the the same temp readings. The round dab gave me a circular patern, IE not 100% coverage. The small x-pattern gave me 100% CPU-Cooler coverage but the temps are the same in CPUZ. I do feel better knowing I have a full contact pattern but it does not seem to make a diff.
 
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