How do you apply Thermal paste to a Direct Heat Pipe design cooler?

Computer_Freak

Computer_Freak

Active Member
Hey guys

i have a Coolermaster Hyper 212 Plus

I basically put some thermal paste (Small vertical stripe) on each heatpipe.

the that the right way of doing it?

or do you apply it any other way?

cause between the heat pipe and the aluminium block, there is small gaps where the excess paste can "escape"

check it out, and tell me the correct way of applying paste on this type of heatsink.

This is the heatsink base. note the space between the pipes and the aluminium block

http://www.frostytech.com/articleimages/200907/CMhyper212plus_base.jpg

thanks guys
 
Last edited:
8

87dtna

Active Member
I would NOT do it that way. You could have hot spots on the CPU.

I would put about 2 dots the size of a rice grain on the CPU, take a razor blade and spread it out pretty thin evenly across the entire chip. This way everything has thermal paste on it for sure and far less chance of hot spots.
 
F

funkysnair

VIP Member
put one pea sized amount in the middle of your cpu, pur your heatsink ontop with a little pressure (move it side to side a small amount mind) then you fix and tighten the heatsink to the mobo!

once you have made contact with the heatsink on the cpu do not break the bond as it will create air bubbles!

its not difficult but it is important
 
8

87dtna

Active Member
That only works well with Intel CPU's because the heat comes from the center of the chip. With AMD's you have to spread it because if you don't put enough in the middle it won't spread far enough and again could cause hot spots near the corners.

I used the pea method as well with my I5, but I don't recommend it on AMD chips... use the spread method.
 
J

Jamin43

banned
I used this method

dollop.jpg


smear.jpg


http://techreport.com/articles.x/13671/1
 
The_Other_One

The_Other_One

VIP Member
I hear the pea method's the best as other's have said (and not to spread it) but personally, I still apply a small amount and smooth it out with my finger. Temps are fine on all my computers, including the laptop's I've reapplied the past on.
 
8

87dtna

Active Member
Your finger is the worst thing to use. The oils in your skin cause contamination. If you are not overclocking though it won't make much difference how you put it on.
 
ScottALot

ScottALot

Active Member
If you're going to do spread: Wrap a plastic baggie tightly around your finger.

Otherwise, GO PEA :D
 
Last edited:
Machin3

Machin3

New Member
What happens when you apply too much thermal paste. Meaning, instead of putting the drops on there, you squeeze out onto the whole cpu?
 
bomberboysk

bomberboysk

Active Member
AMD and intel cpu's both have the cpu die relatively in the center of the chip. The reason the spread method is not recommended is multiple things, first it is impossible to get a uniform coating, second, you cannot spread with a bond line anywhere near as thin as the pressure spread method will. The theory behind this is that in a perfect world, the bond line is effectively zero, and that if you have two contact surfaces, if you measure the thickness of both objects with and without thermal interface material the measurements should be exactly the same(in a perfect world, in actuality this is not the case). The spread method allows for air pockets and such, and generally the most recommended way is a bb to pea sized drop in the center of the cpu, or slightly more if it is a HDT style cooler. Also, if it is a thicker paste such as shin etsu it should be heated in hot to boiling water for 5-10 minutes before applying so that it is thinner and can be spread out(which is why best temps happen after 2-3 days with shin etsu, the heat from the cpu thins it and combined with the heatsink mounting pressure it flows somewhat as well as gets deeper into the microscopic valleys and ridges of the contact surfaces).

As for putting too much....thermal interface material is a poor conductor of heat actually, especially compared to solid copper or aluminum. Too much will act as an insulator and cause poor temperatures.
 
Computer_Freak

Computer_Freak

Active Member
the way i applied it, i havent had any problems...

temps are good

Ambient temperature in case is 26°C (I actually put a thermometer in there) and my CPU is idling at 35°C/33°C (Core 1 & 2)

the thing with the blob in the middle, is that it will all get stuck in the middle heatpipe, and all the excess will be trapped in those little "gutters" (I cant think of another word), so the other heatpipes wont get any paste...

Reason why im asking this is cause i want to get AS5 (I currently have Coolermaster Nano Fusion) and my temps are pretty good

With AS5, i believe i will get a 1 - 2 degree drop...

I also want to apply the paste properly, as AS5 is expensive...

btw, the coolermaster manual states that it should be spread evenly with a card (they supplied one)

maybe, i can try that, spread it evenly, and then put a few small blobs on the heatpipes so that the heatpipes get a better coverage...

i dont know... its a weird thing...

I used the blob on a normal cooler, flat base, but this seems like the blob wont work...
 
ScottALot

ScottALot

Active Member
Or you can go to bombsquadcomputers.com and pick up some Shin Etsu which is a tad better than AS5. Not very expensive, either. (7$ + Free Shipping if you're in the states)
 
Bodaggit23

Bodaggit23

Active Member
I don't like this style heatsink for this very reason, unless the pipes were precision fitting when they were installed, there's always going to be gaps
between the pipes and the block. Good to hear you're having luck with your
particular method, as I'm not sure which method I would use either. These heatsinks are unique that way. Whatever works. :good:

Also, a PEA is bigger than you need. I've used my tube of AS5 about 8 times on various heatsinks and gpu's. A little does indeed, go a long way.

Granted, this looks like Silicone based TIM, and it spreads much easier, but you get the idea.

Pea.jpg
Pea2.jpg
 
B

birscaplug

New Member
I don't like this style heatsink for this very reason, unless the pipes were precision fitting when they were installed,
 
Computer_Freak

Computer_Freak

Active Member
this style though is working wonders

35°C on a 26°C ambient?

and it was cheap...

The last pic is how i applied mine...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top