How much thermal paste is enough?

[dnacard]

I have to install 3 cpu's and not sure how many packs of 6oz arctic silver 2 to get. any help? thanx

 

[minendo]

I had half a tube left over of 6oz Artic silver II after installing 1 xp1800+ and I athlon 1.0.

 

[WarCon]

I get an average of 20 installs to a tube, my biggest problem is that I still get too much for a proper install no matter how hard I push the plunger. I think I could almost double that with a little more controlled output.


..............edit.............
I am also such a cheapskate about it that I pull the plunger back out and usually find a little that has squeezed backwards and get a few more installs out of that. I have thought about just getting a little jar like what makeup comes in and just squeeze the tube into it and use an applier tool (narrowed razor blade to scoop out what I need. I personally don't go with the squish out method of application. I use a very thin coat simply to fill in the microgrooves in the surfaces and try to get as thin a layer as posible other than that. I lap my waterblock really flat so I don't really worry about needing to fill in a gap caused by either a high spot or bowl in the surface.

 

[darth maul]

Thinner is better, and one 6oz tube is more then enough. Go to Artic Silvers website for install intructions.

 

[bacillus]

arctic silver application instructions

 

[Jerboy]

<< I had half a tube left over of 6oz Artic silver II after installing 1 xp1800+ and I athlon 1.0. >>




WTF did you do to the CPU??! Dip the whole thing in ASII to make it nice and slickery sliver?

It takes about 200mg per installion of Athlon sized core and 6oz should give you AT LEAST 850 installations.

BTW... standard ASII comes in 3g tube(0.11oz)

 

[jcmoran]

6 ounces!! I have a 3 gram tube and it should last at least 20 applications for an Athlon chip. Just a dab will do ya. Spread it with a razor thinly on the processor die only (the center of the chip), just enough to leave a thin coat you can almost see through. Then dab a bit on the heatsink and rub it in, then off with a clean lint-free cloth. It's called tinning and you may see a hint of silver on the heatsink when you're done. It's only meant to fill in the microscopic pits and valleys on the heatsink.

 

[jayster]

Quoting an old time tv comercial:
"A little dab will do ya"

 

[Lasuuco]

That ASII stuff gets everywhere... its like, coating my whole room now. and my body. and my stuff...

The good news is that i conduct heat very well.

 

[JooeeBuddafuuko]

I Cant remember where this tip came from...

Use saran wrap or and stretch it over your finger (avoid getting oil from your finger on the cpu) and apply an almost transparent coat. Too much is not good!

The good thing about this technique is that you dont have to worry about gouging your cpu with a razor and you have some tactile feedback about the pressure/application.

Good luck.

 

[cpals]

<< I Cant remember where this tip came from...

Use saran wrap or and stretch it over your finger (avoid getting oil from your finger on the cpu) and apply an almost transparent coat. Too much is not good!

The good thing about this technique is that you dont have to worry about gouging your cpu with a razor and you have some tactile feedback about the pressure/application.

Good luck. >>



I've heard that for on the heatsink, but I think for the cpu chip it would be a bit too "sloppy." I would think you would want something a tad smaller than a finger spreading out the ASII.