I'm currently doing a PC mod. The stock heatsinks on my Asus Z87I Pro are yellow and doesn't fit in with the theme I'm going for. So I decided to paint them. I'm just not sure if I should reapply the thermal paste as I only have conductive and the die is really small.
Should I replace it or just let it be?
What is the worst that could happen?
Yes definitely. Remove the old (wasted) thermal compound and put just a tiny bit of paste on the die. The die surface itself is non conductive (silicone = sand).
Only if you put a huge blob on it and it would spread to the little ... i guess capacitors, and the contacts the fact its conductive would become a problem.
Imagine the days back when CPUs had no heat-spreader ^^ we also used Arctic-silver and such conductive pastes.
Discussion on overclockers.net where it is about notebook CPUs which are usually also naked die.
Silicon metal is very much conductive, and silicon oxide isn't (sand).
Get a none conductive thermal paste or you can put tiny dabs of superglue on the bypass capacitors (those thingies surrounding the die) to shield them from being shorted.
Sure better be save but sorry, but how much paste would one put onto that tiny die so it globs over to the caps
Best thing would be none conductive thermal paste, no need to put expensive stuff on it, but potting the caps is a 100% safe rout, also not only caps but those loose contact points close to the die.
But if OP only has the one at hand... it's also pointless to buy new one ^^
Agree! everything other than die DIE should not be reached with thermal paste ^^
Could I just keep the thermal paste on the heatsink so it it doesn't spread over?
That gunky thermalpastepad thing? no remove that. Just put a small drop of paste on the die.. about a pinneedle head.. and your good.
What happens if it spills over?
If you really manage to use as much thermalpaste that it makes contact with the capacitors or the open contacts on the DIE carrier than the conductive paste will short them which can cause malfunction or more likely even destruction.
But as already mentioned:
A) as always use paste in reasonable amounts
B) you can cover the caps and the contacts with superglue(=insulator)
Go here to learn how not to apply thermal paste
https://forum.teksyndicate.com/t/post-a-video-on-how-not-to-apply-thermal-paste/86362/
I don't have any superglue laying around, so that's basically ruled out.
How would I got about removing the glue that is already around the die?
Would it overheat if I just put it back on as it is now?
That can not be ruled out. I would say yes.
Have you ever done anything like swapping a cooler on a CPU?
My goto approach is gentle rubbing it with a alcohol (the one from the pharmacy) soaked coffee filter. That should help getting rid of any leftover thermal paste usually.
Just do not overdo it with the paste and it should not leak anywhere near the caps or even the contacts... specially the contacts are really really far away.
All the time.
This is just like a glue like substance. Is removable with isopropyl alcohol just like normal thermal paste is or should I use something else for it?
I just did a test with a piece of glass. The amount I have to use is just so freaking litte.
Know I just have to figure out how to remove the gluelike substance.
Yes thats what I mean, that should work. And its not actually glue.. or you would neve have gotten the heatsink off without damaging the DIE.
Its a pre applied thermal "paste" that’s really gunky and stiff. The manufacturer get the heatsink with that shit already applied ^^
But isopropyl alcohol and maybe the usage of these little sticks for cleaning ones ears with the cotton on the ends to give the DIE a gentle rubbing ;)
Alright.
I have never seen pre-applied thermal paste like this.
So thanks alot for your help and time!
