Since I'm going to replace my GPU's thermal paste, I was wondering what your perferred application method is. I am/was going to use the "line" method, because of the rectangle shape of the GPU, but I'm open to suggestions.
This worked fine for me. Used slightly more.
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Thanks for the link. I've heard as well that too much thermal paste shouldn't be an issue.
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I'm partial to the Kentucky way myself.
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I used that and it's been working wonders on my 8350. Room is nice and toasty. :D
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too much thermal paste is only a problem if the thermal paste is conductive, which is rare these days and not a good idea anyways unless you go liquid metal which is crazy and a rabbit trail. use non conductive and use as much as you want.
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roger wilco
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So, I reapplied the termal paste according to @w.meri's description xD and I experience a difference of about 20°C. In the end, it was definitely worth it.
20 degrees?
Sounds like the paste wasn't making good contact the first time around.
The difference between decent thermal compound is only ever a couple of degrees (as in 1-2 degrees), so the difference in application should be even less.
Generally people recommend a pea, line, x, grain of rice or similar shape. Most people agree that letting the heat sink spread the paste is best, and it is recommended to avoid the business-card method.
This asthonished me too, but I've tested it at about the same room temperature, therefore I believe my metrics are right. (There are others who have reported that the experienced a 20° difference as well on a similar card, like the MSI 290x)
I do an H pattern then put a dot in the 2 empty spaces.
For CPU yes this is right. Generally you don't want to clean up an extra mess or god forbid get any down into the socket. A CPU, unlike the GPU, has a heatsink on it already to both protect the processor and allow a wider area for heat transfer from the processor to the cooler. Because a GPU doesn't have that lid on it people generally use a little more than they would for a cpu to ensure full coverage of the die.
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Yeah, I should probably have said that too.
Generally not enough thermal compound is bad, but too much isn't (unless it's conductive or gets in a socket or something).
For GPUs it is different, but it is still advised to avoid the business-card method.