What method for applying thermal paste?

[Fizzik Profile]

It's been a while since I've done any custom building and my Llano APU A6-3650 is on its way with a Scythe Kozuti Slim Cooler. I was wondering what the preferred method of applying thermal paste. Back in the days use to put it on and smooth it out over the whole surface. Although lately I have been seeing that people will just put a pea sized dab in the middle and mount the cooler. Let me know your method and what you think works best.

[Steve]

just put a pea sized dab in the middle and mount the cooler.

I've never had an issue doing it that way. The pressure does a fine job of smoothing and spreading.

[Fizzik Profile]

Is this the same method you used for the Kozuti? it seems difficult to keep the heatsink pressed against the cpu while tightening mounting screws?

[Steve]

Don't know how well I can explain I did it, but I'll try.

Read this first: http://www.itxgamer.com/cooling/tips-scythe-kozuti/

1 Once you have the screws ready, hold the Kozuti upside down in one hand.
2 Apply the paste to the cooler
3 Set the motherboard down on top of the cooler while still holding the cooler in your hand.
4 Don't worry about pressing it down, gravity and the screws will take care of the pressure.
5 Start threading the four mounting screws in one corner then the opposite corner.
6 Tighten them a bit at a time in alternating order until tight.

[ChronoDog Profile]

It really all depends on the type of paste you're using.
For thinner stuff like AS5 or the usual generic silicone goo, it's always better to spread it evenly using something like a razorblade.
For thicker things, such as the MX2, MX4, NT-H1 and so on, putting a drop in the middle and then wiggling the HSF on top for 5 minutes is best.

[pinooooo Profile]

Hey guy's i had an interesting event a few seconds ago, i happened to have (almost) ran out of thermal paste. I replaced my cpu fan today because the old one started making an annoying high pitch whine at low speeds (it was clean and running at the right speed). Anyway after i cleaned the cpu and sink from thermal past and wanted to apply new thermal past and i only had some thermal paste on the brush (i use zalman ZM-STG1 paste) so i could to spread just about enough paste over the heatsink, was barely enough to cover the contact area.. and now my cpu runs 5 degrees colder (35C) then it used to do (40) core one even runs at 32C atm .

So i'd say put a tiny bit of paste on the brush, put it on the sink and keep spreading till you covered the whole contact area and don't use more then absolute minimum to cover the contact area.