[l3ullets]

I have a Zalman 7700 cu to install and the manual tells me to apply a thin layer of grease thoughly on the cpu (does not spreading lead to the possibility of creating air pockets), I always thought that a small pea sized amount on the middle of the cpu and then allow this to spread via the heatsink (without twisting) was the way to go.

After a quick bit of research this topic is very evenly debated.

So, which application method do you use and why please.

Cheers.

Edited by l3ullets, 28 June 2006 - 11:32 AM.

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I spread mine. It draws the heat out of the CPU faster. It depends with that cooler it doesnt really matter which way. Most people spread.

[rumble291]

I spread mine. It draws the heat out of the CPU faster. It depends with that cooler it doesnt really matter which way. Most people spread.

[warriorscot]

Modern CPUs especially GPUs are a little to large to just let it spread itself you usually need to give it a spread about, you wont intriduce air pockets unless you fold it over on itself its would be hard to do if you were paying attention to what you were doing, you dont use enough to get large airpockets anyway, you are only supposed to use a very tiny amount.

[MNOB07]

I've always spread it out a little bit, and then the heatsink will do the rest. You may want to cover the whole surface area at first, but there really is only a smaller normal core underneath the IHS which is all that needs to be covered...

Edited by MNOB07, 28 June 2006 - 06:24 PM.

[HaraldR]

I use the credit card method:

apply grease to cpu
use credit card or similar to spread grease evenly across entire surface
at no more than thickness of a credit card depth

then attach heatsink

[jrm20]

I spread mine always and use a rice grain sized ammount of the thermal compound/paste, maybe alittle hair more than a rice grain but dont use too much.

I spread mine out with the little plastic baggies you get always with the mobos that the screws are in. It fits right on your finger and wont come off its perfect or the all purpose thermal spreader lol.. Or you can use a little cutout of a piece of cardboard. "small piece"

I always keep myself grounded while I spread the paste on also..