How to Remove and Apply Thermal Compound [Updated Tutorial]

In this updated tutorial, I show you the best way to apply thermal compound to a CPU. I also include instructions on how to remove existing thermal compound from a heatsink.

[TacSav]

that looks like waaayy too much paste. more than twice the amount u should be using

[snnnoopy]

The change you made to the application of the heatsink paste made all the difference in the world. You just saved me a ton of money. Thank you for making this update video.

[PCGamingVideos]

At 3:57 if you are unsure the thermal paste will spread evenly, you can test it out, by putting your CPU on a table and take a piece of glass (break a window or something lol! ) and press it on the thermal paste which you applied on the CPU. You will now see how and if the thermal paste spreads accordingly or wrong.

[frddyj]

hey sciguy14. im 40 & know little about computers. im just upgrading the RAM and CPU in my dell inspiron family computer and your video really helped me out.

Now you have me interested in possibly building my own whole computer.

[LuxenDeMark]

given that I will be doing this tomorrow, I decided to look up some video tutorial on how to do apply the thermal paste; you certainly do not disappoint, Mr. Lynn.

[Heyalth]

I watched a a couple tutorials on how to do this, I found yours to be the best although it did look like you put a bit too much paste on your CPU.

Thank you

[AdeptusArbites]

Thanks for making this guide. I'm going to be replacing my CPU's thermal paste for the first time, since it's running at 92 C when idle.

[MiightyMax]

In my opinion, that's way way way to much paste. You need to put half of what it shows in this

[brucecompdoc]

Q-Tips dipped in the alcohol works very well for getting the old crusty TIM out of the nooks and crannies. I fix and rebuild custom PCs for a living and have to remove and apply TIM almost daily.

I've also noticed that TIM gets crusty after a couple of years of use and starts to act as an insulator rather than a conduit for heat transfer. It's not a bad idea to re-apply it every couple years as maintenance, even on a PC not exhibiting any problems.

[PhunnyPunny]

haha just watched the unupdated one and just wanna say that the vids have gotten a lot better since then :) keep it up

[daisies]

DO NOT USE THAT MUCH THERMAL PASTE! This is not the 90s . . . THERE IS AN EXACT QUANTITY YOU WANT TO USE! You should only use a rice grain to BB size amount. Good bye CPU warranties to those that followed this destructive video. -_-

[EmoticonMayhem]

Thanks for this vid, I was planning on upgrading cooler and my only previous experience with installing coolers was with stock coolers that have paste pre-applied, so I didn't know what the best method was

[silvercoke]

they are referring to a thermal paste test one website does multiple times a year. They have tested mustard, mayo, chocolate, and other products around the house along with other pastes that come out during the time of testing. It was shown the mayo does a pretty good job, but ends up drying out quicker than normal pastes.

[sciguy]

@BKsMassive What are you basing that on? This is not too much thermal paste.

[TheChohr]

Thanks for this video it was useful. I think the method you describe here is more widespread (at least in factory built machines) than the method in your first video, because when I see the thermal paste on cpus after removing the heatsink, the edges of the thermal-pasted area are usually kind of round looking, which suggests they did precisely what you did here. Although saying that, my AMD phenom came with the paste already on the heatsink (which was obviously hermetically sealed ).

[MUCxLVR]

BRAVO!!!! Finally!! Someone who applies the paste correctly!!

[drakelane]

Thanks man I'm new at this and just wanted to know before I build my pc and change cpus in the future.

[blueovalfan]

i was screwing around watching random stuff and caught the last video. i would take that old video down. this one is the best way to go hands down. i tried the spreading method on a dell demenesion 8400. that resulting the cpu over heating and the computer sounding like a hairdryer lol. it was a combo of a stupid design and my ignorance seeing, a video much like the old video. people watching this, you should follow this video it's the best way i've seen yet.

[XXXCompAssesXXX]

Nice video! I am going to be upgrading a Windows Xp Media Center Edition CPU which was originally an AMD Athlon to a new AMD Athlon.
Can I just look at the way it was set up and do that the same way? Thanks.

[TheBornBoy]

i searched the net and i found out that i don't need to put it cuz, i used the stock heatsink and it have a pre-applied thermal compound.
What a relief !