Best Way to Apply Thermal Paste?

Comparing the different methods of applying thermal paste using the Intel Alder Lake i7 12700K. In the video I compare 7 different methods of applying thermal paste and examine how well they spread to cover the CPU and test the thermals of each method using an AIDA64 stability test to determine which is the best method to use.

#pcbuild #ThermalPaste #Benchmarks

[joecincotta]

Commonsense approach, backed up with clear tests and no-hype results. Love your video mate.

[DavidH-ibxl]

Thank-you sir. I just watched approx 10 videos on this, but yours is by far the best. You are clear and include real world testing (full heat).

[brianmarshall]

Yes, I think this is about right. People spend a lot of time and get bogged down in pointless recrimination when there's really only two takeaways from these tests for me. You certainly want to use thermal paste, as it makes a significant difference in promoting conductivity. Yet repeated testing has yielded results that show that the difference between various thermal paste brands, their tiered product lines, and application methodologies is a scant few degrees. I used to painstakingly use the back of a plastic bag, taut around my finger, to apply paste evenly in the 1990s. Now some brands give you the handy plastic applicator. These days I usually use the pea method, but that has been with the square CPU dies. I'll probably use an applicator when I build with Intel again, but in any event, don't sweat it too much. The difference is negligible.

[markbayhon]

What works for me is the X with very thin paste and adding thin dots between the lines. This is really nice video.

[seb_pt]

Love all your videos man. Keep them coming whenever you feel the need. Love your tests, information, explanation, video editing. You have a channel that indeed is guaranteed worth to subscribe. Thanks Christopher. I'll go with the pea sized.

[im]

Why is nobody trying a two pea sized or two rice grain application, a third and two thirds of the way up the CPU

[konachan]

TLDR: Stop the buttered toast, just a pea sized amount is enough. Any other method may reduce your temps but is too insignificant to matter; but what is significant is more messy work.

[Kyoku_Ryuu]

i think if you apply in two places with the "too little" method,
one a bit higher than the center and one lower, it would be the best in terms of good spread and not spilling out of the socket.

[xMIIONx]

I bent the pins on my Ryzen cpu removing the cooler just as you mention, fortunately was able to straighten them and it works fine. Lesson learned, don't pull it straight out, give it a wiggle and slide it out gently to the side!

[WhitePOWERranger]

Just get some on there. Worked for me for 30 years.

[jaylc]

Awesome video as usual. Thermal pads are getting SUPER popular now days. Would love to see this!

[tkosse]

Thanks Christopher! I've been waiting years for someone to do this very comparison.

[_MaxHeadroom_]

If you look at a infrared view of a CPU the hottest spot is a circle in the middle which gets cooler further to the edges

[josepht]

something ive always done was just make a thing layer and spread it on the entire top of the cpu.

[jimmydandy]

To me what counts is the max temps over anything else - it seems the pea drop and x provide best results, 72C, the reason you are getting higher temps with more, is that when the application is too thick, the transfer of heat is not optimal, you need a thin application but not too little just the rest amount for optimal transfer of heat, SO if you put too much, you are not optimal, spreading and other methods could create more air bubbles, the pea sized seems to provide a thinner spread, so more optimal heat transfer in an area that counts the most, center area.

[gungan]

No matter how much I know it doesn't matter, it's just so satisfying to watch thermal paste videos. Lol

[weirdodude]

I spent quite a bit of time trying to figure out which method is best for me, over the years. The way I do it is with a very thin spread and tiny dot in the middle (much smaller than the pea-sized dot). With a thin spread there is a potential for air pockets, and I think the tiny dot helps with that. I agree that it's a small difference in temperature between methods. You're also right that if you use a lot of paste then the heatsink can get glued, I've had that happen. Thumbs up for great videos.

[silentkillz]

What if the X is smaller ?i think it won’t go over the CPU ?either way excellent video as always, don’t understand why your channel doesn’t have more subs

[CrazyHenkie]

Finally someone with some common sense. Great advice sir!

[wovrd]

Should include "for intel 12th gen platform". Because different kind of mounting or direct die without heat spreader have different outcomes. Without that in the title beginners will not get the full context.