How to properly Install a VGA/CPU Cooler.

Ðamage™

I thought I'd write a guide on the proper way to apply thermal paste for anyone going out to buy a CPU or VGA Cooler for their computer, I've noticed some people asking and I thought this might help. Driverheaven or myself do not take any responsibilty for anything that might happen due to an improper installation or malfunction on your part.

Question: How do I apply thermal paste properly to my VGA Card or CPU?

1. The key to applying thermal paste is simple - you want the surfaces to be very clean, and you want only the MINIMAL required paste to get the job done. The most common mistake for beginners or anyone for that matter, is to apply too much paste. You'll no doubt see this type of problem with stock heatsinks that were installed at factories; whether its for CPUs, Northbridges, or Videocards, the stock heatsinks tend to have huge gobs of regular white (non-silver) paste.

2. Clean everything! You have to clean both the vga die and the cpu die thoroughly. This is especially true if some previous paste, goop or tape or anything else is on the heatsink of the GFX Card chip or CPU chip. Note that I am saying the die or chip - do NOT clean the whole CPU or VGA Card. The easiest way to do this is with alcohol which I highly recommend because it dries fast and won't cause damage.. and anything else is uncivilized, some q-tips, and paper towels.. and a little compressed air doesn't hurt either.

3. No matter what paste you are using (here's a comparison, I'll let you decide which is best for yourselves, I recommend the one with the highest silver content), try putting just a small amount on the CPU chip and the same for your ATi or Nvidia chips. For smaller CPUs and VGA cards such as the Athlon XP, Pentium 3 or your older GFX Cards, you really only need something like the equivalent to half a grain of rice. For people with heatspreaders, you would need to use more. But start off with as little as you think would give a super thin layer. It's always better to have too little to start (because you can add some more after Step 4 and repeat).

4. Using something with a clean edge, spread the paste out across the whole of the die/chip. Most people like myself use a credit card, stiff business card, or razor, basically whatever I can get my hands on. Make sure not to scratch the surface if you use something sharp!!! How thin should you spread? 1mm thick is a good rule of thumb, but you won't be able to measure it so you're going to have to just eyeball. I like to make sure that the paste is so thin that it looks like it barely coats the surface, and I usually stir it a little to mix it up.

5. Make sure when you install the heatsink for either your CPU or VGA Cards, that you don't accidentally rub the heatsink around, or angle it in such a way that might smear the paste away from the cooler base contact area. Also make sure that when installing the cooler and heatsink that you don't fasten it down or tighten the screws too hard. This will also cause overheating and possibly you going to your closest computer store to buy another one, and that will get a little expensive.

6. Also some people have suggested that after you clean the heatsink you apply a very, very small amount of paste to where you estimate the die will be, and then wipe it down until only a slight haze remains, but that's really up too you. I personally do this on all my permanent installs for peace of mind but there is likely no real benefit from it. I hope this helps out with anyone out there that wants to do things right with overclocking or just to get those temps down a little.

I used different sites to get this guide for you people at Driverheaven, and this site was one that did help me in alot with research I did.. I did use some of the sentencing in this guide along with some added things to help the people here at Driverheaven obtain some information and knowledge on the "how to", so I'll give the site the proper respect for helping me in doing the guide. --> http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/faqs/kb/5,61.html


Peace & Good Luck

SexPistoL

Hey Damage,
helpful thread M8, can I add the alcohol that I have used for removeing the old heat paste is "naptha" (some people may know it as "colemans fuel") I found it removes the gunk really quickly and easily, it also evaporates really quickly, without leaving any greasy residue.

Ðamage™

Does it? I haven't heard of people using that for cleaning their chip/die before. I use alcohol because I know it works really good with cleaning the gunk off but if that works too, then for sure use it.

Excellent bro thanks for the tip.

CDsDontBurn

i noticed on the link that you provided that they used Artic Silver 3. Now with Artic Silver 5 it's even more effective than it's predecessor .

Ðamage™

True Burn true!

The_Neon_Cowboy

Artic silver cermic is less conductive then AS3/AS5 , It far safer to use and costs
alot less and only performs a couple C below AS5...

CDsDontBurn

below as in cooler, or below as in slightly worse?

Rasta Monsta

I actually read a review not long ago showing slightly better cooling with the ceramique than with AS5 (obviously your results may vary), and as Neon points out, it is 100% non-conductive, which is helpful for those pesky CPU warranties.

rasta

P.S. DAMAGE - I have used "electronic parts cleaner" from the auto parts store to clean dies, and it does a very good job. FYI.

Ðamage™

Excellent Rasta, I actually have some of that stuff in the cupboard for cleaning my dvd player and stuff, but I wasn't absolutley sure if I could use it for that.

Cheers

md5

Thanks for the text damage, however it's not yours, so it'd be nice if you added a link to where you got it from:
http://www.neoseeker.com/Hardware/faqs/kb/5,61.html

Some very good guides on the subject (with pictures) are:
http://www.devhardware.com/c/a/Hardw...Thermal-Paste/
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

and of course, an appropriate Google search:
http://www.google.com/search?q=apply+thermal+paste

Ðamage™

Actually it is mine.. I used some of the text from that guide for research along with other websites, and used my own and more simplified terms in explaining things along with point form so that people have a better understanding of what needs to be done. So if you can find something with exactly my format then I'd be more then happy to post a link. So thanks for pointing that out but there's really no need. Also again i'm trying to help people here on Driverheaven with problems that seem to arise alot about the proper way of installing a vga or cpu cooler and I get it thrown back in my face.. thanks.

Cheers

md5

Well, the problem is that you copied almost all of the article and presented it as yours, which I didn't find to be a really nice thing. If you copy articles in such a large degree, it would be great if you provided a link to them and not present the whole work as your own, because in this case it isn't

Ðamage™

It was research, yes I may have used some sentences to implement in with mine but it is not text for text.. and I have edited it so that the link is recognised as something I used for research.

Thank you md5

SexPistoL

Isn't that what forums like DH are all about. Passing on knowledge that you learn by experience, weather buy trial and error, one two one tuition, by reading or a combination of all. Then passing onto others "like me" or other members and the guests who come here. In a simplified version, to save in both time and effort searching google, (usualy with duff info)

It is then up to the individual to make their own calculated decision on the correct course of action. To condem someone for trying to help another like this, would have been more constructive in a PM or if you feel that strongly in the "Flame Zone".

As a new member to DH, I have learned a great deal from a lot of the members in this forum and Damage is one of them. You are an old hand here and are in a position to help not hinder the passage of knowledge, you should know better!

md5

I never said that I didn't like the tutorial that Damage has posted - on the contrary, it's very well written.

However, he copied a major part from an article in another site without giving a link to it. This is not the greatest thing to do, and some people don't like to have their work copied and presented as someone else's. I wouldn't like DH to run into any sort of copyright infridgement, so I've only asked Damage to give a link to the site where he got a major part of his guide from.

The issue is done for me - Damage has added a link to the article as requested, so there's no more argument here. Carry on the discussion for the guide please, it has many good points in it

Ðamage™

Ya, md5 was absolutely right about this thread and in pointing it out. I appreciate the tip md5 and hope everyone enjoys this and gets a little bit more knowledge about how to do a vga or cpu heatsink cooler replacement.

Peace

Bodee

sounds highly combustiable to me !!

H3X4D3C1M4L

As long as it evaproates (like rubbing alcohol), doesn't leave a residue, and you don't have open flame near your CPU (...) then why would it matter?

dj_stick

you never know, cpu's may ge hot enough to flash ignite any residue

but on the serious side, i use methylated spirits (99% ethanol) to clean the HSF bsae and CPU core