TIM application

Yourrealboss · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

Whats the best way to apply TIM to my CPU? I've heard there are a few ways to do it.

Roblet · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

Honestly that can depend a little bit, what CPU you running?

Alex · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

What about an intel core 2 duo 8400?

Roblet · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

Core 2 duo you will want to make a thin line of paste and then mount the heatsink

Alex · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

A line? Why not just a blob in the middle? Most of the videos I see online show people spreading it out over the entire heatspreader, is this wrong?

Roblet · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

If this was a single core CPU then yes, a blob in the middle would work fine. But dual core has both cores side by side, so a line covers both cores. (I got this from artic silvers website) They also say you should not spread it around because it will trap air bubbles, mounting the heatsink presses the compound out which helps prevent this. It's more important to have good coverage directly over the core than over the entire heatspreader.

Alex · Rated PG Joined: 24 Aug 2009 Posts: 5

understood, thanks!