I'm planning to install a 9800X3D, but I've never applied thermal paste before. The instructions that came with the paste suggest using five small drops, but is that really the right approach? Could anyone share some pictures or tips to help me out? Thanks!
5 Answers
There are many ways to apply it. The five drops method is one way, but I personally prefer the 'X' method for better results.
I usually go with a pea-sized dot in the center, and it works great for me with the same CPU. Give that a shot!
You really don’t need a lot of thermal paste for CPUs. Just a small amount will do the trick. The less is more approach usually works best here.
The best way to apply thermal paste is whatever ensures full coverage of the CPU's heat spreader once the cooler is attached. Just avoid putting too little, as that can cause overheating. As for too much, it might just waste some paste but won't harm performance much. You can check out some application methods in this video: [YouTube Tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xT1PfVsPpz8). They demonstrate different methods and test their effectiveness!
Remember, the goal isn't to fill the entire space but to fill the tiny gaps between surfaces that fit closely together. A minimal amount of paste should suffice.
Thanks for clarifying that!