I recently picked up Arctic MX-6 thermal paste, and I've heard it's quite thick. I'm wondering if I should spread it out myself before putting on my air cooler, or if it's okay to just let the cooler spread it when I install it. What's the best approach?
5 Answers
I recommend putting a rice grain-sized dot in the middle. If you mount your cooler correctly, it will spread itself nicely. No need to overdo it and spread it like jam; that can confuse the purpose of the thermal paste.
With a well-tightened cooler and a non-conductive paste, a little extra doesn't hurt. It’ll just squish out the sides. The main thing is that the IHS is covered well, and you're good to go.
I usually spread it around with my finger, but honestly, you don't have to. Some newer thermal pastes even come with a little spatula for spreading.
You can just let the cooler spread it when you install it. That's what most people do and it works perfectly fine.
Spreading doesn't really make too much difference if the cooler is tightened properly. If you're unsure about the amount you've used, you can always take the cooler off after a bit to check and add a little more if needed. Generally, though, just letting the cooler do its thing works well.
I’d suggest spreading a thin layer but leaving a bit of space around the edge. That way, there's room for the cooler to compress it without overflowing.
I've always heard the pea-sized method! Is the rice grain thing new?