I finally realized thermal paste isn't supposed to be spread like peanut butter

After 15 years of building PCs I watched a video from Gamers Nexus and found out I've been over-applying thermal paste on every single CPU since 2008. Has anyone else had a basic PC building habit they did for years before someone proved them wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_beth1mo ago

Look up what "spreading" actually means in context though... thermal paste isn't supposed to have air bubbles in it, and the pea method can actually trap air if you don't mount the cooler perfectly straight. I used to think more was better too, but it's really about covering the whole heat spreader evenly without making a mess. The real trick is using just enough to fill the microscopic gaps between the CPU and the cooler, which is way less than most people think. You definitely don't need to spread it like butter, but a thin layer with a credit card can work fine if you're careful and don't overdo it.

cole_davis471mo ago

Eh, the pea method trapping air is mostly a myth. As long as the cooler pressure is even it squishes out fine. Spreading with a credit card can work but it's way easier to get it too thick or trap contaminants that way.