Arctic Claims MX-6 CAN NOT Be Spread With A Spatula. Not True.

Intervention · Saturday at 5:32 PM

ShrimpBrime · Saturday at 5:45 PM

Can not or should not?

Intervention · Saturday at 5:49 PM

ShrimpBrime said:
Can not or should not?

They claim it "DOES NOT work". Silly because I spread it all the time on my GPU repairs :laugh:

ShrimpBrime · Saturday at 5:52 PM

Intervention said:
They claim it "DOES NOT work". Silly because I spread it all the time on my GPU repairs

Well for direct die, you have to spread. It's the only way to ensure 100% coverage on naked die.

And of course this would apply to heat spreaders, but because of a larger surface area, larger chances of air pockets.

Debunked.

eidairaman1 · Saturday at 7:58 PM

ShrimpBrime said:
Well for direct die, you have to spread. It's the only way to ensure 100% coverage on naked die.

And of course this would apply to heat spreaders, but because of a larger surface area, larger chances of air pockets.

Debunked.

Ive always spread the compounds since AS5 was on the market

lexluthermiester · Saturday at 11:24 PM

Whoever made that document was not a part of the engineering team. That document does not speak for the whole of the company. Granted, that is a glaring error, but really, who's going to read it and give it any consideration?

I only ever use the spreading method. It always works.

freeagent · Saturday at 11:25 PM

I am a spreader.

Got the kids to prove it.

Intervention · Saturday at 11:27 PM

freeagent said:
I am a spreader.

Got the kids to prove it.

Good one

lexluthermiester said:
Whoever made that document was not a part of the engineering team. That document does not speak for the whole of the company. Granted, that is glaring error, but really, who's going to read it and give it any consideration?

I only ever use the spreading method. It always works.

My customers often ask me what the best application method is, as when I ship their cards back to them, some want to use their own paste. I use MX-4, so it is not a bad paste at all. But to each their own. I often get asked about THAT document, on the Arctic website, because I always say "spread the paste". And they want to use MX-6. So, yeah...

eidairaman1 · Sunday at 12:51 AM

freeagent said:
I am a spreader.

Got the kids to prove it.

My issue is im a splitter

damric · 2025-02-18T15:13:33+0000

I always spread it. I can't remember but didn't my MX-6 come with a spatula? Anyways that last tube ran out so I went with something different, some cheap bulk thermal goo from Amazon.

So far this is working great.

https://a.co/d/gI6gXao

It's like MX-4 and AS5 had a baby.

Macro Device · 2025-02-18T15:22:18+0000

eidairaman1 said:
My issue is im a splitter

At least not a retro connoiseur.

Unsure about spatulas, I use fingering via latex gloves to spread the paste. Yes, in that sense too. Works every time. The only times they complain about overheating is when fans die.

azrael · 2025-02-18T15:42:50+0000

I always use the "pea-sized blob in the middle of the heat spreader" approach, letting the cooler distribute it. Probably not the most effective way,, it seems. Then again, I've never applied thermal paste to anything but CPUs.

inquisitor1 · 2025-02-18T15:56:21+0000

always have spread mine. never did the x or "pea" always spread 2 thin layers on cpu and cooler. they balance and fill in any highs or lows. works flawlessly.

please make sure to twist the cooler off and dont ever pull on it or you may pull out the cpu too.

GerKNG · 2025-02-18T15:58:49+0000

Rev. 1 or Rev. 2? they are completely different pastes and i repasted ~10 GPUs in the last week with Rev.2 and even with a lot of pressure it just tears and rolls constantly. (never had this "problem" with Rev. 1)

Intervention · 2025-02-18T20:21:40+0000

damric said:
I always spread it. I can't remember but didn't my MX-6 come with a spatula? Anyways that last tube ran out so I went with something different, some cheap bulk thermal goo from Amazon.

So far this is working great.

https://a.co/d/gI6gXao
It's like MX-4 and AS5 had a baby.

Funny because mine came with a spatula as well :laugh:

Onasi · 2025-02-18T20:26:38+0000

For CPUs I wouldn’t bother. I remember back on my 2600K trying ALL the popular methods as a curiosity and I don’t think there was any statistically significant difference when done properly. For bare die - yeah, sure, even though Arctic doesn’t condone this there really is no other way to ensure proper coverage. But it’s tedious and fussy, so I would just go for a PTM pad rather than do that.

System Name	none
Processor	AMD R9 9950X
Motherboard	GIGABYTE B650E AORUS MASTER
Cooling	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
Memory	32GB G.SKILL @6400MT/s CL32-36-36-28-68 tweaked sub-timings
Video Card(s)	ASUS TUF 4090
Storage	Samsung PM9A1
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Audio Device(s)	none
Power Supply	Corsair HX1500
Mouse	Corsair
Keyboard	Corsair K95 Platinum
Software	Windows 11
Benchmark Scores	Check out my YT channel, Technology Hive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeHYX8NGoRj-kZiumUhUsJw

System Name	I don't name my rig
Processor	14700K
Motherboard	Asus TUF Z790
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Power Supply	Corsair 1050w HX series
Mouse	Razor Mamba Tournament Edition
Keyboard	Logitech G910
VR HMD	Quest 2
Software	Windows
Benchmark Scores	Max Freq 13700K 6.7ghz DryIce Max Freq 14700K 7.0ghz DryIce Max all time Freq FX-8300 7685mhz LN2

System Name	none
Processor	AMD R9 9950X
Motherboard	GIGABYTE B650E AORUS MASTER
Cooling	ARCTIC Liquid Freezer III 420
Memory	32GB G.SKILL @6400MT/s CL32-36-36-28-68 tweaked sub-timings
Video Card(s)	ASUS TUF 4090
Storage	Samsung PM9A1
Display(s)	SAMSUNG 32" IDK WHAT
Case	Corsair 7000D
Audio Device(s)	none
Power Supply	Corsair HX1500
Mouse	Corsair
Keyboard	Corsair K95 Platinum
Software	Windows 11
Benchmark Scores	Check out my YT channel, Technology Hive: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeHYX8NGoRj-kZiumUhUsJw

System Name	I don't name my rig
Processor	14700K
Motherboard	Asus TUF Z790
Cooling	Air/water/DryIce
Memory	DDR5 G.Skill Z5 RGB 6000mhz C36
Video Card(s)	RTX 4070 Super
Storage	980 Pro
Display(s)	Some LED 1080P TV
Case	Open bench
Audio Device(s)	Some Old Sherwood stereo and old cabinet speakers
Power Supply	Corsair 1050w HX series
Mouse	Razor Mamba Tournament Edition
Keyboard	Logitech G910
VR HMD	Quest 2
Software	Windows
Benchmark Scores	Max Freq 13700K 6.7ghz DryIce Max Freq 14700K 7.0ghz DryIce Max all time Freq FX-8300 7685mhz LN2

System Name	PCGOD
Processor	AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
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Power Supply	Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
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Software	Windows 7 Pro 64

Arctic Claims MX-6 CAN NOT Be Spread With A Spatula. Not True.

Intervention

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