When applying TIM gets a little too personal...

[A Computer Guy]

Ok this is one TIM application method I haven't seen tested before.

thermal paste patterns: finger method #shorts

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Pros: Thinner and more consistent application. (not too thick)
Cons: Finger cancer?

Thoughts?

 

[R-T-B]

Before I broke my arm (and thus suffered nerve damage making paste application unwise), I regularly used a variation of this. Finger + saran wrap or similar stretchy plastic over finger.

It works fine. No idea if its better or worse than others but it works.

 

[freeagent]

Was expecting someone to say they use their yoohoo to spread their paste by the thread title..

Pretty glad it wasn't!

 

[nomdeplume]

Handy delidding tool that does double duty applying liquid metal or works equally well on your standard TIM jobs.

 

[Ruru]

Paste: just a reasonable sized drop on the center of the IHS/GPU die
LM: spread it to the die with q-tip (I don't use it with heatspreaders)

 

[joemama]

Why waste time to flatten the paste when you could just dispense a grain in the middle and let the heat sink flatten it

 

[Ruru]

Why waste time to flatten the paste when you could just dispense a grain in the middle and let the heat sink flatten it

Exactly. And spreading it can leave some air bubbles there.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Exactly. And spreading it can leave some air bubbles there.

If you have enough paste and the correct mounting pressure can you even have air bubbles?
I guess a better question would be: "What are the right conditions to cause air bubbles when applying thermal paste?"

 

[joemama]

If you have enough paste and the correct mounting pressure can you even have air bubbles?

Of course you can still have bubbles, pressure and paste amount doesn't completely solve the issue

 

[A Computer Guy]

Of course you can still have bubbles, pressure and paste amount doesn't completely solve the issue

I bring up the topic because of the various youtube videos I've seen doing the plexiglass experiment over the years testing thermal paste coverage, I don't recall any of them ever showing trapped bubbles. It doesn't mean it can't happen but the question lingers in my mind. Do we really know and can it be proven?

 

[Lei]

@A Computer Guy
This is really bad, we're cleaning die with alcohol beforehand and try to be as clean as possible, then you put your greasy fat nasty finger there

Why waste time to flatten the paste when you could just dispense a grain in the middle and let the heat sink flatten it

Heat sink pressure is not enough, I found it's good to rotate/spin the heatsink 15° clockwise and versa a few times, this spreads evenly and gets TIM to those areas not covered.


Imagine crushing these grapefruits. how would you move your foot?

Apply less thermal paste than there are grapefruits in this scenario. Tilt and wiggle the heatsink.

 

[A Computer Guy]

Was expecting someone to say they use their yoohoo to spread their paste by the thread title..

Pretty glad it wasn't!

Well I suppose if you can turn the bottle upside down you could use the cap.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Ok this is one TIM application method I haven't seen tested before.

thermal paste patterns: finger method #shorts

All my socials + PO Box: https://www.mryeester.comRecommended Thermal Paste: https://amzn.to/3i3HK83Ryzen 5 3600: https://amzn.to/3eYfQscB450 Tomahawk Max: h...

www.youtube.com

Pros: Thinner and more consistent application. (not too thick)
Cons: Finger cancer?

Thoughts?

Interesting. I'm intrigued. So I just tried it.

Deliberately used very little TIM as I wasn't sure it would work well. To my surprise, it worked perfectly! Might have to try this going forward. I'm pretty sure that this method would not work for liquid metal TIMs, but that's a very niche scenario. In case you're wondering, I was using a TIM I don't care much about, NT-H1. Kinda wondering how MX-5 would feel. Clean up was easy, IPA and a cloth rag. Gonna try this on a working machine for giggles to see the results.

As for the cancer notion, there's nothing to worry about. There are very few(if any) TIMs that have compounds that are toxic, let alone carcinogens. By design TIM's are chemically inert and do not react with anything they would generally come in contact with. Even liquid metals are non-toxic as they are comprised of Gallium and other metals that are known to be harmless.

 

[Toothless]

Soooo we're not getting on OnlyPaste?

 

[natr0n]

That yeester assclown does anything for views. Some of his content is okay though but still assclown.

 

[lexluthermiester]

That yeester assclown does anything for views. Some of his content is okay though but still assclown.

Assclown or not, the method seems to be valid and effective.

 

[Vayra86]

Was expecting someone to say they use their yoohoo to spread their paste by the thread title..

Pretty glad it wasn't!

Well the music was close enough to that level of cringe... damn... the narcissism was dripping off that finger like nobody's business too

A good reminder why I stay away from this type of 'info' in general.

 

[R-T-B]

Even liquid metals are non-toxic as they are comprised of Gallium and other metals that are known to be harmless.

I'd still advise some sort of plastic barrier, if only because microscopic dead skin isn't the best conductor.

Then again, maybe microplastics are worse, what do I know?

 

[Toothless]

I'd still advise some sort of plastic barrier, if only because microscopic dead skin isn't the best conductor.

Then again, maybe microplastics are worse, what do I know?

Sometimes blood, sweat, and tears aren't enough.

 

[Vayra86]

Imagine crushing these grapefruits. how would you move your foot?

View attachment 260800

Apply less thermal paste than there are grapefruits in this scenario. Tilt and wiggle the heatsink.

I'd move my feet off it and use this

Doesn't quite work as well for applying TIM though

 

[lexluthermiester]

I'd still advise some sort of plastic barrier, if only because microscopic dead skin isn't the best conductor.

Then again, maybe microplastics are worse, what do I know?

I did clean my finger first. Simple thing. But even if I hadn't, I don't think there's enough dead skin and skin oil shed to be worried about.

 

[Deleted member 185158]

Drop in the middle or finger spread.

I do the spread. With whatever. A spoon, butter knife or I can call @freeagent for a wanker job maybe!!

2 things Ive noticed in years of pasting processors.

1. Some pastes need a burn in time. Even some that say its not required.

2. Drop in the center vs spread, it takes 24 hours at least for a drop in the center to stop spreading. I mean it seems to take a while for the cooler to settle, especially those that are spring clamped.

 

[freeagent]

Too bad I can’t laugh and like at the same time

 

[A Computer Guy]

Too bad I can’t laugh and like at the same time

Copy this...problem solved

 

[Jism]

Real men dont use TIM.