Thermal paste on Core 2s

[RJARRRPCGP]

Welp, in August, 2009, I got a another freebie, a Core 2 Duo E4500.

IIRC, you're supposed to put the thermal paste in a thin line on a Core 2.

I did, then when booted, I noticed quirky temps, stuff that put light loads made the temp of one core shoot up easily 10 C (or close to that) higher than the other core, including XS Bench, IIRC.

But both cores only had a couple or a few degree difference when running Prime95 and with Linpack, IIRC.

Then I decided to take off the heatsink and saw that the line didn't get spread out!

-> Thus, I spreaded the thermal paste myself and changed the position of the heatsink.

Does that sound like a concave IHS?

 

[Boulard83]

Depand on the paste used.

Some paste spread better. MX2 can need a manual spread in my latest experience. The other paste i use is from a local shop and dont need to be spreaded cause its more liquid. The MX2 is better but need light manual spread.

 

[Bobnova]

Something isn't flat, whether it is the CPU or the HSF is hard to say.

EDIT:
Post above this has a good point, too.

 

[freeagent]

On dualcores I like to use a medium line of AS5 on the third line of the engraveing.

Then plop the cooler on it, give it a small twist to the left and right, and clamp er down

I do the same with a quad, except I put a small dot above and below the line of AS5, like a division symbol

I havent used anything else in years, as far as paste goes, so I cant say what would work for the other brands!

 

[Boulard83]

+1 for twisting with some pressure when applying the block/heatsink.

 

[Airbornederekc]

i still put a gob in the middle of the CPU and give it some good twisting action to spread it.

never bothered with the line.

 

[MongGrel]

Been trying out the MX-3 myself works very well, but seems it probably needs to be spread with a razor myself, is a PITA to get a good amount applied, way more than MX-2.

It seems not that big an improvement over MX-2 personally, but still haven't used it a lot yet.

The MX-2 seems much easier to use IMHO, have been using it a long time now with good results.