Thermal paste application

[PhunkSpunk]

Apparently I've burned out my thermal past, which goes between my processor and my heat sink. Would anyone here be able to provide me with landmarks so I can find this connection?

Thanks.

 

[cityboy-stl]

What makes you think you "burned out" the thermal paste?

 

[Spiff]

I would think one would burn out their cpu before burning out their thermal paste.

 

[Corny]

Normally it does not "burn out". You can get heat problems if you apply too much of it, but it still should not burn unless your CPU gets WAY too hot

 

[PhunkSpunk]

Essentially this is what happened: I had my computer on for a long time during a hot spell this summer downloading lots of movies.

About a month ago, windows wouldn't fire up. I can't describe it any other way than it when I turned it on it was like trying to start a car with a dead battery. I noticed that if I let it rest for a long time, it would start up no prob. Then I recalled back in ancient times computers used to be kept essentially under refrigeration, so I stuck mine in the freezer for a few minutes and after I did that it would fire up no prob. metals conduct better at low temperatures.

I explained this to one several people. The assholes at the microcenter said the computer was completely fried and I needed to buy a new one and wouldn't you know they had several compatible better ones on sale! however this kid at the geek squad at best buy said 'hmm sounds like you've burned out your thermal paste'. I've never heard of thermal paste before, but apparently it's some kind of dielectric, or at least works like one. A tube of it costs $9, which is a hell of a lot less than shelling out 6 bills on a new laptop. So I wanna give it a shot.

 

[Corny]

I never heard about burning thermal paste. I can only imagine that this might happen if you are overclocking your machine and the CPU is way hotter than usually. But even then I doubt it, because most of those pastes are made for overclockers.
At first I would ensure that your heatsink, CPU and GPU fans are working properly. Also check your case and the power supply. Dedust everything with canned air or (carefully!) with a vacuum cleaner.

Thermal paste is between the CPU surface and the cooler/fan above it. Nowadays complete systems usually don't use paste anymore but pads. If you decide to re-apply thermal paste be very careful. You need to remove any old residue first, then re-apply new paste. And very very sparsely. Only a thin layer and only on the designated area will work properly. Too much and you burn your CPU, because it's not conducting the heat very well.

 

[PhunkSpunk]

OK Corny thanks. And here's the deal. the heat-sink, fan apparatus apart. The fan was more full of dust than a vacuum cleaner! Very carefully cleaned it out. The thermal paste itself appeared to have been on both sides of the heat sink/CPU connection (very little room between them). Cleaned off old paste thoroughly w/old cotton shirt. Applied thin layer of ceramic paste as you said. However, apropos your advice, I am considering going out tomorrow and seeing if I can purchase a thermal pad, as the thermal paste is very difficult to work with.

Feel much more confident about opening up my computer. At first it felt like performing surgery lol!

 

[Corny]

Keep us updated

 

[maxpowr9]

Thermal paste is a pain to work with. I remember when I was building my PC and trying to apply the paste. You would think with so many warning on how to NOT apply it that they would be more descriptive on how to actually do it.

Usually the paste doesn't burn out. Like you said, the fan is usually the culprit. The fan definately will burn out ovrer the lifespan of the PC.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

i agree i think the fan is probably the issue. i've never in my life heard of burning out the thermal paste. i think the geek at the geek squad isn't much of a geek or he was using his own terms. best buy is also rather notorious for not getting things exactly right but charging you a lot to "fix" it. in this case you lucked out and didn't actually take it in to them!

 

[mike_n_herrin]

here is a youtube vid of cleaning off old thermal paste and applying new.

 

[mike_n_herrin]

here is a youtube vid of cleaning off old thermal paste and applying new.

 

[PhunkSpunk]

Thanks! That vid was incredibly helpful.

And while it's totally off-topic that geek was a serious hottie!