Welcome to Tech Literate: Applying Thermal Paste

I'm Nic, and today I learned how to apply thermal paste. Now, let me show you how it's done.

To start, you're going to need some basic materials. Paper towel, cotton swabs, isopropyl alcohol, and your favorite thermal compound are all necessary for this process. If you're installing a brand new CPU, this step may not be necessary. However, if you have old compound on your CPU or have touched the top of it with your fingers or anything like that, it's a good idea to clean it.

Cleaning the CPU is an important step in preparing it for thermal paste application. You'll want to use a paper towel and cotton swabs handy, just in case you need them. There are different liquids you can use to clean the top of the CPU, but I would recommend using isopropyl alcohol. It's easy to get and will do a good job of getting rid of any residue. If you're installing a new processor, never mind this part. However, if you have a CPU cooler installed, go ahead and remove it. Most coolers are mounted to the motherboard like this, with four screws that can be loosened by hand.

Once you have removed the mounting screws, you'll want to twist the cooler back and forth until it comes loose. Be patient and don't use too much force – it's not worth damaging your computer. Once the cooler is off, take a dry paper towel and wipe as much of the old thermal compound from the cooler as you can. Some people like to go straight to using alcohol, but I've found that doing a dry wipe first can be cleaner.

After wiping down the cooler with a dry paper towel, apply some alcohol to a new piece of paper towel and wipe it down clean. Make sure it's nice and shiny and clean. Put this aside for now, as you'll need to do the same with the CPU – but with one minor added step. If you don't have cotton swabs, you can still do this with a paper towel that's fine. Simply take the swab and moisten it, but don't do it too much. You want to avoid making it soaking wet or dripping wet, as this could cause problems down the line.

Clean the sides of the CPU with the cotton swab, then give the top of the CPU one last moist wipe. It should look super clean – no streaks or residue in sight. Now's the time to apply your thermal compound of choice. In this case, I'm using Arctic silver 5, which is a conductive paste that you don't want to get on your other components – it can actually short them out.

There are different methods for applying thermal paste, but today we're going to be doing the classic "DOT" or "P" method. If you've never applied compound before, don't be afraid to have a test run on some paper towel first. Apply a small amount of compound to the middle of the CPU – it doesn't have to be perfect, just around the size of one of the capacitors surrounding the CPU. This should give you enough compound without spilling over from the sides of the CPU and cooler.

Now that you've applied the thermal paste, you can put your cooler back on. Some designs might not allow for a straightforward installation – like the stock AMD cooler, which needs to be installed at an angle to provide even mounting pressure. Have your mounting screws handy and place it as flat as you can while applying a reasonable amount of pressure.

Once you've placed the cooler, replace your screws in a corner-to-corner pattern until all four are secure. You don't have to put all your weight into this – just enough to hold it still. Now, at this point, you can let go and tighten up the screws individually in that same pattern until they're nice and snug.

This will ensure you have even pressure between the CPU and cooler. Make sure to plug in your fans and pump or anything else before proceeding, as this is all for nothing if you haven't taken care of it. And that's it! You're good to go! So long as your thermals are in check, there's nothing to worry about at this point.

As we wrap up today's tutorial, I hope your Tech Literacy has improved from watching this video. I've learned a lot of great tips and tricks by researching this video, and I'm happy to share them with you. Be sure to like and subscribe for more videos like this one – thanks for watching!

"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enWelcome to tech illiterate.I'm nic and today I learned how to apply thermalpaste.Now let me show you how it’s done.You’re going to need Paper towel, Cottonswabs, Isopropyl alcohol and your favoritethermal compound.The first thing you’re going to need todo is clean off your CPU.If you’re installing a brand new CPU thiswon’t matter.But if you have old compound on your CPU oreven if you’ve touched the top of it withfingers or anything like that, it’s a goodidea to clean it.Make sure you have that paper towel and cottonswabs handy, grab a few of them.There are different liquids you can use toclean the top of the CPU but I would recommendIsopropyl alcohol.It’s Normally easy to get and will do agood job of getting rid of the residue.If you’re installing a new processor, nevermindthis part.However if you have a CPU cooler installed.Go ahead and remove it.Most are mounted to the motherboard like thisKraken X53.Just with 4 screws that can be loosened byhand.Yours may be different, so be sure to consultthe manual if you’re unsure of what to do.Once you have removed the mounting screwsyou’re going to twist the cooler back andforth.Mine came loose pretty easily but you mighthave to twist it a bit more to help loosenthe contact between the CPU and the cooler.I’ve had that happen in the past beforeand I put too much thermal paste on.But don’t worry.Be patient, and don’t use too much force.Once the cooler is off you can go ahead andtake a DRY paper towel and wipe as much ofthe old thermal compound from the cooler asyou can.Some like to go straight to using the alcoholbut I have found that doing a dry wipe firstcan be cleaner.Then you’re gonna apply the alcohol to anew piece of paper towel and wipe down thecooler clean.Make sure it’s nice and shiny and clean.Then put that aside and do the same with theCPU but with one minor added step.If you don't have cotton swabs you can dothis with a paper towel that’s fine.So take the swab and moisten it.But don’t do it too much.You don’t want it soaking wet, drippingwet.It won’t kill your computer if it dripson the components but if this is conductivethermal paste and it seeps in places whereit’s not supposed to be and then the alcoholevaporates it can cause problems.So you don’t want to have to deal with that.So take that cotton swab and clean the sidesof the CPU.Once that's clean go ahead and give the topof the CPU one last moist wipe.It should look super clean.No streaks or residue.Ready for new thermal paste.Take your thermal compound of choice.In this case I have Arctic silver 5.This is a conductive paste.You do not want to get this on your othercomponents.You have to be really careful.It can actually short them out.So please do take care.There are different methods or styles of applicationbut today we are going to be doing the classic“DOT” or “P” method.If you’ve never applied compound before,don’t be afraid to have a test run on somepaper towel.Now apply a small amount to the middle ofthe CPU.If it's the size of one of the capacitorssurrounding the CPU, around that size it doesn’thave to be perfect, then you’re probablygood like I have here.That should be just enough.So you don’t apply too much though.It can actually spill over from the sidesof the CPU and cooler and which can causesome issues.Like at the very least it will be a mess toclean up when you finally replace it and atthe worst it can be creating shorts withinyour system and actually fry your board.So, you don’t want that happening.But anyways, if it looks something like this,you’re ready to put your cooler on.Some designs might not give you the optionto place the cooler straight back onto givethat even mounting pressure.Like the stock AMD cooler for example.Those ones you kinda put em on a bit sideways.They work great but sometimes can end up withsome uneven coverage.Otherwise have your mounting screws handyand place it as flat as you can while applyinga reasonable amount of pressure.You don’t have to put all your weight intothis.It’s just enough to hold it still.Then replace your screws in a corner to anothercorner like a pattern.Turn one until you feel some resistance.Then install the opposite corner and continueuntil all four screws are on there.Now at this point you can let go and you canjust tighten up the screws individually inthat same pattern until they are nice andsnug.This will ensure you have even pressure betweenthe CPU and cooler.Be sure to plug in your fans and pump or anythingelse because if you hadn’t this will allbe for not.And that's it!You’re good to go!So as long as your thermals are in check thereis nothing to worry about at this point.Which leads to my next video.Showing you how to check your thermals PCtemps.I hope your Tech Literacy has improved fromwatching this tutorial.I know that I’ve learned a lot of greattips from researching this video.Be sure to like and subscribe for more videoslike this one.My name is Nic, Thanks for watching.\n"