question regarding heatsink paste

Ive had my Toshiba Satellite Pro A10 now for 2 and a half years, and it started to overheat and shut down unexpectantly, so i decided to clean dust etc from the heatsink and replace the fan and replace the heatsink paste.

However when I opened it up I noticed that the previous paste which was applied at the factory, was applied around the die of the CPU and not on it

It has now put a doubt in my mind as to how I should apply the paste to the CPU of this laptop.

Does anybody have any possible explanation as to why this was the case

Thanks in advance,
William

 

Rofl it most likely squeezed out. If not those Toshiba guys are total idiots (I suspect more like the first). Just get a Qtip and 90+% alcohol and clean it. Then apply some Arctic Silver MX1. Should work well.

 

Its more than likely that Toshiba has applied the thermal compound correctly, but as lixuelai said, it may have just leaked out over time. Thermal compound needs to beapplied in a thin layer on top of the processr die, so that it can make a good enough contact to transfer heat between the die and heatsink metal.

 

lol i did think that maybe it just squeezed out but it definately didn't because the die and the adjacent area of the heatsink were both completely clean! surely there would be some trace of the paste left?!
but i thought to myself surely the people assembling the product would know how to apply the paste properly, but obviously not - guess they are idiots!

 

Ideally, no. The thermal paste is only to fill in small imperfections in the surface. If the surface was perfectly smooth, the last thing you'd want was thermal paste stuck over it, preventing the heat from transferring efficiently to the heatsink.
Thermal paste is a lousy conductor of heat compared to copper (which heatsinks are usually made of). The only reason it's used at all is that it's better than air. In other words, the goal is to fill in air pockets, and nothing else. It shouldn't prevent contact between CPU die and the heatsink, it should only fill in those tiny gaps where there would be no contact anyway.

Since the die and heatsink surfaces are both generally pretty smooth, virtually all of the paste will get squeezed out.

When you apply thermal paste, put on the heatsink and then take it off again later, you generally won't see any thermal paste on the die, for the same reason.

 

thanks - that obviously answers my question. thats interesting to know.
As you could probably tell, im not an expert on heatsinks or heatsink paste! But at least i now know more about it.

 

And forget about Arctic or similar products for a laptop.
Go and get a Coollaboratory Liquid MetalPad. The difference in temps is significant and might help keeping your fan running on low rpm's.

 

post links/proof??? AS5 is nearly a perfect thermal conductor... you pretty much cant beat even to the pont of phisically bonding your heat sink and cpu/gpu with the power of god woudln't even give you a significant drop in temps.

We had a guy buy this ultra expensive super liquid metal stuff that had insane thermal conductive ratings, and guess what? his temps were the same as as5.

 

There is one of the many links
http://www.pcgameshardware.de/?article_id=564540&page=3

-5 degrees compared to AS5 (which I would not be using in a laptop either way)

 

and another one

http://www.hardware-mag.de/hardware.php?id=436&page=4



should i continue?

 

Yes lol find me one thats in english from a trusted site.

I have one review here:

http://www.frozencpu.com/products/5...etalPad_Thermal_Interface_CPU_Pad_501249.html

says its not performing like its supposed too.

here:

http://www.burnoutpc.com/modules/smartsection/item.php?itemid=245

says about 1c diffrence average. (im thinking those who get bad results with AS5 dont know the proper way to use it, obviously with the pad you cant mess up)

here:

http://reviews.pcapex.com/cooling/coollaboratory_liquid_metalpad_tim.php?page=2

Another review that says it did worse than AS5.





So its safe to conclude that its bad info you have. Eather bad install of AS5 or the people that reviewed it had to give it a good review like all places are required to do when they get free samples, unlike the big places tho they have to always make the product look good, but individual reviewers can say it like it is.

 

I believe you can read a simple diagram (product names are in English and degrees are in Celcius-you can convert them to whatever makes it easier for you)
You can also use an online translator, but I could translate the results for you if you want.
If you don't trust German hardware reviews then I guess you shouldn't be buying BMW and Mercedes. ;-)

 

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews....battle_of_the_goop_-_thermal_paste_comparison



and an english one

more?

 

...guess not.

In either case DON'T use AS5 but instead use one of the
-Collaboratory products (I would suggest the pads) or
-AS Ceramique.
The laptop is not something you take apart every month.

 

Looks like in your anticipation to out do me you didnt even read what you were posing, thats the liquid pro, not the metal pad. Thats a big -1 points for you. Im still in the lead.

BTW that liquid stuff is what my friend tested, is spends like a grand a month on computer stuff and has world records, he is all into this stuff big time and I trust his results more than anything and he said it didnt beat AS5.

 

your right, corvette z06 or dodge viper for me plz, best bang for the buck but thats gonna start a whole new topic.

 

Your first link is not a review.
Your second link supports my point (even the metal pad is better than AS5)
Your third link supports my point again (if you want to buy an Arctic product DON'T buy the AS5 but the ceramique-not to mention the poor way he conducted the test with the pad).

You should be reading more carefully your reviews.

 

You try to scew what I posted all you want, facts are facts you cant change that.

People that dont know how to use AS5 shouldn't use it, thats always been known. But if you want the best performance and the best price for it thats what you get.

Besides what do you think 1c would do for you even if you did get that much a diffrence?? If you say anything besides "nothing" your wrong.

 

It seems than from 5 reviewers nobody can use AS5 correctly, but they seem to manage to apply the other pastes correctly. ;-) Good point there.

 

I think now that we've seen the facts our friend can decide.
I am sure he will be able to apply whichever paste he decides to buy correctly.

 

well i ain't taking sides in this argument, but I had already ordered Arctic Silver 5 online so it wudnt make sense to order another type of thermal paste anyway! but yes im sure i can apply it correctly lol

Thanks anyway for your suggestions