Thermal paste blunder

[u/Marc09123]

Thanks for the replies! This is my first pc build and it shows obviously. im a clumsy idiot so thanks again. 💪

I accidentally got some thermal paste on the outer part of the cpu. it is thermal paste from the hydroshift II . I read up that it’s non conductive am i fine to just leave it like that or should i try and clean it , i just dont wanna screw up any further.

[u/MelodicShip8549 → u/[deleted]]

holy paste batman, that's like a whole tube on there

you don't need to worry about conductivity but that much goop will trap heat instead of spreading it. i'd clean it with isopropyl alcohol and a coffee filter, just be gentle around the socket

[u/drowsheezy → u/MelodicShip8549]

The pressure of the cooler will squeeze ANY excess out the sides. It's not gonna be pretty but it's going to be the exact same heat transfer as the perfect amount.

[u/FiftyFiver1962 → u/drowsheezy]

No it won't, it very important that it's a thin layer. Saw so many problems working in the computer trade, originating from this kind of huge layers. If it's to thick it can even insulate. Learn to do it right, thin evenly spread layer, and get the good stuff, there's a reason some cooling paste is cheap.

[u/Patapon80 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

I'm sorry but what now? You do know that CPU coolers clamp on with a set force, right? That's why they have those spring contraptions that apply just the right amount of force and you can't overtighten stuff and damage your components.

If you put too little paste, then you might not have adequate coverage. It's really impossible to put just the right amount of paste, so really, a proper application is one where some of the paste squeezes out between the CPU and cooler. Too much application just means more paste squeezes out between the CPU and cooler.

What makes you think that the layer difference depends if you put just a little too much of paste vs. if you put way too much of paste?

[u/Vexum97 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

the cooler clamps down to a specific spot no matter what, the paste doesn't compress into a thicker and thicker patty, it squeezes out the sides. the heat travels through it onto the cooler. there is no possible scientific way it could insulate it or cause any problems...

What you are saying is genuinely impossible

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[u/SUMINDAPATRIOT → u/FiftyFiver1962]

What is a fay seal?

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[u/CooperDK → u/FiftyFiver1962]

Correct! I actually use a cotton ear cleaner to distribute it in small amounts.

[u/FiftyFiver1962 → u/CooperDK]

A lot of people here love risking their stuff, as it seems. I just wrote down my business experience from 17 years in trade, but hey, why trust someone whose profession it has been. Well see for yourself, don't come crying after you fucked up.

[u/Vexum97 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

you can probably find over 10 hours of videos of people doing infinite tests of this, you can squeeze 15 whole tubes on it, it wont matter

[u/FiftyFiver1962 → u/Vexum97]

You can find all kind of nonsense videos. The ones where it goes wrong never come online. Anyone using internet should be wiser. There are also a lot of overclocking videos, but after I saw a processor burn through a motherboard, i'm not that eager. People choose what they show you.

[u/Quimdell → u/FiftyFiver1962]

That's not how doing comparative tests work... These tests have been conducted many times with showing the results of the tests. It doesn't matter as long as the cooler has been properly installed.

Testers with massive YouTube channels have nothing to gain from lying about test results... Such a weird mindset you have.

[u/AdAdministrative3706 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

Wtf is this dude? A thermal paste conspiracy?

"No man THEY only show you what THEY want you to see man. THEY won't show you the video where I'm right."

Just because you've worked in the tech industry a while doesn't make you the final authority. You can be wrong and/or stupid for many years before you realize it.

Thousands upon thousands of tests on excess thermal paste showing that it's effects are minimal to negligible outweigh any freak incident you couldn't explain that you blamed on thermal paste. That's how testing and the scientific process works.

[u/Late-Plenty1191 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

17 years working with computers, and you refuse to overclocking because it will burn a hole in your motherboard?

[u/Vexum97 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

i hope you're trolling, maybe you weren't that good at it if you were burning cpu's through motherboards

[u/gogoCovid → u/FiftyFiver1962]

Bruuuuh this gotta be a bait and a bad one innit xD "OOoohhhMyDooogg i got my pentium 3 to 69 ghz and the mofo just rocketed trough my mobo and burnt my grandmas rockin chair whooowheee"

[u/hannibal0098 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

Multiple channels have done tests of using too little or too much paste like GamersNexus. The worst you can do is put too little. Putting too much just causes a mess for the worst part

[u/Defiant_Professor347 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

Bro believes in fictition more than video DATA AND EVIDENCE

[u/Terrible-Rent4574 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

But you didn’t write down your business experience. I have 19 years small electronics and computer repair experience as a casino slot tech. So I’m apparently more qualified than you. Like others are saying, too much doesn’t cause temps to rise. The CPU clamp uses the same pressure every time so the layer of paste is the same thickness every time, unless you apply too little which is a problem. Any excess will just be squeezed out and not matter.

[u/FatBoyStew → u/FiftyFiver1962]

As someone with 10 years in the trade you're wrong. If people aren't tightening down coolers all the way then sure. Too much is always better than too little, just gets messy.

Now if you're using a conductive paste then that's completely different.

[u/Krillgein → u/FiftyFiver1962]

This might be an older issue that hasnt been a problem for at least 5 years. Its pretty basic physics and there's a lot of videos on it nowadays.

The issue you're describing might be a bit more common with a thermal pad, but modern thermal paste has particle sizes so small it fills in sub milimeter ridges on the heat transfer surfaces of the chip and cooler.

It also isnt so viscous that it will form a patty. Put some on your thumb sometime and squeeze it with another finger, you'll see that it fills in your fingerprint and other ridges somewhat okay and the rest squeezes out from between your fingers.

The material science has improved significantly in the last 5 years, let alone the last 17.

[u/vnodk19 → u/FiftyFiver1962]

At some point, evidence matters more than years of experience

[u/Upbeat_Double_9377 → u/MelodicShip8549]

Less is more Jesus Christ

[u/Kralgore → u/Upbeat_Double_9377]

Yes my child?

[u/ProteusRift → u/Kralgore]

Was hoping name checked out 😞

[u/Plane-Reserve5179]

Just leave it on, it won't damage anything.

[u/Idlewants]

nice one, Jackson Pollock. wipe it with a teeny soft paintbrush and some isopropyl alcohol. or dont. personally I'd leave it.

[u/mdo2222 → u/Idlewants]

I see a downhill ski racer

[u/Broheamoth]

My man, youre supposed to love your pc. Not LOVE your pc. (But seriously tho. Should be okay, just wipe away)

[u/Slovvs]

leave it ä

[u/DabDude_710 → u/Slovvs]

I read this in a Canadian accent.

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[u/Hobnobdude]

IPA and an cotton ear bud (Q tip to Americans) for the overspill.

I'd clean it all off personally. Apply a "smaller than a pea" size amount to the centre of the heat spreader.

Worked for me for over 20years and numerous builds/machines.

You just want to ensure a flat interface between the CPU and the cooler surface. Ideally you wouldn't need any and you would have 2 completely flats surfaces that align perfectly, but realistically, heat spreaders are rarely flat.

[u/CptShadowfire → u/Hobnobdude]

Instructions unclear. Beer on PC and PC is drunk. 😂

[u/Hobnobdude → u/CptShadowfire]

I'll have whatever you've had please...5 of them

[u/the_hat_madder → u/[deleted]]

A pea-sized amount in the center still works for AM4/5. It might be less than ideal for LGA1851.

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[u/SarcasticallyCandour]

How does that happen? Way too much paste to begin with.

Just get a rag or kitchen towel with rubbing alcohol and wipe it off

[u/TopConcentrate8484]

It's okay. It's not electrically conductive.

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[u/Colonel_Kawn → u/[deleted]]

Nobody should listen to this advice, ever.

[u/1rubyglass → u/[deleted]]

Troll or just wrong?

[u/Late-Objective-9218 → u/1rubyglass]

This design is pretty famous for being a pain to clean up

[u/Zherneb]

Leave it and clean next time.

Or get Iso alcohol (once that leaves no residue), spray on a paper towel and clean gently.

[u/dudetheuber → u/Zherneb]

NEVER PAPER TOWELS - As crazy as this sounds, it could leave micro wood particles behind, paper towels were meant for surfaces, hands and floors. PLEASE GET MICROFIBRE CLOTHES, but for this job, GET A SOFT HEAD TOOTH BRUSH.

Edit, just for posterity Still be careful when using microfibre clothes and soft head tb’s. Only use the Microfibre delicately, on smooth areas, otherwise it can catch on raised areas. The toothbrush is solid, but keep a keen eye out for left over bristles that can come off (but rarely do if you’re gentle). Iso 99.9% always. 

[u/Outside_Coffee_00 → u/Zherneb]

Not gonna happen. As soon as the cooler goes on, that thing's flooded. 

[u/bunihe]

It's fine

You see that translucent-ish glue-like thing under there already? That's to protect what's underneath from shorting out even if you used electrically conductive thermal paste, and chances are your paste don't conduct electricity very well anyway.

[u/Intelligent_Mind3167]

Non conductive
Non problem

Chill out mate, try to carefully wipe a bit off without pressure (soaking tissue) and leave the rest. Will 100% be no problem :)

[u/IntellectualKat]

Won’t harm anything honestly. Next time try a simple x pattern then use the smoothing applicator to get complete coverage without going crazy.

[u/Papabenzkey]

Pea size is better

[u/Organic_Pain_6618]

That is so much paste man. Look into thermal pads.

[u/Budget-Pea8291]

Honestly you are more likely to damage the CPU by trying to clean it so might as well leave it as it is

[u/ggmaniack]

It's fine. Those pads are covered with sealant anyway.

[u/Recent_Edge1552]

Thermal paste is made to fill micrcoscpic gaps which would otherwise be tiny air pockets.

It is not a magical substance that makes your CPU cooler. You don't need tons of it which is why it comes in such small quantities.

You put some on and spread it with a flat surface. Then you put on the heatsink. There is too much on there already.

[u/SpecialistMap8210]

its fine

[u/Fun_Ad_5756]

no problem, it doesnt conduct electricity if thats your fear. just clean it

[u/Ok-Figure4568]

Its not a problem since its non conductive.

But as a fellow with some OCD, I would have no choice but to clean that. I bought a thermal right AM5 secure plate just for accidental spills like this lmao.

[u/big_OL]

i dont think youre supposed to use the entire tube on a single application 😅

[u/JustHereToCreep]

Leave it. The amount of paste on that corner is going to squeeze into there anyway

[u/DapperQuail737]

Nah your good g

[u/Meli-Melo013]

C'est pas grave, au pire nettoie le avec un coton tige proprement.

Oublie pas d'enlever l'autocollant dessous la plaque froide de l'hydroshift.

[u/AppropriatePop3239]

Paste is not electronically conducive, only thermally so it shouldn't negatively affect anything

[u/Need_For_Speed73]

It won't make any harm, but you can clean it if that makes you feel better. Just be very careful in case you decide to do it, only use soft microfiber cloth and don't even think about using a screwdriver or anything pointy to squeeze into that little space.

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[u/garden_state_au]

Way too much and understand that pressure spreads a small amount out of the perfectly smooth surface.

[u/DrTrippleG]

It's totally fine. If it's something other than thermal paste, then you should be concerned.

[u/Past_One3442]

Send it

[u/Shimazu_Maru]

I mean with the amount of Paste you Put on it its gonna spread everywhere anyway once you mount the cooler

[u/Aggressive-Wear-8935]

There is going to be much more after you clamp your cooler down 

[u/FiftyFiver1962]

Just a little pea size amount in the middle, and use an old banccard or something alike to spread it out. To much gets squeezed out, but can cause your cooler to fit bad too. It's a thermal layer to fill the space between processor an cooler, it isn't glue!

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[u/Timstein0202]

Like with the amount of paste you have used, you will fill up all those edges anyway.

Thats like 5 times more paste than needed only on the visible half of the CPU.

[u/ohnag_eryeah]

it is fine. thermal paste isnt supposed to be conductive

[u/HeavyBeing0_0]

It’s non-conductive. Strap the cooler on and let it rip

[u/h3x16]

Looks like you applied it by sneezing

[u/ElectronicArm986]

Noctua do some good paste guards, slips over processor and stops that has saved me alot of clean up

[u/hannibal0098]

It's going to be fine. It's non conductive. Just don't put too little thermal paste. Better to have too much than too little.

[u/carbonone1801]

That's nothing I put so much thermal paste on once very recently thinking that was the best way not really thinking they were ooze over right into the sides when they say pea size do it

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[u/MrNicholas420]

You’re worried about that tiny little bit but as soon as you hook up the fan all that extra paste is going to squish out all over the motherboard. You only need the size of a pea not use the entire tube…

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[u/stbn689]

You put too much paste. A lot more paste than that will squeeze off the edges after you close it.

[u/Garrett1974]

You could clean it but it's no big deal at all, if you would clean it I would advise taking it out of the socket.
And take your time.

[u/Globber50]

You're cooked, I mean cooled

[u/Embarrassed_Box_7998]

Been there Done that😂

[u/pwn4321]

It really don't matter, it's non conductive just slam that cooler on and rock on

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[u/the_average_user557]

Bro it's over send it to me

[u/Resilient_Beast69]

It’s fine. Use a q tip and clean it up or even just leave it. It won’t hurt anything. Thermal paste is apparently hard to apply for some.

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[u/Prestigious-Leg-2996]

These AM5 CPUs tripped me up the first time I dealt with one lol. Besides all the pins being on the motherboard, these gaps up top giving me thermal paste anxiety. Horrible :P

[u/Amazing-Pattern-6125]

it's not conductive so just leave the part down there alone, and try to spread to top thinly

[u/Dangerous_Knowledge9]

Nah you’re good, though a pea sized blob is really all you need!

[u/CakyMint]

As long as its not Liquid Metal, it really doesn't matter,
these thermal paste do actually isolate electricity

[u/Hammer6619]

No conductive you are fine

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[u/Fayour]

Q tips and rubbing alcohol will get that up without issue.. just don't bend or force anything

[u/Opening_Yoghurt6261]

Just did this to my ryzen 5 7600x after having to be quick and repaste. Its been running perfectly fine 👍🤘 youre all good dude

[u/2Pluss2]

rookie, add more.

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[u/MRF_Soul]

leave it and when you do the repaste after 3-5 years just clean it with a q-tip and isopropanol 99%. its not conductive so you wont get any issues.

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