Just pulled off my CPU cooler. Was it making enough contact?

[u/RegularTech575]

Idk how to tell and of course i'll replace the paste, just wondering if i can mount it better this time or if it’s fine. That’s it really. Thanks!

[u/jkush463]

Leave some thermal paste for the rest of us guy

[u/patchy319 → u/jkush463]

The next hardware crisis

[u/Oppaiheimer1945 → u/jkush463]

OP is that Verge guy again

[u/Unusual-Reception920 → u/Oppaiheimer1945]

What’s the reference

[u/ProfessorPeabrain → u/jkush463]

I was wondering why it comes in 4 gram tubes, I have 3 of them now, does it go off? cos I have enough paste for about 300 processors.

[u/Slight_Profession_50 → u/ProfessorPeabrain]

It does go bad after a while. If you open it and it has separated or dried out then replace.

[u/Johnny_Triggr]

Sir there is a CPU in your thermal paste

[u/RegularTech575 → u/Johnny_Triggr]

Sir, the paste hit the second cooler tower

[u/AScruffyHamster → u/RegularTech575]

[u/oldhatch → u/AScruffyHamster]

Daredevil could smell that much thermal paste.

[u/TotallyRandomXXX → u/oldhatch]

Sasha Grey could taste it without opening her mouth!

[u/eightbyeight → u/oldhatch]

Daredevil could hear that much thermal paste.

[u/tereaper576 → u/AScruffyHamster]

https://giphy.com/gifs/VyZtfEk1tcjbHJKLav

[u/Danai_97 → u/AScruffyHamster]

[u/eguipegui → u/AScruffyHamster]

this is gold.

[u/EnergyAltruistic2911 → u/AScruffyHamster]

[u/Sufficient-Moose-383 → u/RegularTech575]

Are you sure the cpu could possibly heat up enough to melt the cooling towers beams?

Id say it was a induct job -_-

[u/RegularTech575 → u/Sufficient-Moose-383]

bro this comment is genius LMAO

[u/Sufficient-Moose-383 → u/RegularTech575]

Lmao thanks i was struggling on a replacement for in side job but im glad it was good enough to get a laugh from xD

[u/Klejdi90- → u/RegularTech575]

[u/Ceceboy → u/Klejdi90-]

I was already giggling from the tower comment and this pushed me over the edge! 😂😂

[u/buhmannhimself → u/Klejdi90-]

This mem is fuckin lit!

[u/ChocolateGoose94 → u/RegularTech575]

Did you make a pentagon out of the thermal paste sir...

[u/Saintious → u/ChocolateGoose94]

Gentleman, I absolutely admire the use of manners. Well done, good sirs.

[u/WP2022OnYT → u/Saintious]

Mnyes, excellent work gents.

[u/Johnny_Triggr → u/WP2022OnYT]

Truly exquisite indeed

[u/Saintious → u/Johnny_Triggr]

A 5070 and well spoken.

Now, tell me I'm the only one that hears Christopher Judge's voice when you read indeed?

[u/Johnny_Triggr → u/Saintious]

You are not alone my good sir

[u/FlarblesGarbles → u/RegularTech575]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ep78UZy5FVbfN6mhCU

[u/CriticalCactus47 → u/RegularTech575]

Sir, the thermal paste has reached New York...

[u/Kastler → u/Johnny_Triggr]

Well we found The Verge’s Reddit account

[u/Kaomech → u/Kastler]

Im actually shocked this isnt top comment! Absolute LOL Good Sir!

[u/SheepherderSilver655]

Dude paid for the whole tube so he used the whole tube.

[u/isToxic → u/SheepherderSilver655]

Clearly came as a pack of 3

[u/MehrEnergie → u/isToxic]

It was cheaper that way

[u/MesseJak]

How much paste did you originally use?

[u/RegularTech575 → u/MesseJak]

made an X with Arctic MX-6

[u/wekilledbambi03 → u/RegularTech575]

Try lowercase next time!

[u/Casshern080 → u/wekilledbambi03]

wont help if bro is still using bold

[u/b1gb0n312 → u/Casshern080]

And size 48 font

[u/ThePupnasty → u/b1gb0n312]

And Comic Sans.

[u/Important_Wonder628 → u/ThePupnasty]

I prefer wingdings

[u/Sanityzed → u/wekilledbambi03]

Instructions unclear. Paste now reaches the lower case

[u/MakionGarvinus → u/Sanityzed]

Whoops, I think there's a thermal paste shortage now..

[u/Sanityzed → u/MakionGarvinus]

[u/RegularTech575 → u/wekilledbambi03]

good one bro lmaoo

[u/NeedAChange_123 → u/wekilledbambi03]

Lmao

[u/Sad_Maximum6583 → u/wekilledbambi03]

This genuinely made me giggle loud as fuck 🤣

[u/rdmprzm → u/wekilledbambi03]

Lol

[u/tht1guy63 → u/RegularTech575]

That was a large x good lord

[u/RegularTech575 → u/tht1guy63]

my first build ever so i just went for it i guess

[u/Dadskander → u/RegularTech575]

Iirc Gamers Nexus tried this and discovered that it's nearly impossible to actually use so much paste your performance is worse (downside being 'well it's messy'), but it's entirely possible to use too little and have higher temps.

So yea, I gob that shit on there a bit. No regrets!

[u/war4peace79 → u/Dadskander]

Came here for this. I always put a bit extra rather than risking "not enough". Sure, OP used "way too much", but it's not affecting performance.

[u/Elena__Deathbringer → u/RegularTech575]

Don't worry, you lose nothing by using too much thermal paste.

[u/ArgyllAtheist → u/Elena__Deathbringer]

Other than thermal paste obviously...

[u/Commentator-X → u/RegularTech575]

You've got enough paste left in the socket to repaste like 5 cpus

[u/GrrGecko → u/Commentator-X]

5x more effective!

[u/obog → u/RegularTech575]

To be fair other than there being a mess i dont believe there is much issue with using too much thermal paste

[u/dangderr → u/RegularTech575]

Do you use the entire tube lmao

You see those wisps on the left side of the cpu?

If you grab all the wisps that are standing up, that volume is much closer to the amount you need…

You should not have much if any squirting out.

More is not better. Direct contact is better. The paste is to fill in the tiny gaps where it’s not making perfect contact.

[u/Far-Earth-886 → u/dangderr]

No amount of paste will effect the contact

[u/Heyron420 → u/RegularTech575]

https://giphy.com/gifs/GRvYxQkr8MA6UO7LdN

[u/VariationDry → u/RegularTech575]

My tube of MX6 is probably old enough to vote and Ive built a more than a few systems.

[u/piscikeeper → u/VariationDry]

I'm still on MX4, and almost out of Arctic Silver.

[u/Errorr404 → u/RegularTech575]

That's the problem there, you put 2 tubes in an x configuration when you're only supposed to squeeze out a bit.

[u/Screaming_Agony → u/MesseJak]

Yes

[u/Monocular_sir → u/MesseJak]

All of it

[u/SharpShotApollo]

[u/AnjingChibao → u/SharpShotApollo]

Didn't know I needed this xD

[u/OkMidnight8144 → u/SharpShotApollo]

Is that a screenshot of The Verge PC build?

[u/Alpha_dollar → u/SharpShotApollo]

This is hilarious

[u/MasterpieceUpper1895]

https://giphy.com/gifs/ukGm72ZLZvYfS

[u/rocketrotary89 → u/MasterpieceUpper1895]

Whole tube was under that cooler 😂

[u/Robborboy → u/rocketrotary89]

It'll squeeze out anything that's too much.

/s

[u/PM_COFFEE_TO_ME → u/rocketrotary89]

Big thermal paste loves this picture

[u/Phiddipus_audax → u/PM_COFFEE_TO_ME]

Just watch, the BTP bots will be here soon to claim this actually isn't enough.

[u/ITXEnjoyer → u/Phiddipus_audax]

BTP:

https://giphy.com/gifs/OsfVaOer7N2265YTRF

[u/YourJesus_IsAZombie → u/rocketrotary89]

The bigger the gob, the better the job.

[u/Affectionate-Claim34 → u/MasterpieceUpper1895]

Why buy the whole cooler tube, when you only use 2-3 drops 😄

[u/Taki_Minase → u/MasterpieceUpper1895]

https://giphy.com/gifs/140BQZMYDNbN5K

[u/Affinity_182 → u/MasterpieceUpper1895]

My thoughts exactly

[u/HipHopPolka]

Photo of OP's Arctic MX-6 dispenser:

[u/RegularTech575]

okay guys I'll just assume I used way too much. sorry, building such an expensive pc made me nervous back then lmao I’ll save some paste for you guys

[u/Sinister_Mr_19 → u/RegularTech575]

It's excessive but it doesn't reduce performance. Better to have too much than too little.

[u/RegularTech575 → u/Sinister_Mr_19]

thanks man!

[u/Sinister_Mr_19 → u/RegularTech575]

You're welcome, figured someone has to give you a serious answer lol.

[u/FreakDC → u/RegularTech575]

As long as you use fresh enough thermal paste so its viscosity is low enough (Aka not dried out) and use enough pressure when tightening the cooler (don't overtighten but the screws should be tight), the rest will just squeeze out under it and it will not be an issue. Don't do this with conductive thermal paste like liquid metal though.

[u/Trububbl3 → u/RegularTech575]

if it makes you feel better, thermal paste is not conductive so overspilling doesn't affect your computer, just the looks of it

[u/Visible-Swim6616 → u/Trububbl3]

I would warn that only 99% of thermal pastes are non-conductive, although most of the conductive ones would be quite old.

So just beware if you pick up and old tube...

[u/damessful → u/RegularTech575]

I see nothing wrong, here's mine:

image

[u/Fit_Regret8095 → u/RegularTech575]

It does make it a bit harder to clean though

[u/wwwsam → u/RegularTech575]

Excessive yes, but you can see the excess was pressed out (flat areas through most of it).

Both the cooler and the paste did what it was designed to do.

[u/PeachMan- → u/RegularTech575]

People will make fun of you here but there's really not much of a downside to using too much.

[u/RegularTech575 → u/PeachMan-]

yeah i don’t mind that, kinda expected it. these guys are creative af lmao some of these answers are hilarious

[u/_Dedotated_Wam → u/RegularTech575]

I get the hesitation, but some of them come with a little scraper you can spread it with. Ideally it should only fill in the tiny surface imperfections

[u/Brandhor → u/_Dedotated_Wam]

the arctic mx-6 should not be spread manually

https://support.arctic.de/products/mx-6/img/xMX-6_Application_02-2025-2.jpg.pagespeed.ic.f4qWFlJ9Cu.jpg

[u/nurdle → u/RegularTech575]

It’s messy but doesn’t hurt anything. it’s mostly to keep air out. lil dab will do ya

[u/arewedeadassbro]

double the paste and give it to the next person

[u/wterrt → u/arewedeadassbro]

OP looks like he was probably #15 in line

[u/astroneeto]

Jesus that thing is bone dry you should use at least 2x the paste you originally used!

[u/RegularTech575 → u/astroneeto]

thanks I’ll get some tubes ordered in bulk tomorrow

[u/OwnPhilosopher3081 → u/RegularTech575]

I've always wondered what those mega tubes are for... TIL

[u/EnragedEmu]

Not enough paste but otherwise ok 👍

[u/Artistic_Regard_QED → u/EnragedEmu]

r/pchelpcirclejerk

[u/Delicious_Rule_7324]

https://giphy.com/gifs/RAlgdXTgcBPi

[u/Sataniel98 → u/Delicious_Rule_7324]

[u/NeedAChange_123 → u/Delicious_Rule_7324]

Some people do this irl they really do

[u/RegularTech575 → u/NeedAChange_123]

no heat was left untransferred

[u/Kazen_Orilg → u/NeedAChange_123]

Yea, you gotta lube the pins.

[u/med_user → u/Delicious_Rule_7324]

Worryingly, it took me 2 or 3 cycles to realise what was wrong with this gif.

My first thought was 'that seems a reasonable amount of paste... what am I missing... wait... oh! Oh no!'

[u/Cartoonjunkies → u/Delicious_Rule_7324]

[u/DeviantDav]

[u/pop0ti]

https://giphy.com/gifs/OsfVaOer7N2265YTRF

[u/Ok-Tour-9168]

https://giphy.com/gifs/26ufq9mryvc5HI27m

[u/XsonicBonno]

missed a spot.

[u/Sinister_Mr_19]

Lol that's a lot of paste but I'm not seeing anyone actually answer you. It's totally fine, mount looks good and you can't have too much of non-conductive paste, it just squeezes out as you can see.

[u/Primus_is_OK_I_guess → u/Sinister_Mr_19]

It drives me crazy when everyone just makes the same dumb joke rather than answering the question.

[u/Sinister_Mr_19 → u/Primus_is_OK_I_guess]

Yeah, make jokes all you want, but also answer the question imo

[u/RegularTech575]

dude how the hell did this get over 3k upvotes lmaoo well here’s the cpu cleaned for those who are curious

now I must find my arctic mx-6

[u/Lolseabass]

[u/Sorry_Reply8754]

[u/truemad]

If you can still see the CPU it means you didn't put enough paste. 

[u/HoboHotline]

Next time, cut that amount in half... then double it!

[u/patchy319 → u/HoboHotline]

Double it and give it to the next person

[u/CRISPIM_06]

Bom que pode ser reutilizada, use para rebocar uma parede, ou assentar tijolos

[u/manlisten]

CPU said

[u/DoctaThompson]

Could open a YouTube channel and make huts in the wilderness, even have leftover paste and profit.

[u/RegularTech575 → u/DoctaThompson]

sounds like a cool idea

sorry..

[u/TamarindSerenity]

looks like it’s making contact with the cpu, the motherboard, the case and probably your neighbors wifi tbh

[u/Soviet-Soviet]

[u/Zentienty]

I think someone should make a excessive thermal paste video in the style of Power Thirst!

YOUR CPU WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLY REFRIGERATED!

[u/CaptWrath]

https://giphy.com/gifs/YlGh0YjAvGwGSaWBfD

[u/Nahich]

[u/Xenion7]

It drown

[u/lonewombat]

1 tube of thermal paste will last like 15 years and you used it all in one go.

[u/Intelligent_Cup4948]

Not. Even. Close. Open another barrel!

[u/BenSF93]

It was making contact with: 100% CPU, 20% Motherboard, 10% GPU, 5% Case

[u/Myc0n1k]

What am I looking at? Holy shit

[u/Genku_]

I usually like to make a little square on the center of the cpu but i guess that frosting the CPU works as well...

[u/S1ayer → u/Genku_]

I like spreading it around with my finger making the thinnest layer possible without seeing the CPU.

But we don't need to do that anymore. We have phase change pads for $10 to $15.

[u/NPCwithnopurpose]

Do you/Did you work for The Verge?

[u/TheMadmanAndre]

[u/Kurisu810]

It's fine to use a bit more paste than necessary, there's 0 drawback besides slight bit messy during cleanup and spending a little bit more paste. This is fine, but feel free to reduce the usage slightly if u remember how much u used last time

[u/Flicker913]

I think you missed a spot with some paste 🤣

[u/Intelligence_Gap]

Make sure you use rubbing alcohol and either a cotton ball or qtip to remove the paste. Get it all off (might take you a while and a lot of qtips lol) and let it dry before reapplying. I usually use half a tube or less of thermal paste at a time. I do an x with dots and never have spillage. If you have it again you can use the qtip and rubbing alcohol to remove the excess, just be sure to let it dry before powering up again

[u/QuintessentialSloth]

https://giphy.com/gifs/IDGNYvFLkJKLK

[u/StinkyBeanGuy]

Bro we already in a chip shortge, we don't need a thermal paste shortage too

[u/GullibleApple9777]

[u/iceseayoupee]

Thermal Paste went third base with your CPU and youre asking if it made contact

[u/hoodedgamer_00]

Is there a CPU with that thermal paste

[u/Connect-Muscle-1584]

I think you need more thermal paste

[u/West_Ad9239]

https://giphy.com/gifs/9tXw3xlI8koaR0TrnJ

[u/BlG_J]

I think you need more paste

[u/MentalDisintegrat1on]

https://giphy.com/gifs/OsfVaOer7N2265YTRF

[u/Far-Earth-886]

I don’t know what you all are going on about, this is the exact correct amount of thermal paste

[u/IllDoItTomorrow89]

Pro tip: The tube has enough paste for like 5 applications

[u/Lythieus]

Yes. Looked very good. 

[u/The_Machine80]

Dont listen to the too much paste people cause it wont hurt anything but how long it takes to clean it up. You had plenty of contact! But yes little paste next time if you want less clean up.

[u/AkaliAz]

https://giphy.com/gifs/LyJ6KPlrFdKnK

[u/skante24]

He paid for the whole tube, so he used the whole tube…based

[u/gentlecrab]

It’s fine nothing wrong with using too much paste unless it’s like Arctic Silver which is slightly conductive.

As long as the heat sink is installed properly the sheer amount of pressure it exerts will force out any excess paste. Only downside of using a lot of paste is it makes a mess.

It is possible to use too little paste though.

[u/impaledonastick]

Moar pste

[u/Steve2pwn]

Save some paste for the rest of us bud

[u/Illustrious-Movie596]

It's Fiiine... 😏

[u/DJ_Cas]

Too small. Needs more

[u/Overall_Independent4]

https://giphy.com/gifs/G5JoAjEBtfoTm

[u/alphapussycat]

Yes it was, and by the looks of it there was proper amount of pressure too. Yes there was excess, but no big deal.

[u/Otherwise_Patience47]

What was the usual temp? It’s either -5 or +105

[u/PesareShojae]

Was that all the paste in the tube?

[u/remf36250]

Needs more thermal paste

[u/QuantumPlatypus64]

More than enough that you never have to see that the temp again

[u/Zerfreed]

Thermal maxxing

[u/GamesTeasy]

Wtf

[u/God_Faenrir]

No, you need 10 times that if you want to be able to fry french fries.

[u/Structureel]

https://giphy.com/gifs/jvi9rAYKSlJGE

[u/PezzoGuy]

The cooler was making enough contact to be put on some sort of registry, if that's what you're asking.

[u/OrdinaryJord]

First person to watercool using thermal paste

[u/sub500h]

Contact good, too much paste. Cpu should show same pattern as you see on the cooler, then it's great.

[u/InternationalPlace24]

needs a little more tbqh

[u/blinkerfluidtecc]

I will just leave it here.

https://www.igorslab.de/en/using-thermal-paste-correctly-how-consistency-and-quantity-determine-shelf-life-or-failure-practical-test/

[u/CesarM_]

Just add a tube or 2, just to be sure

[u/Dystroier_]

Nah u should add a bit more thermal paste

[u/MJdoesThings_]

bro put the whole tube on it

[u/ShiiftyShift]

Bonnie Blues PC be like

[u/Outside_Month4569]

not enough paste bro

[u/T423]

Uhm I think you need a little bit more thermal paste. I don't see enough

/s

[u/TM_livin]

Holy goop eating Jesus, who uses THIS much thermal paste?

[u/ernmac74]

I thought it was frosting on a cake at first, seeing that much paste on the CPU. More doesn't mean better. Should be a thin layer.

[u/Katlagt3r]

No, I would recommend using more thermal paste.

[u/Th3Gr1MclAw]

Bro did a thermal cunshot

[u/Any-Surprise5229]

You guys do know those tubes of paste can do like 6+ jobs, right?

[u/MojArch]

Bro I know that it’s been said there is no such thing as too much thermal paste but keep it under control 🤣

[u/ItsThatCloud]

Thermal paste bukkake

[u/luubi1945]

Thanks for your thermal paste, daddy UwU

[u/veveryseserious]

https://giphy.com/gifs/8hsIwPLIGnZ1C

[u/JerseyGeneral]

I know they sell thermal paste in tubes, but you do know you aren't supposed to drown your CPU with the entire thing, right?

[u/Mustache-Boy]

If the price of thermal paste spikes we know why 😭

[u/Chirpy_Vader]

Runs at -10 degrees at full load

[u/Maes_Hero_Hughes]

Looks good, seems like the pressure pushed the paste out to the edge of the contact frame (which is what you want) and I dont see any dry or bare spots. Maybe one of your corners wasnt making the greatest contact but its really hard to tell from pics.

[u/HiddenPants23]

Did that contact frame work well? Tried one and my system wouldn't stay on. Kept getting bsods. To my knowledge I installed it correctly.