First time playing with thermal paste

[soul-assassin]

I was having issues with random shut downs, so after a little digging, I found that the thermal paste on my heatsink was either A)covered in dust or B) just all together missing in spots. In the last couple of years I've pulled this machine apart a few times to clean out the dust, and apparently have managed to mess up the paste in the process. After reading some tuts online I was somewhat concerned about everyone stressing that it had to be oh so thin of a layer or you'll wind up reversing the effect. Anyway, I didn't have quick access to Arctic Silver and I didn't have the patience to order some, so I just got some stuff from Dynex at the local Best Buy. To make a boring story a little shorter, I did it and it wasn't as difficult as I had built it up to be. It's a relatively cheap and easy fix, and I just wish I paid attention to the temps before this happened to see if/how much of a change this made. But from now on, I'll be more carefull when spring cleaning out the dust.

[Southerntracker]

If it makes you feel better, I was a little wary of using thermal paste the first time, too. Like you I found out it is much easier than it appears. Congrats!

[dog2525]

yeah its very easy. i remember my first time, when i booted to BIOS, i couldn't wait for the temps to come up, and worrying my head off, because i thought i fried it.

[d3fus3r]

i dont know why but for some reason thermal paste gives me a major headache...it doesnt have a smell that i know of either...but w/e I know that i nearly SHAT myself the first time i messed with paste...i honestly thought i had fried it...but luckly i didnt and i had an OHHH moment when i figured out how easy that was...

[soul-assassin]

Yeah, it was definately an easy project, like a 2 on a 1-10 scale. You just need the marbles to mess with what is generally the most expensive part of your PC. Good to see I wasn't just being a chicken sh!t and others had the same hesitations.

[computerman]

well HOPEFULLY anyone that has built their own computer has "messed around" with thermal paste, its sort of hard to ruin the proc with it, worst case just gets to much you wipe it off and start over.