How do you guys apply thermal paste to a athlon xp or any cpu really without a cap...

[Martijn Klerks]

How do you guys apply thermal paste to a athlon xp or any cpu really without a cap over it i believe its called an ihs.
When i apply it it just gets smooshed out and seeps over the edges. Making a bad connection. Any tips tricks?

 

[Peter Bot]

Maybe put a little bit less paste, you only need a little drop in the middle....

 

[Retro PC Gamers]

Just a tiny drop or smear it out nice n thin first. Use non-conductive TIM like Prolimatech PK3

 

[Lazimir Panić Pane]

Apply the paste to the heatsink and spread it with a plastic card.

 

[Taebin Rice]

I put my hand in a ziplock and use it like a glove and "finger paint" it on real thin.

 

[Sean Christopher Ohman]

i use arctic silver paste, yeah those are small dyes and it just takes a drop but it's supposed to sort of smear and create a lack of space between the heatsink and the cpu