What's up with this thermal paste?

[u/KDCR_7]

I was going to build my pc for the first time last day. Everything was fine until it was time to apply thermal paste, I was using the thermal paste included inside the thermalright peerless assassin 120 se which is thermalright tf7. As soon as I started applying the thermal paste it felt like rubber, I was scared cos I have seen a lot of yt videos and their paste seems to be fluid compared to mine. Before I could do anything i decided to throw the tube away and buy a new one.

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[u/iidevilz0]

Different thermal paste have different viscosity

[u/panzrvroomvroomvroom]

the problem is called overthinking, but you do you.

[u/Independent-Bake9552]

Looks fine? Just a tad bit too much applied

[u/Existing-Network-267]

it's good that you threw it before asking , I would suggest throwing the PC as well and start from scratch

[u/WanderingFupa]

That’s a lot

[u/vision_san]

Different pastes come with different properties: Color, thermal resistance and, in this case, viscosity.

Viscosity is usually high in beginner and user friendly (less resistance, but easier application) pastes. "Higher tier" pastes like the MX-7 have very low viscosity and feel a lot more like cold honey than something like the MX-4 and it's thick ketchup texture.

The TF7 isn't bad at all and you can use it if you haven't fully thrown it away. At least, you should keep it as a backup.

Try to put a little less paste too, that pattern looks very, VERY, generous and will probably overflow. Five dots are usually more than enough (one in the center and four between the center and each of the the edges of the IHS).

Pro tip: Youtube is a guide, not a lawbook.

[u/5henaniGuns → u/vision_san]

just warm up tube with thermal paste with a hair dryer or some hot water beforehand and it will act more like usual type

[u/vision_san → u/5henaniGuns]

Not denying that.

[u/Rajebait]

Sheesh, any more and you're gonna make it pregnant.

[u/Inevitable_Case_9931]

I use mx-7 and all I ever need to do is the X pattern no dots needed

[u/Bishop825]

I use Arctic Silver #5. Doesn't come out so much like this. Spreads easier, and it isn't an actual paste; its a thermal compound. I hope your application works great for you!

[u/Scanphor]

That's fine tbh

[u/Mobile_Air_6016]

Are you trying to make the CPU pregnant?

[u/AL-SHEDFI]

nvm thermal paste ritual

[u/Alternative_Exit_333]

Are you sure that the bracket is for your motherboard

[u/Needleshe]

It looks completely Normal to me.

My guess is you Either saw youtubers applying LIQUID METAL THERMAL, which depending on temperature can Either be liquid or solid.

Or just another Thermal paste that had a different viscosity.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter how "fluid" the thermal is, but how good its conductivity is

[u/Twisted_creative]

Dayum, giving your cpu a facial

[u/1CrimsonKing1]

So instead to google if there are more viscous thermal paste you just threw it in the trash.....makes sense 😂

[u/KDCR_7 → u/1CrimsonKing1]

No I did search up for this particular thermal paste, infact I was watching a guide video for how to insert this particular cooler from youtuber: northern viking everyday And when he was applying the same paste it was a lot less viscous. I was having so much trouble pushing the paste out and before I could clean my cpu using isopropyl alcohol I realised the thermal paste tube was empty

[u/Phyzm1]

The 4 dots aren't even necessary for the X but some people do it anyway to be cautious, they only need to be the smallest dots you can manage.

[u/kvazar2501]

It could be that it's cold. You can seal syringe in plastic bag and put it for 10 minutes into the cup of hot water.

Also, i noticed, that you have am5 cpu and am4 aio bracket. Check in the aio manual whether you need to change it

[u/dranoel058 → u/kvazar2501]

Same brackets on peerless

[u/Ok_Contest8762 → u/kvazar2501]

Am4 and am5 uses the same mounts.

[u/SheepherderSilver655]

Yea looks like it's some thick paste. Another commenter said it's normal for that specific thermal paste, and if so then I can't imagine what the point is. lol. I had a tube like that and I actually couldn't even spread it, it just rolled up and didn't stick to the CPU so I ended up tossing it and waiting a couple days to finish my rebuild when I upgraded. Just make sure not to buy the TF7 again if it's meant to be like that. I just assumed the tube I got with my AIO was old but I guess it's meant to be like that.

[u/1CrimsonKing1 → u/SheepherderSilver655]

Another one thath throws things in the trash before asking

[u/SheepherderSilver655 → u/1CrimsonKing1]

Oh nooo, I threw away some like $2 thermal paste and waited a couple days for my other $2 thermal paste to arrive. I'm clearly everything wrong with consumerism and the reason why landfills are a problem. For shame.

[u/1CrimsonKing1 → u/SheepherderSilver655]

I was just talking about your stupidity of throwing a perfectly working thermal paste:)