I think thermal paste spreading methods are overhyped for most builds

Everyone always says to use the pea method or the X pattern, but I've been using the spread method with a plastic card for years. I just did a fresh build last week with a Ryzen 5 5600X and some Arctic MX-6, temps are consistently 2-3 degrees cooler than my buddy's identical setup with the pea drop. Has anyone else actually tested these methods side by side with a heat gun instead of just repeating what Gamers Nexus says?

2 comments

2 Comments

henry_kelly5426d ago

2-3 degrees cooler with spread method" is exactly why I never bother with the pea drop.

alice_reed4726d ago

My buddy tried the spread method on a whim last fall and ended up with soil temps all over the place. He had this one patch that stayed cold way longer than the rest, and his early seedlings just sat there sulking for weeks. The unevenness drove him crazy because he had to keep checking different spots with his thermometer every morning. He finally gave up and went back to the pea drop just to keep his sanity intact during spring planting.