Any General Advice On Thermal Paste Please?

[Minstrel SE]

I am doing some Wii console case swapping projects and this time Im interested in re applying some thermal paste to the wireless chip. A metal shielding plate sits on that one and a heatsink and fan protect the main processors. Wiis are not known for overheating

I might leave the main processors as the paste squares look neat like pads, shiny and moist like it might still be doing the job. I have several motherboards and they are as cheap as chips so its not the end of the world.

They say clean off the original grey paste but is there any harm in putting a blob of new paste over decent looking shiny older paste? The heatsink has a set gap as its on raised mounts so I can not see how good a contact it will make

I have been reading a bit on the paste and how you clean the old flakey paste off and apply a pea sized amount and spread it. Im just going to put a couple of very small blobs on and set the plate down on the wireless chip It cant be rocket science to conduct the heat out of a chip

I think the grey carbon paste will be fine from brands like Halnziye. Do I need the added silver ceramic or fancy additives...extra conductivity.... gold colour?.

Its all pretty cheap and Im just wary of buying too much that I will never use.

I will suss it but as its all new to me and I have to learn quickly

Cheers all the best
Martin

[Firebottle]

Spread it evenly but don't overload it, you only need enough to fill in the 'surface roughness'.

[Minstrel SE]

Yes and Ive just seen loads of videos on youtube with reviews and recommendations.

To be honest its boring me senseless but Im trying to gain interest :) Yes I have seen not to use too much which can defeat the purpose

I think I just need the generic grey stuff used at the factory although theres not much price difference between the next stage up.

There are even pads that can be bought instead of paste . They have just blobbed this wireless processor under a large shielding plate. The main processors have such neat squares that Im not sure I want to do those

I will have a tiny syringe sent and complete my job at the weekend.

[Minstrel SE]

I have found a good seller on ebay who sems to specialise in cooling supplies. It all gets confusing because within a £1 price range there are 5 model numbers of 3g paste from the same manufacturer. Im going to buy one of the Halnziye syringes from grey to gold :) Gold always sounds good doesnt it and its only about 40 pence more :)

Anyway Im getting there and its all a learning process. When I have done this once I will be doubly confident and eager to learn more.

Its a case of learning quickly by sifting enough information and getting on with it. In the internet age its a lot easier for the amateur dabbler like me :)

[Minstrel SE]

Rushed onto the forum a bit too soon and I now know 10 times more than I did an hour ago. A seller has given me superb advice and Im now much calmer.

Its quite interesting because there are thermal pads and gel pads which liquefy with heat to fill the gap. I cant use those as my gap is wider but there are plenty of pastes to do the job.

In a world full of computer chips, thermal paste is pretty important :)

Best wishes to everyone on the forum

[walpurgis]

I cant use those as my gap is wider but there are plenty of pastes to do the job

Not sure why you have a gap. The heat sink should be in contact. The paste is just to enhance that contact.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Pads are better to use than paste, thats if a suitable sized pad is available.

There are health issues with using paste as it contains beryllium, so install
paste using gloves, or at the very least follow the recommendations on the packaging.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beryllium

[Minstrel SE]

Not sure why you have a gap. The heat sink should be in contact. The paste is just to enhance that contact.

Well the main processors have a neat square of paste 1mm or more thick. The heatsink screws down over these on its raised corner mounts. This is what I have to study because I will do a few test runs on a spare board. If there was narrower contact there surely wouldnt be 1mm or more of glistening 10 year old paste.

I didnt think that the heatsink would touch the chip as it would put pressure on the solder mounts would it not? Im gathering that the pea sized blobs of paste spread on contact filling the gap. I dont think I will spread it with the plastic spatula as the downward pressure will spread it if I have taken care to apply the right amount

There are pads O.15mm thick and 1mm pads. Im not sure about standard gaps between the heatsink. I will be doing some learning exercises on a spare board.

Ive ordered the Halnziye 510 and 810 pastes to have a look at them. The processor is power rated at 45W max so it doesnt need the most expensive paste