Ryzen 7 5800X Ryzen 7 5800X6E
Ryzen 7 5800X Ryzen 7 5800X6E
For liquid metal application, placement on both CPU and cooler is required. If you need it solely on the CPU, options like kryonaut, hydronaut, or MX-4 are recommended.
Choose either liquid metal (Conductonaut) or standard thermal paste (Hydronaut). Not both. If using liquid metal, spread it on BOTH sides of the devices you wish to cool—CPU IHS and cooler coldplate. You can't depend on the cooler's mounting pressure for even distribution. For standard paste, apply it only to the CPU IHS and then secure the cooler on top. The cooler's force will help distribute the paste.
Consider fully completing the process or maintain a minimum gap of 3/4mm around the IHS.
Ensure full coverage of all areas; leaving gaps won't help dissipate heat from the CPU.
However, if you connect the cooler and because of the pressure it may cause water to accumulate around the IHS down to the silicone.
The main issue here is that liquid metal conducts electricity, which can cause short circuits in components. For this reason, I always suggest using regular thermal paste instead. Its performance difference isn’t significant, but it’s safer. If you want a better alternative, go for something similar to Hydronaut—it’s reliable and effective.
Buying Hydronaut with a single dot in the center is acceptable. The processor was cleaned, but you're still seeing small grayish squares—mostly near the core, while the rest looks fine.