Yes, it's a sufficient quantity for most applications.
Yes, it's a sufficient quantity for most applications.
I placed a modest-sized thermal paste blob, it should suffice. The AIO was positioned on top of the cover and slightly compressed.
You just secured the CPU block in position, confirming proper mounting and fastening. The thermal paste needs to cover the entire IHS surface.
I didn’t fully install the cooler; I just placed it on top for easy access. I only gently set the AIO to sit beside the CPU.
A bit bigger than a pea is generally fine. When you reapply, use alcohol to clean the CPU and heatsink thoroughly.
Don't be so obsessed with the amount. It's better to put too much than put too little, so if you have more paste, add another pea/corn size drop in the middle. Too little is bad, too much is not so bad... usually too much paste results just in maybe half a degree celsius higher temperatures, which are balanced by the fan spinning a bit faster. In real world, you're unlikely to notice it.
It becomes challenging to assess accurately. Ensure the quantity is recorded and secure the cooler properly. For extra confidence, remove it once more to observe the heat distribution, though a real-world check would involve running a stress test and monitoring CPU temps.
I completed the realbench session for an hour and the peak reached 85°C. Not sure if that's normal or a problem.