Yes, it's a sufficient quantity for most applications.
Yes, it's a sufficient quantity for most applications.
Yes, it looks like quite an old image. It seems you're questioning whether the setup is still current, and you mention having run benchmarks before.
In theory, placing a heatsink and then removing it only to reattach can be problematic. This happens because thermal paste remains on both sides, and when you bring them together again, air pockets may form between the layers. These trapped air molecules slow down heat transfer, reducing efficiency. Generally, it's better to either clean both surfaces thoroughly or just one, applying fresh paste to that surface. In real experiments, even if air gets stuck, its impact is usually negligible under lab conditions. The extra effort of cleaning and reapplying paste isn't justified.
The whole process started with applying a small amount of thermal paste on the CPU. I let the AIO sit on it for a while while I took a photo. Then I mounted the cooler, attached the side panel, connected it to power, and ran a realbench test for 40 minutes.
This situation seems familiar, but there are still some important details to consider. It might help to review a relevant YouTube tutorial for better guidance. If you've handled this before, why not follow the method that previously worked? Your confusion is understandable, but it’s not unusual. Just take your time and enjoy your device!
It's not sufficient, you're missing roughly half of what's required. AMD has a substantial area to address. Intel is somewhat simpler since you just need to ensure the cores are covered; a central line works fine. When they compare rice sizes, that's typically for Intel. Pea sizes seem too large in my view. After switching to AMD, those Intel methods no longer apply. I've drawn a line along the side and spread it across the entire IHS. It seems to function adequately. A bit of repetition helps you build your own approach.
I captured the shot before installing the cooler. The thermal paste circle appeared tiny and didn’t fully cover the IHS since I didn’t secure the cooler over the CPU. I just placed it gently on top without screws because I needed a phone to snap the image. Once I had the phone, I lifted the AIO back up and took the picture, which caused the spreading effect. After the photo, I lowered the phone and secured the AIO.