How to apply thermal paste and how it works

In this guide, we'll guide you through the wonderful world of thermal paste, or thermal interface material (TIM). We'll show you how to apply thermal paste in its various different forms, using different patterns depending on the CPU you're using. You might think that placing one metal component against another one would result in good enough contact for heat to conduct effectively, but that's not the case. A layer of thermal material between your CPU and its cooler remains an essential part of any PC build, and that situation isn't going to change any time soon. With a huge amount of options on the market, using all manner of materials, including ceramic, silver and liquid metal thermal paste, it can be tough to work out the right one to use and the differences between them. In addition, there are several different sizes of CPU heatspreaders with which to contend, each demanding its own way of applying thermal paste. In this guide, we'll cover the different types of thermal pastes, how they work, and how to apply them.