212+ Thermal Paste

[airrob]

How does this look?

http://i.imgur.com/BSkPy.jpg

[Flying Fox]

Not bad. You may want to add to this thread.

[StuG]

With exposed heat pipes lounge on many of the coolers out today I typically put it on the processor itself and spread it evenly. I'm always afraid on going to create air pockets if I put it on like in your picture. However I think you would be fine I'm just anal when it comes to thermal paste.

[FuturePastNow]

I first filled int he gaps in the cooler base, then applied a thin layer to the processor. Seems to work OK.

[sluggo]

The best thermal path is metal-to-metal, so you want the paste to be no thicker than the surface roughness of the material itself. This is typically less than a few ten-thousandths of an inch. Fill in those large gaps around the pipes if you like, but wipe the flat surfaces flush. I wrap my finger in some clear plastic food wrap and wipe the surface of the metal with a small bead of thermal paste. Rub the paste "into" both mating surfaces completely, then wipe off the excess.