Quality liquid metal, helps reduce temps considerably from 10c on just the IHS to cooler, or upto 20c with CPU delid, CPU die sanded, and IHS to cooler. Don't leave 1 star feedback after destroying your system because you were too amatuer to use this stuff, it requires a lot of care and some skill.
If you are using this for a CPU delid, be sure to insulate any conducting areas that will sit under the IHS (integrated heat spreader, the big flat metal piece that is the top of your CPU where the cooler usually sits/makes contact with) or even outside it, this stuff is very runny and it may happen over time long after you have put the IHS back on. I used clear nail polish on exposed contacts, resistors or transistors etc... I avoided using any glittery types of nail polish as i'm not sure if they're conductive. Apply two layers to be safe (2nd layer after 1st layer has dried obviously).
If the IHS is soldered to the CPU die (most modern CPU's have solder) be sure to use a delidding tool and carefully remove the IHS. There will be solder left on the CPU die, you will have to carefully remove it with either a blade (scraping blade is handy) or there are products you can buy that dissolve the solder safely, something like Flitz Polish can do this. If you use a blade, be sure to lightly sand down the remaining solder and use a super fine sand paper to get that mirror polished finish on the CPU die. I have sanded down 9900k CPU die's that are known to come excessively thick which also helps with reducing temperatures, but you do have to be super careful not to sand too much or you will destroy the CPU.
Most IHS's and cooler contacts come copper based but if for some reason you have an aluminium based one, don't use liquid metal or it will corrode it and may fuse to the aluminium, which then you will most likely have to sand down to clean it off. Just buy a cheap copper IHS off amazon for the CPU you have, they're not expensive.
Be sure to apply a very thin layer to both the CPU die and the inside of the IHS. You will need to have a rough idea where the shape of the CPU die will make contact with the inside of the IHS to avoid excess amounts dripping off the IHS to the surrounding areas of your CPU die, this is one of the reasons it is best to insulate the conductive parts of the CPU, if you don't know what parts are conductive, then just insulate everything that stands out as it can't hurt, but obviously not the back of the CPU where the contacts are for connecting to the motherboard!
One method of knowing where to apply on the inside of the IHS is to apply on the die, place the IHS on the CPU and the die should touch the inside of the IHS and leave you a rough liquid metal outline to apply within. This is also good to see if the CPU die makes contact with the IHS if you sanded the die down (if it doesn't, then simply sand down the base of the IHS little by little until the die makes contact with the IHS.
Finally, apply little dabs of glue on the IHS and place it in position, I usually install it into the motherboard while the glue is wet so the IHS is clamped down to the CPU by the motherboard socket, and you may want to use paste on the top of your IHS but if you do want to use liquid metal then either carefully apply it while it is installed in the motherboard or be patient and wait for the glue to dry, then take it out of the socket. You will need to apply liquid metal to the cooler too and will need a good idea where the IHS will make contact with the cooler, use the same method as before to see where it will make contact (apply to IHS, place cooler in position then take cooler out and look at where the liquid metal touched the cooler from the IHS).
A little advice on applying liquid metal, it can be quite annoying trying to spread it at first as the blob of liquid tends to just follow the q-tip or seem like it gets completely absorbed by it. Keep trying to spread it with the q-tip even if nothing seems to be happening and apply some pressure so you're effectively squashing the liquid metal out of the q-tip and move the q-tip back and forth quite fast in a small area, eventually it will start spreading nicely and you will get the hang of it.
I have delidded a 4790K, 2x 9700K, 9900K, 2x 9900KF, 10900K all successfully with this liquid metal and they are all running good to this day. I haven't attempted a delid with any AMD cpu's yet and wasn't bothered to do it to my 5950x as i use it for server purposes and general use, but the intel's were for gaming and overclocking so it was worth it.
Watch many youtube videos to learn as much as you can before attempting this as CPU's are not cheap, but don't be scared as it is not rocket science, you just need to be clean and careful!
| Manufacturer | Thermal Grizzly |
|---|---|
| Part number | ConductonauTG |
| Item Weight | 1 g |
| Product Dimensions | 0.1 x 0.1 x 0.1 cm; 1 Grams |
| Item model number | TG-C-001-R |
| Colour | Black |
| Material | Aluminum,Copper,Metal |
| Voltage | 12 Volts |
| Wattage | 73 watts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Batteries included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
