*URGENT* Did I install my CPU cooler correctly?

[Toxic Masculinity]

I just got done installing my CPU cooler but I can see some thermal paste sticking out and I'm worried about turning it on, maybe I put too much?

My cooler is the Arctic i11, it comes with thermal paste in a little packet that has to be cut open like a pack of ketchup, the instructions said to apply a line of thermal paste on each of the 3 copper pipes and I did exactly that, I pretty much used the whole pack (it was tiny). I'm aware most people recommend using a pea size drop but this cooler has gaps between the pipes is my guess as to why they suggest putting so much.

I did start shaking and slightly moved it around while trying to get the screws in but I tried my best not to, all the paste sticking out appears to still be on the processor.

Do you think its fine?

[Hølland601]

yea it shouldnt be coming out of the side of the base of the heatsink because it can cause the computer to short out. try taking it off and wiping the exess off. it is best to use a coffie filter or somthing like that. or a disposable eyeglass whipe. also make sure when you clamp the thing down it is centered on the cpu. I know it is very diffecult to put them on and sometimes and when I intalled mine i needed need 2 people for the hyper tx3. The cooler itself should move a little bit like 1 to 2 cm but if it is really losse you got a problem.

[almond ✰]

Just today I actually installed a liquid cooler. Looking at the pipes on the i11, I would suggest applying a pea sized dot in the center directly on the CPU. I think Antec says if you want to use thermal paste on the heatsink base, you should only apply a thin thin glaze. Doing this reduces the time it takes for it to form to the cpu (can't think of the word.) I will post a link for Tek Syndicate on youtube that shows what each method looks like (when it spreads out)

the mighty tek syndicate

I wouldn't think you have to spread it carefully on each pipe, because once it heats up and everything you won't even be able to tell where the lines went lol. I hope this is informative.

[rotNdude]

The MX4 is not conductive and if it's just on the integrated heat sink of the CPU and not oozing all over the place I wouldn't worry about it.

http://www.arctic.ac/us_en/mx-4.html

[Beardface31]

I would leave it for now, monitor your temps during gaming or something cpu intensive, like Prime95. If you go above 80 you may want to repaste. If you don't do a lot of cpu intensive activities you could just leave it.

[Hølland601]

I had no idea that the mx4 was not conductive. thats cool you should be fine then :D

[Toxic Masculinity]

Thanks guys, I ended up not feeling comfortable with it and took it off, the paste was kinda all over the place. I decided to just use my old CPU cooler because the new ones copper pipes had a spacing so the MX-4 thermal paste was down in the extremely tight cracks from the previous attempt to install it and I didn't want to mix it with some Arctic Silver 5 I had laying around even though I tried to clean it and the new CPU cooler had a much smaller area that touches the CPU.

I used the pea size in the middle method and when I turned my PC on the temp seemed a little hotter but not much, then it started rising and I about **** myself but luckily after it ran for a few minutes the temp seems a degree or two cooler than the stock paste (which I messed up over a year ago taking off the heatsink to clean it). Never doing this again unless I have to, definitely need a change of underwear after that.