Critique my proposed computer build.

[Mdcastle]

How do I know if it’s dried out? Is it still good if it’s moist and greasy as opposed to crumbly?

[FlyByNight512]

@Mdcastleman

How do I know if it’s dried out? Is it still good if it’s moist and greasy as opposed to crumbly?

Yup. If it’s dried out you’ll see flakes or cracks in it. It should have a consistency about like toothpaste.

[Quartz]

@FlyByNight512

The gray thermal paste that comes on coolers is usually pretty bad quality. Wipe off as much as you can with a dry paper towel, then use the stuff you’ve already got as long as it’s not dried out. Dried out thermal paste is a great way to burn up your CPU. The idea is to cover the contact surface of the cooler completely, but with as thin a layer as possible. I’ve seen people get good results by putting on a thick layer then scraping off the extra with a business card.

According to various computer websites the best way is to put a pea-sized blob in the middle, then put the cooler straight on.

[jacobsta811]

Don’t just leave the old paste there, if you can’t get it all with a towel - if you are replacing it with a high quality paste you want to get rid of the old stuff entirely. Generally 90% alcohol will clean the paste off the cooler, sometimes something like Carb & Choke cleaner is needed.

[Ludovic]

@jz78817

I had 8 GB previously and I was comfortable with that. I upped to 16 GB just because, so I’ll be set for a while.

I went with that theory 3 years ago, except it was with 4 versus 8 GB, and I’m still set with my 8 Gigs

[Mdcastle]

Just ordered the memory so I can plug it in and see if it POSTS and boots to BIOS. I got 2x 4G Corsair XMS3 DDR3-1333