Cooling Applying Thermal Paste

Ok I'm about to build a new PC with an i5 4670k and using a Silverstone AR01 for cooling. My only concern is how to apply the thermal paste (I'm using Arctic Silver 5). Now I've seen the pea method and that's the way I was going to go, but I'm not sure if I should given how the base of the AR01 is configured (3 heat pipes going between a metal base structure).

Arctic Silver recommend putting a line of paste down the middle of the CPU where the cores are, to allow it to spread which in my mind would probably make more sense given the configuration of the base of the cooler.

Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions?

 

The best way seems to be a large grain of rice sized blob in the middle of the CPU and let the pressure of the heat sink spread it, This is how I do it and never had a issue with it.

TBH Arctic Silver is a bit out of date now

 

Some interesting reading here on the various methods (2008 - but still relevant): http://archive.benchmarkreviews.com...ask=view&id=170&Itemid=1&limit=1&limitstart=4 (see also subsequent page)

 

I also have heatpipes with grooves which I found the blob method wasn't the best.

I got much better temperatures from spreading a very thin layer over the entire CPU/HSF with a card, that means that any heatsink surface that touches it will get an even layer of paste, and you won't get any issues with it building up in the grooves like you would with the blob method.

I'd also use MX4 over AS5. I found using MX4 and the method above gave me 10c lower max temps over AS5 and the blob method.