When it comes to applying thermal paste, less is more: a small, pea-sized drop is all you need. Don't spread it around, either—the heatsink will spread it out evenly as you screw it in.

How much thermal paste is enough?

Situations to Avoid: Make sure to use the correct amount of thermal paste, which is roughly the size of a pea or a grain of rice. An insufficient amount might not cover the surface area needed in order to be effective.

Can you put too much thermal paste?

When you apply too much thermal paste, it can act like an insulator. At best case, this may make the paste ineffective, and at worst case, you may damage components via overheating. ... Remember, the entire point of the thermal paste is to fill in the tiny gaps between the two components.