Liquid Metal on the 9900k IHS AREA51m

[i.bakar]

yesterday i tried conductonaut liquid metal between the IHS and the heatsink of the area51m. 

 

temps were ok when it booted between 40 and 52 degrees C , however once i started the stress test, it spiked to 95 then 100 in a few seconds which is not the normal behaviour i see with KPX thermal paste (spikes to 70s the goes up gradually from there ) 

 

so this means to me that the liquid metal doesn't have a good contact between the IHS and the heatsink. but i added a suitable amount of it and my temps are stable with the KPX thermal paste...

 

unfortunately i didn't take any pictures. 

 

i am trying to rack my brain what else could be the issue,  any idea what could be the cause, could it be that there is a gap between the IHS and the heatsink but it only shows with liquid metal because it is too thin ?