am I Bug*erd

ndeller

ndeller

ndeller

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Joined
18 Nov 2007
Posts
104
Hi,

I just received all the parts for my new machine and whilst inspecting each component for obvious damage I accidently touched the thermal compound paste on the bottom of the Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro heatpad.

It has left a big smudged finger print that is now missing and just wondering if this is a problem or whether the paste will squeeze level when pressure is applied to fix it to the q6600 I have just bought?

Should I wipe all the thermal compound off the bottom of the cpu cooler and buy some arctic silver thermal 5 compound and apply as directed in the thermal compound instructions.
Or would I have to apply to the q6600 chip as well as the cpu cooler plate?

Thanks.
Nick
 
Depends how bad you have smudged it dude, and if you're going to buy some more paste, buy some mx-2, it's the stuff that is already on the heatsink, and outperforms as5 :)
 
How'd ya manage that? I know you were inspecting the parts, but there's a protective plastic shield on the bottom of the cooler. I'd leave that well and truely on until the time comes to mount it.

Personally, I'd change it - but I'm very fussy like that.
 
Just install that you should be alright if you don't have any decent thermal paste to replace that at the moment. And no, you're hardly "bug*erd".
 
I didnt think I would be bug*erd, but better to be safe than sorry. Im not a hardware enthusiast by any stretch of the imagination!!!!!

When I push it together ontop of the q6600 processor it should force out evenly anyway shouldnt it?

Is it worth me buying some mx-2 to apply to the cpu cooler plate just in case. Does it have to be dead even when applied?
 
It's defo worth getting a tube of mx-2, will last you ages through builds and it will come in handy if you often need to remove heatsink.

Yes the amount of pressure will make the paste spread as thin as possible across the IHS.
 
thanks guys.

Is it best to have the thinest layer possible in contact with the q6600 and the cpu cooler? or does it not really matter?

I read somewhere that on the quad core processors you should only have a small line running through the centre of the chip. Is it best to follow this practice or to cover the whole surface so as to obtain optimal cooling through the overall area?
 
Tbh there looks to be more than enough paste left on there. I would have no hesitation in going ahead and using that heatsink as it is.
 
I'd be more worried about grease from my finger(s) contaminating the paste. It will doubtlessly work fine but you might loose a degree or two - never having tested contaminated paste I don't know exactly how much.
 
Do you recon I can get away with it for now. Then in a couple of months time when I come to overclock the cpu completely remove the paste. Then clean it then reapply new paste?
 
I would have thought it will spread out fine anyway. Don't worry about it :)

Only reseat it if you aren't happy with your temps. Then you may aswell lap it too :p
 
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