do I have to apply thermal paste?

EirePlane · 18 Dec 2006 at 20:17

do I need to apply thermal paste?

I have an old computer in the corner of my room that I want to get up and running but since the last time i used it I have cleaned out the inside of it and during that I removed the heatsink and processor

will I need to apply thermal paste to the processor before I use the computer or should it be ok?

Justintime · 18 Dec 2006 at 21:26

Yes, anytime you remove the heatsink or clean etc.. its best to reapply than to depend upon whats left of the last application.

spb251272 · 19 Dec 2006 at 16:40

Yes, you should always clean the top of the cpu and the bottom of the heatsink then apply fresh paste. otherwise the cpu will get a lot hotter than it should!

locutus12 · 19 Dec 2006 at 16:58

it all depends, what processor is it. depending on its age and type of CPU you may not need thermal paste at all.

iMacMart · 19 Dec 2006 at 17:43

I always clean and re-apply !!

Just to be safe....

But each to their own

EirePlane · 19 Dec 2006 at 19:06

the processor is an intel celeron from ~2001
it doesn't look like there was ever any thermal compound on it tbh and i know it was working fine before i cleaned it. Even when I cleaned it I never rubed anything off the underside of the heatsink or the top of the chip.
there is a silver square on the underside of the heatsink. I read before that some heatsinks come with a thermal patch on the bottom, would this be it?

locutus12 · 19 Dec 2006 at 20:13

there is a silver square on the underside of the heatsink

thats your original paste.

if your not planning to overclock it, youl be fine, if you are then i would consider reapplying thermal paste.

EirePlane · 19 Dec 2006 at 22:26

i wont be overclocking it so it should be fine then.
if should something go wrong and the processor overheat, is it likely to shut itself down before the chip burns out or will it make some unusual noise to warn me?

locutus12 · 20 Dec 2006 at 00:28

EirePlane said:
i wont be overclocking it so it should be fine then.
if should something go wrong and the processor overheat, is it likely to shut itself down before the chip burns out or will it make some unusual noise to warn me?

yup, although if it was an early AMD athlon youd have a small bonfire before it shut off

Nomisf · 20 Dec 2006 at 03:00

lol bonfire indeed

Yeah being a later model intel it will shut down before it does any major damage , or just throttle.

You will , like everyone says get away with just plopping the heatsink back on - but it would still be worth cleaning and re-applying just to avoid future issues.

AS-5 Is reccomended from me - Thumbs up !

Rgds,
Nomisf

John.Goold · 20 Dec 2006 at 17:43

For how much thermal paste/pads are, its probably best to put some on anyway, it wont hurt. Just make sure it is well cleaned beforehand

EirePlane · 20 Dec 2006 at 18:12

i read that you have to clean the old paste off with alcohol. I don't reckon stella would do the trick

so is there any particular type I should use? and where could I get some? OcUK? electronic store? chemist?

John.Goold · 20 Dec 2006 at 18:18

I don't know about anyone else, but I just use tissue paper, very gently and carefully. I've had about 15 CPU's and none have ever had any problems, so the method seems to work for me!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=OA-001-AK

Is that the stuff you're on about?

Slime101 · 20 Dec 2006 at 18:21

Do retail cpu heatsinks still come with TIM (?) pads on the bottom?? If so is it REALLY worth replaceing it with AS or whatever, as i only have AS2 from years back and shant be splashing out on new stuff!

John.Goold · 20 Dec 2006 at 18:24

Slime101 said:
Do retail cpu heatsinks still come with TIM (?) pads on the bottom?? If so is it REALLY worth replaceing it with AS or whatever, as i only have AS2 from years back and shant be splashing out on new stuff!

Retail heatsinks either come with a pad pre-applied or a tube. If you don't intend to overclock the CPU, standard should be fine tbh - or the manufacturers wouldn't supply it.

If you want to beef it up at a higher speed, I'd reccomend a bigger cooler and "aftermarket" paste.

EirePlane · 20 Dec 2006 at 18:27

might get some of that stuff then as well as the arctic silver. shall see what i have after crimbo
might get a few other things too. shall see if i can butcher some ram from another computer for this one lol

Nutbusta · 20 Dec 2006 at 21:44

John.Goold said:
I don't know about anyone else, but I just use tissue paper, very gently and carefully. I've had about 15 CPU's and none have ever had any problems, so the method seems to work for me!

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=OA-001-AK

Is that the stuff you're on about?

If use this stuff. Works well enough and smells loverly. Non toxic too, although I haven't tried drinking it

Justintime · 20 Dec 2006 at 23:52

EirePlane said:
i read that you have to clean the old paste off with alcohol. I don't reckon stella would do the trick so is there any particular type I should use? and where could I get some? OcUK? electronic store? chemist?

Well my Stella can prolly do the trick.. since shes my mum

John.Goold · 21 Dec 2006 at 00:19

Nutbusta said:
If use this stuff. Works well enough and smells loverly. Non toxic too, although I haven't tried drinking it

Could be messy

hardc0re_tid · 21 Dec 2006 at 15:26

EirePlane said:
i read that you have to clean the old paste off with alcohol. I don't reckon stella would do the trick so is there any particular type I should use? and where could I get some? OcUK? electronic store? chemist?

some cotton buds and nail polish remover, white spirit or meths. meh i used a tin of compressed air (turn it upside down and spray onto the cotton bud) there will be some fluid comes out, works wonders