do i need a thermal compound

SameSuspect · 20 May 2006 at 09:25

this is the heatsink i have bought

Arctic Cooling Alpine 64 CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940) (HS-020-AR)

do i need to buy a thermal compound to go with it?? or can i just use it without adding anything??

keef · 20 May 2006 at 09:57

depends how quickly you wanna fry your cpu!
yes, you always need thermal compound, dont waste your money and get cheap stuff either, get some arctic silver and be done!

4T5 · 20 May 2006 at 09:58

Yes mate you need paste and Arctic silver is the one to use.
Do not be tempted to test/run without it.

james.miller · 20 May 2006 at 10:00

i'd change that if i were you. they are terrifically loud for their performance

boosfuk · 20 May 2006 at 10:02

This heatsink comes with preapplied thermal compound (good stuff as well).

SameSuspect · 20 May 2006 at 10:04

ok thanx, better buy some of that arctic silver then. well glad i started this thread lol. when applying arctic silver, do i cover the whole cpu itself or just the gold square in the middle

keef · 20 May 2006 at 10:05

without fail on every cpu/heatsink i install the very first thing i do is to scrape off the crap compound on it and apply some nice as5, i know it is good stuff then, i wouldnt risk a serious overclock on the stuff that they put on. how do you know what is on it? ive never been able to find anything that tells me!

keef · 20 May 2006 at 10:06

just put it on the ihs.

4T5 · 20 May 2006 at 10:06

SameSuspect said:
ok thanx, better buy some of that arctic silver then. well glad i started this thread lol. when applying arctic silver, do i cover the whole cpu itself or just the gold square in the middle

My preferred method is to cover my finger with a bit of cling film like plastic and then spread a rice grain piece of AS over the CPU.

keef · 20 May 2006 at 10:10

malc30 said:
My preferred method is to cover my finger with a bit of cling film like plastic and then spread a rice grain piece of AS over the CPU.

this man just saved you some very messy fingers! that stuff just doesnt wanna come off does it lol!i wasnt gonna say anything, everyone needs to get thermal compound all over themselves at least once!

SameSuspect · 20 May 2006 at 10:11

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g) (AC-000-AC)

for use between modern high-power CPUs and high performance heatsinks or water-cooling solutions

my heatsink aint high performance, does it matter :confused:

hp7909 · 20 May 2006 at 10:12

SameSuspect said:
ok thanx, better buy some of that arctic silver then. well glad i started this thread lol. when applying arctic silver, do i cover the whole cpu itself or just the gold square in the middle

1st, the heatsink should come with its own gunk - tube or preapplied. Seems you've bought some AS5 so, makes sure you remove the preapplied thermal compund on the heatsink. Good guide on doing the latter & applying AS5 here :cool:

keef · 20 May 2006 at 10:13

no it doesnt matter, put that on it!

hp7909 · 20 May 2006 at 10:17

SameSuspect said:
Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound (3.5g) (AC-000-AC)

for use between modern high-power CPUs and high performance heatsinks or water-cooling solutions

my heatsink aint high performance, does it matter

Whateva chip you've got, you still need thermal compound/grease.

Thermal grease's primary purpose in electronics is to substitute for the constructional imperfections of a heatsink's surface. When applied in appropriate quantities, it fills the tiny pits and grooves (particularly on today's CPUs that have a complicated surface), thereby increasing the amount of surface-to-surface contact with the CPU die.

AS5's just very good at doing the above comapred to others

EDIT: Read more

SameSuspect · 20 May 2006 at 10:21

thanx for the guide. sorted