Do I Really Need Thermal Paste?

eddiemcgarrigle · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:03

Ok, forgive me for asking what may seem like a simple question but although I have owned a PC for at least the last 26 years (does a ZX81 count?) I will shortly be building my very first rig.

I will be doing a bit of overclocking but not much and I'm not sure if the heatspreader on the E6600 will be sufficient or will I be better removing the heatspreader (there's another worry) and using thermal paste such as Artic Silver?

:confused:

squiffy · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:06

The pre-allied paste will be fine. Just make sure the HSF has some applied- don't attach the HSF onto the CPU if the HSF is supplied "clean"

Marci · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:07

Presence of heatspreader on the CPU is irrelevant.

You ALWAYS need a thermal compound between the Heatspreader(IHS) that is prefitted to the cpu and your heatsink or cooling solution, or if the heatspreader is removed, then between the CPU Core and the heatsink / cooling solution.

Most cooling solutions come with a thermal pad prefixed to the base to negate the need for separate thermal compound, however, these pads are vastly inferior. Better to scrape the thermal pad off the bottom of the cooling solution using a credit card, and apply thermal compound as per the instructions on the compound-manufacturer's website (http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm)

Rather than remove the IHS, which can be a tricky job on Conroe CPUs (as Intel use indium solder to attach the heatspreader to the cpu core), it's easier and more worthwhile to lap it... see http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=17677857

Junk · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:08

always use thermal greese, ArticSilver 5 being the best (read the instructions though!)

don;t think its advisable to remove the spreader from a conroe. and you may want to think of not using the stock cooler, it's aweful!

Chris Beard · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:10

Which heatsink are you thinking of using? The thermal pads are indeed not very good, but thermal paste products that come with heat sinks are generally ok.

The IHS is not easy to remove on the E6600 as it is soldered to the die itself (fortunatly this means the contact is very good and so removing the IHS does not gain much). A much better approach is to sand the IHS down so it is flat and the copper is exposed (this can gain you 10 degrees C if you're lucky) - this process is known as lapping and you should read a guide on it before attempting it.

eddiemcgarrigle · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:21

Quick replies lads, many thanks.

My set-up will be an E6600 with a Scythe Ninja cooler. So is it a case of scraping away the thermal compound and applying the Artic Silver or am I missing something?

:confused:

DasFruitMachine · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:23

I've used AS3 and AS5 and, to be honest, I wouldn't bother buying it over the default paste you get with most heatsinks. It's over-priced and over-rated. Unless you're doing some serious clocking, you won't notice or need the difference in temperatures (it'll only be a couple of degrees tops).

Marci · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:37

If the heatsink has a thermal PAD on the bottom, then scrape it off and replace with some bought-separately thermal compound (paste).

If the heatsink has no thermal pad, and comes with it's own thermal compound (paste) in the packaging with it, then just use that.

squiffy · 26 Jan 2007 at 15:38

eddiemcgarrigle said:
Quick replies lads, many thanks.

My set-up will be an E6600 with a Scythe Ninja cooler. So is it a case of scraping away the thermal compound and applying the Artic Silver or am I missing something?

If I recall correctly, the Ninja doesn't come with pre-applied paste. I wouldn't spend £6 on the artic, only paid £2 when it was offer.