Settle-In / Burn-In?

PilotTait · 25 Dec 2006 at 12:56

Quick question,

Does hardware have to "settle in" when you first plug it all together?
In the past when upgrading parts they seem to run better after a few days playing games?

Just wondered if it was my imagination or that actually happens.

semi-pro waster · 25 Dec 2006 at 14:10

The only thing that will really 'settle' is the CPU paste, everything else should run perfectly right away. You might be able to tune it a bit further once you get used to the system and it's capabilities but it won't become 'better' after a few days as such.

PilotTait · 25 Dec 2006 at 19:13

thanks, speaking of cpu paste, how much do you apply? big blod in the middle then place this tuniq tower 120 cooler on top and let that do the spreading?

Biohazard · 25 Dec 2006 at 19:20

No, you want it thinly spread. Like a thin layer of butter on toast

semi-pro waster · 25 Dec 2006 at 20:18

The paste isn't there to form a thick layer to conduct the heat away from the CPU directly since it isn't as good a heat transmitter/conductor as solid metal but it is there to fill in imperfections in the base of the heatsink. Like Biohazard says you want a very thin layer, a blob the size of a grain of rice is about the maximum you need and then use something like a credit card to spread it thinly and evenly across the base.

PilotTait · 26 Dec 2006 at 10:56

aha, thanks