WTF are you guys talking about? Thermal paste?

[[H2O]Tman]

Ok i went to the AMD website on how to install the cpu and heatsink/fan. All they did was STEP 7 REMOVE THE PLASTIC FOAM FROM TEH HEATSINK AND INSTALL. WTF is thermal paste?

[wyvrn]

Thermal paste has the consistency of toothpaste, its goop that goes between the cpu and heatsink (very light coating) to fill in the imperfections of the surfaces and help in heat transfers. Best stuff by most accounts is Artic silver, about 15 bucks a tube. Can lower your cpu temps by a lot, but not neccessary if you are not going to overclock.

Can be purchased at

3dCool (http://www.3dcool.com)
2Cooltek (http://www.2cooltek.com)
Plycon (http://www.plycon.com)
3dfxcool (http://3dfxcool.com)
Cooler Extreme (http://www.coolerxtreme.com/index.htm?312)

[This message has been edited by wyvrn (edited 12-19-2000).]

[OuTpaTienT]

But you don't need to cough up 15 bucks for simply a little thermal paste. Go to Radio Shack and get a tube of regular silicon thermal paste for about $2. It'll work just fine.

[CMonster]

Remove any existing heat transfer pad from the heatsink before applying heat transfer compound.

[wyvrn]

The one thing I don't like about cheap thermal pastes is that they dry up too quick. IMO, better to spend a couple extra bucks on paste than fry a processor. And I have heard that attaching/reattaching the HSF on some of the newer processors is getting to be a dicey situation, some people have already screwed up their cores.

[This message has been edited by wyvrn (edited 12-19-2000).]

[Dputiger]

If your an OCcer, get the real thermal paste and skip the $2 goop.

Artic Silver costs $14 a tube. Really expensive. It also, however, consistently lowers CPU temps by 6-8' Celsius when used over standard Radio Shack goop.

8' Celsius could be up to 16% of the total heat produced by the CPU and is a substantial gain.

[OuTpaTienT]

From http://thecoldshop.com/reviews/cooling/thermalcompounds/arcticsilver/

"Artic silver is the best thermal compound hands down, but what you have to ask yourself is it worth it to pay $10-15 for a few degrees better cooling? If you're sure that lowering your temperature those few degrees will finally keep the overclocked rig stable or get you another 50 MHz then I suggest you buy this. If on the other hand you already spent $30 on a good heatsink fan combo and your just a casual overclocker then regular thermal compound will work fine. If you want the best performance possible then artic silver is it."

As far as it "consistantly" lowering temps 6-8°C, I think that's quite a stretch. Maybe under IDEAL conditions.

Also from the same site:
"On my processor it was about 3 degrees difference under full load and about 1 at idle, of course at idle my processor is only a few degrees warmer than room temperature. For both the peltier and Jimmy's PIII the temperature was 6 degrees, the difference between an ok heatsink and a top of the line one. I'd say that for an average of 5 degrees better cooling this is some good stuff."


[This message has been edited by OuTpaTienT (edited 12-19-2000).]