heat sink grease vs thermal pad???

[ribill]

I purchased a Thermaltake Volcano II CPU fan but it appears that one half the thermal pad is missing. (There's no way it will cover the entire CPU dye, and one edge of the pad has a jagged edge as though is was torn.)

So, do I..

1) Remove the piece of the pad that is in place and use heat sink grease instead, or...

2) Leave the pad in place and use grease on the dye. (Thermaltake suggested doing this but it doesn't sound right..how can I be sure all the dye will be in contact with the heat sink if part of it is under the pad and part isn't??), or

3) Send it back for a replacement????

Will appreciate all responses. Thanks.

[club_med]

I would try number 3 first. Try to send it back and get it replaced.

Better be safe than sorry.
cm.

[Fingers]

#1
IMO, thermal pads are only preinstalled on heatsinks because 1)it's cheaper than including a packet of grease, and 2)to insure the the user doesn't accidentally install the heatsink without some type of thermal material. Thermal grease, thermal paste, thermal compound, thermal goop, or whatever you want to call it will almost always outperform "thermal tape" or a "thermal pad"

How to Apply Thermal Paste, etc (http://www.subzeropc.com/article/thermalinterface.htm)

[This message has been edited by Fingers (edited 05-17-2001).]

[Bsdboy]

I vote with Fingers,I allways replace a pad with paste.I should add,DO NOT do #2 your feelings on this are right.

Bsdboy

[This message has been edited by Bsdboy (edited 05-17-2001).]

[Imperion1]

I concur.

Use thermal paste.

[Brangwen]

Take a plastic credit card (expired!) and cut it in half. Use one of new ends to scrape off the remainder of the thermal pad (gently). Then apply a quality grease/compound, e.g., Artic Silver II per instructions already listed. You're "likely" better off with grease/compound than a thermal pad. I say "likely" because I'm running a T-Bird at 1.46 GHz with the thermal pad that was on the HSF (Taisol). I was in a hurry, it worked well, so I left it there. Temp right now, surfing Net, writing notes, playing MP3s is 87F.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[cedar2]

Working on speeding up a P3 600 Katmai. Used the thermal pad on a new coolermaster fansink and got a trial boot at 800. Spent a couple of weeks getting a stable software configuration on the machine at normal speed, then went to push the clock and couldn't hold 660, temp at 50+. Checked the thermal pad and it had "melted down". Replaced with Arctic Silver and can hold 720 with temps around 40. Get rid of the pad!

[This message has been edited by cedar2 (edited 05-17-2001).]