Artic III

[jmhcs]

I have pulled a Socket 370 PIII/933 Intel CPU out a dead Dell mobo. (I have assumed the CPU is good but will soon find out). During the rebuild onto another mobo, is it better to use Artic III or a regular silicon compound to mate the heat sink to the processor? I really know nothing about these compounds.

Also, the heat sink did not have a fan attached. Would it hurt to mount a fan on this heat sink so it cools better?

[DocEvi1]

the Dell's are designed to be really quiet, as such they don't come with fans on the HS. I personally would be buying a new one - if you stuck a fan on it you could destroy the cooling effect.

ASIII is a good compound, but with an older P3, it probably doesn't matter that much so long as there is something there.

Stefan

[Bovon]

Docs thoughts about installing a heatsink with a fan is a good idea. The cooler you can keep a processor, the longer it will last...and perform.

As far as Artic Silver vs Radio Shacks silicone based thermal compound, either one will work just fine for this install. Artic Silver works best when 1) overclocking, 2) using a high temp cpu, 3) the use of a heatsink that dosn't fit perfectly in the first place. Many heat sinks come that are not flat on the bottom, are rough finished...ect. Artic Silver thermal compound has a thick paste of fine silver particals in the compound that will fill the gaps and micro pits between the cpu and heat sink.

If a heat sink is lapped down to a fine...flat finish on the bottom..the silicone based thermal compound will work very well for any cpu.

[BipolarBill]

While you don't need to use AS3, you will definitely need a fan. Foxconn makes this sweetheart:

http://www.directron.com/pk04535.html

It's quiet and cools like a big dog. I'm getting <40C on a 950 Duron with it.

The Intel OEM "cap fan" snaps on your heatsink. If you can find it, it's even quieter.

[Billforce]

The only thing I suggest with AS111 is to be a little carfeful in regards to how much you use. It is conductive and if you smear it on like frosting on a cake, it can short out between bridges on a cpu, especially some of the older Athlon/Duron processors.