shim questions

**joxsfunk** · December 16th, 2002, 12:34 PM

which is better, copper or aluminum?

**KenKun** · December 16th, 2002, 12:52 PM

Do you mean HeatSink ?

Shims are not recommended to be used ... they cause more harm than help IMO ..
Incase you're talking about HeatSinks, then Copper is better ..

Regards

**jrock** · December 16th, 2002, 01:22 PM

Whaoh - more harm than help? I disagree KenKun. Ever crushed a core?
I have taken all the correct precautions, and have been building for a good while - and frankly shims have helped alot. I do not recommend using aluminum OR copper though, but rather a non-conductive shim. The last thing you want is a piece of metal down there to possibly short your chip out. But having a layer to stapilize your heat sink is a good (and cheap precaution).

**woodbutcher** · December 16th, 2002, 01:46 PM

I'm with KK on this one.
I looked at shims, read articles and posted questions about them and decided against using them.
I have physically looked at them and I don't see how this would stop a cpu core from being crushed.
I've yet to crush a core (knocking on wood) but then again i take extreme care in my HSF installations.
IMO

WB

**Idigguns** · December 16th, 2002, 06:06 PM

I'm with jrock on this one.
Thankfully, I haven't crushed a core yet (knock on wood) but I use shims, so hopefully I never will. As long as you use a nonconductive shim, then I don't see what it could hurt. And I'd rather be safe than sorry!. So, to answer joxsfunk's question, just make sure the shim is nonconductive. This is the one that I use... http://www.highspeedpc.com/Merchant2...tegory_Code=CS
(the purple one on top)

**Whir** · December 16th, 2002, 06:10 PM

Anti-shim. I've never cracked a core and I'm not even careful.

**joxsfunk** · December 17th, 2002, 09:13 AM

two are available here in manila, anodized aluminum and copper from thermaltake. i was also thinking hoe shims could protect cores from cracking. there.

**chris64** · December 17th, 2002, 11:03 PM

I've cracked my Duron core and I'm gonna get a shim when I replace it.

**KenKun** · December 18th, 2002, 05:36 AM

I once used a copper shim on a PIII CPU .. after applying the HS, i booted my machine and it crashed hard before even reaching the boot screen on windows ...
I removed the shim instantly and everything was back to normal ... i think the shim was a little higher than the CPU die and took the HS pressure off the die ..

You know that the small CPU Die needs high pressure from the HS to make better cooling (heat transfer).. if the shim takes a little from that pressure, you will see higher temps and it might also fry your CPU ...

If you insist on using a shim, i recommend a Plastic one which cover the edges of the CPU and provide a reasonable protection ...

Just IMO ...

**phrozen_dreamz** · December 19th, 2002, 11:30 AM

Be very careful...My friend for one reeason or another got a shim and shorted out his cpu! Ahhh! I no use a shim neither does anyone I know. I am anti-shim. No shims for you sir!

**jrock** · December 19th, 2002, 11:48 AM

From what I have read on it (I researched the hell out of it before I bought one) the idea of a shim is not conduct heat or charge, but rather to give some stability to the core for the HSF to rest on. Since AMD has not built on a shim like Intel and others, your HSF rests all of its pressure essentially only on the core and those four small pads on the chip top. The idea of the shim is to raise the physical level of the chip up to the be flush with the core, thus distributing the weight and pressure of the HSF to the whole chip surface, not just on the fragile core.

BUT - you have to be careful to get a shim that actually works. If it is too short - it won't do squat, if it is too thick, it will reduce the contact of the HSF to the core, thus screwing you over.

I say this - if you find a site that advertises a shim, make sure they say it fits your chip....not just your socket. The conductive shim that www.highspeedpc.com sells is for XP I think. I dunno - I own a couple, and use them, but be careful.

Also - I don't see that using a conductive shim would be a good idea. The shims fit around those corner pads, and it doesn't seem like a good idea to have a conductive shim in contact with the HSF/core/L-connections.

There's something to chew on...