Thermal compound

[MadMan2k]

I got the rest of the parts I needed for my new computer (I didn't make a thread because I'm still waiting on a new video card to get decent performance in games).

I have an Athlon64 3000+, retail ver, and a DFI LanParty UT NF3 board with 512MB of corsair value select.

I think I did it wrong as to the thermal compound... I suppose the stuff that comes on the heatsink is total junk...
I put on the heatsink, but I needed to flip it around for the lever to attach, so I took it off (leaving some compound on the chip, some on the heatsink itself), and put it on correctly.

Everything works, but the chip temperature rather worries me... between 55 and 61C running @ 2.2GHz, same if I underclock it quite a bit also.

To sum it up, I need to buy a thermal compound. Is Arctic Silver 5 a good deal?
Should I spring for the OCZ copper stuff, or whatever?

[sweeper2]

that is kinda high, but not to critical, i still use artic silver 2...LOL...ran out of my 3....

still get good cpu temps though..


I would probably remove all the stock compound on both the cpu and HS and then apply some AS5, should help out

[JPMiller]

its not horribly critical what you use... as long as you use it right..
too much can be bad... did you remove any thermal pad the heatsink shipped with?
how is your airflow?
clean both the die and the heatsink thoroughly, use only the slightest layer of compound, make sure the heatsink is correctly and tightly secure...
is the a side fan on your case above the heatsink..
that can make a big difference too

[Friedchicken100]

when it comes to cooling don't take any chances go for the as5

[noony]

be REAL careful when you remove the heatsink, after that stuff gets hot it's just like glue and it sticks the heatsink to the cpu real good. don't force it off as you might bend the pins. try to unhook the cpu socket lever first and take the heatsink and cpu off as a unit. i don't know if this is possible. i did it by accident once when i pulled up on the heatsink it ripped the cpu off of the socket but nothing was damaged. close one though.

oh wait, i have an idea, get your cpu real hot just before taking it off, that might make the compound soft enough to make it easier.

[Friedchicken100]

my heatsink just popped right off. But then again my house has bad insulation and it gets really cold. Hot thermal adhesive is just like hot glue. And the processor itself is like a skillet after cooking the chitlins and gravy.

[JPMiller]

you see only the slightest if any real difference in cooling from using AS5 or any other expensive thermal paste, if you overclocking and spending extra on the heatsink, MAYBE you want the extra few degrees you can eek out by using it but normally it wont do much for you...
if its overheating now underclocked... you wont see any diference in using AS5 or any other compond....
If you applied it wrong, then simply re-apply it correctly...
If that doesn't work then cooling issues need to be addresssed... airflow, better heatsink, etc...

[MadMan2k]

I'm guessing its the way it's applied... it came as a layer of thermal paste on the heatsink, I seated it, but had to flip it around, which I think probably fouled it up a bit. I didn't have any other compound to use.

I guess I'll just clean them off pretty well, and apply the compound (I ordered some AS5, only $6 extra, since I was ordering some other things from nexfan, flat rate shipping.

Is rubbing alchohol harmful to either? would just a cue-tip dabbed it some do the trick for getting the junk off of it?

The case has pretty good airflow, the side fan is more over the video card...

The stock heatsink is supposed to get people up to 2.5GHz and beyond with decent cooling, which I have.. hopefully I won't even need a better heatsink, but I'll report back when I get the AS5 on. Yes, I bought AS5 for bragging rights, yes I understand the gain over something a few dollars less is negiotiable.

Another thing to consider, I heard the shipped BIOS on my motherboard reports CPU temperatures about 10-15C too high... I'll get the newest one installed and see.

[proffit]

yep go with as5.