Author Topic: Stupid donut Hsf Mounting Question (Read 397 times)

funkedup · « **on:** June 16, 2002, 01:24:11 AM »

I think I know the answer but I am asking anyways for the sake of learnin'.

I bought a mobo/cpu/hsf combo that was preassembled. CPU was an Athlon XP 2100 and the HSF was a Speeze 5T208B1H3T. I RMAed the mobo and got a new one. When I removed the HSF before moving the CPU to the new mobo, there was a perfectly rectangular patch of white stuff on the bottom of the HSF, with a hole in it where part of the CPU fit. The little square in the middle of the CPU.

I put the CPU into the new mobo and put the HSF back on. But some of the white junk came off in the process.

The new assembly runs fine but CPU temps are hotter about 20 deg. F. Temps are still safe but I want to get the temps back where they were.

Was this white junk thermal paste? Or was it some sort of thermal pad?

What procedure do you recommend I use to replace the white junk and restore my CPU to frostiness.

GunnerCAF · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2002, 01:35:28 AM »

Funkedup,

Sounds like thermal paste... heat sink compound. If you have a local Radio Shack, you can pick up a tube there. Just put a thin layer between your heat sink and processer and put it back together. It helps transfer heat between the chip and the heat sink, that should help.

Gunner

SOB · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2002, 01:52:25 AM »

I don't know what the heck that mighta been Funked, but I just looked and found something similar:

http://www.plycon.com/spacers.htm

Like it says on the page, it doesn't help with heat transfer...generally thicker means less heat transfer. If you didn't put any thermal paste back on the raised part of your cpu tho', that could make it run a little hotter. You can buy some Arctic Silver at the same site, which will improve the heat transfer.

SOB

funkedup · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2002, 02:07:53 AM »

Thx guys

SOB - naa it wasn't a spacer. It was just a machine-applied square of grease I think. Look here: http://www.speeze.com/installation.html

SKurj · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2002, 08:57:39 AM »

horrible stuff..

I never use the preapplied stuff that comes on HSF's. Remove it and get the HSF and CPU as clean as possible.

Then use thermal grease, nothing wrong with spending abit extra on this stuff.

SKurj

AKWarp · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2002, 09:06:34 AM »

Also, spend the extra few dollars and get some Arctic Silver 3 instead of the white grease stuff. It will lower your temps a few degrees also. Really good stuff.

band · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2002, 10:21:06 AM »

Hey Funked take a look here it shows you how to apply thermal compound to a heatsink. http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm I never use those pads that come with the heatsinks either.

funkedup · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2002, 10:52:48 AM »

Thx guys, OTW store.

bloom25 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2002, 10:12:24 PM »

Try to find some Artic Silver X (where X is what ever flavor they are on now, 3 I think.)

Apply a VERY THIN layer with a credit card edge. Be sure to only get it on the top of the core and not make a big mess all over the place. Use a tiny bit of alcohol or similar to remove the old paste completely from the core before applying the new paste. NEVER EVER use the thermal pad that comes on the bottom of the heatsink. After about a month they are nearly permanantly attached to the CPU die and could result in damage to the die when they are removed.

funkedup · « **Reply #9 on:** June 17, 2002, 03:36:13 AM »

Thx Guys!

I got some Arctic Silver III and followed the directions on their website. Even got lint-free wipes and isopropanol from Frys.

Temps are down 30 deg. F from yesterday and 10 deg. F from before I screwed up the thermal pad.

funkedup · « **Reply #10 on:** June 17, 2002, 07:17:12 PM »

Temps dropped another 10 deg. today.

I think thermal pads must really suck, or Arctic Silver rules, or both.
I am now an Arctic Silver poster child.

bloom25 · « **Reply #11 on:** June 17, 2002, 10:51:43 PM »

Thermal pads don't work very well. Artic Silver certainly helps, but to be truthful I think it's because it squeezes out of the die/heatsink interface when you mount the heatsink, leaving only a VERY thin film. (The fact that it contains silver, which is the best thermal and electrical conductor of any of the naturally occuring metals, probably helps it a little.) The point of thermal paste is to eliminate air bubbles between the heatsink and die. The thinner you can get that paste the better. I think the problem with the thermal pads is that they are just too thick. If you ever get Artic Silver on your hands you realize that it's really just kind of an oily film.