Arctic Silver 5 and Retail Thermal Grease (AMD64)

[thesurge]

AMD64's come with retail thermal paste/grease, right?

Should I spend the money and buy some arctic silver5? Would I need to buy some thermal grease remover for the retail thermal grease?

 

[imported_Kensai]

The retail box CPU's heatsink comes with a thermal pad pre-applied to it.

I would personally remove the thermal pad and apply some AS5.

There's no point IMO to get thermal greave remover unless you've got extra money lying around. 99% Isoprophyl (or whatever it's called) Alcohol and paper towel works wonders for me. Pretty cost effective too.

 

[thesurge]

Would it be a problem if I just left the pad on and put some AS5 over it?

 

[imported_Kensai]

Originally posted by: thesurge
Would it be a problem if I just left the pad on and put some AS5 over it?

You could fvck up your CPU by doing that. *Big* problem.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: thesurge
AMD64's come with retail thermal paste/grease, right?

The retail heatsinks come with a thermal pad.

Should I spend the money and buy some arctic silver5?

Yes. If you use it correctly the tube will last you for dozens of applications. Be sure to remove whatever thermal interface is on the cpu die & heatsink before applying the new goop.

Would I need to buy some thermal grease remover for the retail thermal grease?

Go to Wal-Mart, or any automotive store, and pick up some brake cleaner & 90%+ alcohol. They are very inexpensive and work like a champ for removing thermal compound and other adhesives.

 

[crimson117]

I got my 95% isopropyl for less than $2 at a local convenience store chain (CVS). That + paper towel = clean heatsink.

 

[pulsedrive]

having used the thermal "pad", I use quotes because it isn't really a pad but just a very heavy compound, definately go with the AS5, if you ever have to take your heatsink off after using the "pad" it is very likely that the CPU will come with the heatsink. Had that happen to me, I was lucky it didn't harm the pins.

 

[Polish3d]

Artic Silver is emphatic about NOT using paper towels because of the poss. of lint, use a lint free glasses cleaning cloth or a coffee filter