Arctic Silver Compounds -- How sticky are they?

[angry hampster]

I just ordered a Zerotherm Nirvana for my CPU and will be getting a Zalman VF900 for my GT next week. Will AS Ceramique or AS5 be sticky enough to hold VRAM heatsinks on a vid card that's mounted upside down?

I've never dealt with either one before so I figured I'd ask before I place more orders.

 

[DSF]

Arctic Silver 5 isn't an adhesive, but the company does sell thermal adhesives.

 

[JBDan]

Try the AS Alumina or AS Silver thermal adhesive's. They are two part epoxies and permanent so do a trial (dry) fit before mixing and setting. AS5 and Ceramique are thermal compounds (grease) applied to CPU IHS's (or cores) before mounting a heatsink-fan. When I need an adhesive I use Alumina as it is neither electrically conductive nor capacitive. Good luck!

 

[Zepper]

I'd use something less permanent than the AS adhesives.

.bh.

 

[PCTC2]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I'd use something less permanent than the AS adhesives.

.bh.

Like just use the thermal tape provided.

 

[lenjack]

Yeah...the thermal tape will work. It's stronger than it looks.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: angry hampster
I just ordered a Zerotherm Nirvana for my CPU and will be getting a Zalman VF900 for my GT next week. Will AS Ceramique or AS5 be sticky enough to hold VRAM heatsinks on a vid card that's mounted upside down?

I've never dealt with either one before so I figured I'd ask before I place more orders.

you do not use thermal compounds as adhesive or glue!!

your VRam heat sinks will come with there own adhesive!!

 

[Bluefront]

My own experience with AS5.....it's too sticky. Example...A three day old installation of AS5 (really thin, from a brand new tube) on a P4, with a Ninja sitting on it. I went to remove the Ninja, and it wouldn't budge. When it finally came loose, it pulled the chip with it, without moving the lever.

Fortunately, none of the pins were damaged. But this shouldn't happen. TIM absolutely shouldn't act like adhesive. But it does.....if you use AS5.

 

[Entropism]

Blue, the reason it stuck was vacuum pressure, not being adhesive. Next time you remove your HSF, twist it a bit and slowly pull it off, it comes off 1-2-3

 

[Bluefront]

Sure...sounds easy. But when the base of the heatsink is a tight fit in the retention bracket, there's no twisting it from side to side. And unless you remove the board with the heatsink attached, and try to lever it out without damaging anything, you can only do what I did....pull on it while trying to twist slightly.

Normal silicon TIM does not bond like AS5. You can actually remove it without any problem. Probably works almost as well.....

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
Normal silicon TIM does not bond like AS5.

Arctic Silver 5 does not bond either!

Put a drop of water between two small pieces of glass or plastic and put them together. Surprise! They stick together!
Would you then say that water bonds glass or plastic?

What you experienced happens if you put too much thermal compound on the chip.
It helps if you only put the right amount of thermal compound. It also helps if you warm up the chip by running a stress program right before attempting to remove.
It also helps if you can twist a little bit before removing.

 

[Bluefront]

Depends on your definition of "sticky".......put some AS5 on your finger. You can lift things with this sticky stuff, surprisingly heavy things. Silicone TIM does not act like this. Try it yourself.

I'm well aware you don't need anything between flat surfaces like two pieces of glass sheets, to get them to adhere to each other....this is different.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: Bluefront
put some AS5 on your finger. You can lift things with this sticky stuff, surprisingly heavy things. Silicone TIM does not act like this.

I see what you mean.

Still, in response to the original poster who is wondering if he can use AS5 to keep a sink upside-down on a RAM, you would not tell him that AS5 can be used, right?

If he does that, the sinks will eventually fall off.
But, your point is well taken.