Attaching thermal sensor on side of heatsink?

[Loki1]

I just got a Thermaltake case fan for my side panel that has a thermal sensor. Unfortunately the instructions tell me to put the sensor in between my heatsink and the cpu. I've already installed the heatsink and cpu and it was a pain so I don't want to do all over again. is it ok to put the thermal sensor on the side of the heatsink? or somewhere close by?

 

[imported_Phil]

If it's an anything but an Athlon XP, then putting it between the core and the heatsink is a very bad idea.
Stick it on the side of the heatsink.

 

[Loki1]

How effective are these thermal sensors even? I have a Zalman fan and I'm having trouble finding a place to attach it. Maybe I can just use the manual fan controller that came with the fan...