Info on thermal paste.
http://www.dansdata.com/goop.htm
Exerpt from xtremetek.com
"Take from this what you will, but this is the policy of AMD. I do not like the rule but there is not much I can do about it.
UPDATE:
Arctic Silver has provided me with their standard response to questions of this type. I like the analogy at the end of the message, in particular.
AMD recommends that only pre-attached thermal pads (Phase Change Material) be used with their CPUs. This helps cushion the CPU during heatsink mounting and also helps prevent overclocking. (The pads often make the chip run too hot to overclock.)
So neither Arctic Silver nor any other thermal compound is recommended by AMD for long term use and technically voids the CPU's warranty. Overclocking the chip or using a heatsink other than the stock heatsink on a retail chip also voids the warranty.
The only grease approved by AMD is G749 which is approved for short-term testing to verify that a CPU works. AMD recommends the G749 grease for short-term use because it is made by an ISO 9001 certified company and is non-metal based.
AMD also says that thermal grease is subject to "pump-out".
Since AMD would have no control over a user's selection of cooling components, AMD needed to assume the worst for their tests; a hot chip, a poor heatsink, adverse ambient conditions and mediocre thermal grease. Under these conditions, grease pump-out could definitely be a problem.
However...
In a recent Intel test, they only experienced grease pump-out when the junction temperature was cycled from 0C to 100C. (A 100C range) When the junction temperature was cycled from 0C to 80C, (An 80C range) there was no pump-out observed. Since the junction temperatures on computer systems using quality heatsinks and thermal greases will only cycle from 20C to 60C at the most (A 40C range), there is little expectation of pump-out occurring.
But AMD needs to make one general recommendation for a thermal interface material that will provide adequate performance in all standard situations. (Non overclocked, stock heatsink, etc.) PCM is pre-attached to the heatsink. It cannot be forgotten by the first time user or the assembly line worker and as I said, it provides a cushion as the heatsink is mounted.
Look at it this way, if you applied the same criteria to selecting a car, everyone would be driving a low power, fuel efficient station wagon with rain tires and foot-thick rubber bumpers all the way around.
This is very interesting, to say the least. "
I personally use Arctic Silver on my AMD chips and it works to keep my CPUs cool and working.
I have found no need to change any of my generic stock HSF because of my mid 30Cs working temps.
I don't overclock but I'm definitely conscious that any overheating would be detrimental to the life of my CPUs.:thumbsdown:
My basis to feel this way is as follows.
http://www.gen-x-pc.com/cputemps.htm :beer:
