CPU Heatsink doesn't cover the entire CPU surface?

[geno]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835103051

I just received this as a gift and finally got to opening the package. If you follow the link, view the pictures and look at the bottom view, you'll see the only spot with thermal compound it the small circle in the middle of the unit. My question is, how does this do a better job of cooling than something which makes full contact? I shouldn't ask if it's safe or not, since I'm guessing it is. My big question is this : Should I cover the entire surface of the CPU in thermal compound (I'm planning on scraping off the stock compound on the HSF and replacing it with Silver compound) so the extra fins make contact? Or should I just recreate the circle that's already there on the unit?

 

[RallyMaster]

Once it heats up and pressure is applied, the thermal paste will spread over the entire IHS (integrated heat spreader) on the CPU. You should have nothing to worry about.

 

[zerocool84]

I used that one with my E6300 at stock speeds. It covers the area where the cores are. It will do fine at stock speeds.

 

[geno]

Thanks guys. I removed the stock heatsink and realized the stock covers about the same area...duh

I'm pretty psyched, I upgraded from an E4500 to a Q9300

 

[Zepper]

You'll note that the HSF you linked isn't rated for quad core CPUs... You might check the C-M web site to see if NE's info is outdated.

.bh.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: Zepper
You'll note that the HSF you linked isn't rated for quad core CPUs... You might check the C-M web site to see if NE's info is outdated.

.bh.

Good point...I just noticed how much more space a Quad Core needs... crap. I'll install the stockie for now and I'll try to sell off my sweet Cooler Master in lieu of a HSF which will work better with my quad core

EDIT - just got back from putting the stock cooler on... Oh well, if anything, I'll wait a week or so and get a better cooler than this one Thanks for the help, Zepper! I'd hate to find out the hard way that HS wasn't doing the job.

 

[Zepper]

Probably not much to worry about as the C-M is likely as good as the stock unit. Unfortunately you have to keep the stock HSF if you ever need to enforce the warranty...

.bh.

 

[geno]

Here's another question that's probably due it's own thread, but I'll try it here. Would the fact I'm hitting 65*C in Prime95 @ stock clock speeds be anything to worry about? It sounds like it's way too high considering it's only at 2.5 right now and getting 1.25 volts. I scraped off the stock thermal material and used OCZ Freeze instead, I would've thought the stock heatsink would've been good enough to keep it decently cool for a mild overclock... I tried 2.8ghz and was getting 75* temps and backed off until I get a cooler more fit for pushing a quad core...

 

[Zepper]

Temp in the 60s is safe, but I wouldn't want it quite that high. I think somewhere around 80 C is max for Intel multicore CPUs. A better HSF like a Vendetta or similar will knock it back fer ya. Just put on as little grease as possible to take up any minor imperfections in the contact patch. No need to put any anywhere but the contact patch. It will act as an insulator between the heat spreader and the air anywhere else.

.bh.

 

[geno]

Thanks again Zepper. I actually lowered the vcore to 1.09, it's been running Prime95 solidly for hours and, as a result, is running about 6*C cooler. I'll keep it this way until I get a nicer cooler

 

[yh125d]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835233003
or
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16835207004

Is your friend

 

[Zepper]

The vendetta 2 is the same as the Xigmatech linked above. Since the above is significantly cheaper (but check the shipped price as the vend is free ship right now)... Which are you confident of getting the rebate from? Only about $5.00 difference bottom line.

.bh.

 

[yh125d]

Originally posted by: Zepper
The vendetta 2 is the same as the Xigmatech linked above. Since the above is significantly cheaper (but check the shipped price as the vend is free ship right now)... Which are you confident of getting the rebate from? Only about $5.00 difference bottom line.

.bh.

Oh posh

So you *might* save $5 if the OCZ rebate comes in but the xigmatek doesn't :roll:

I always buy expecting that I wouldn't get the rebate.

 

[geno]

There's a Microcenter about 20 mins away from me. I went yesterday and the shelves were stocked with S1283's. I picked one up for $35 w/ a $10 rebate, not bad. The bad part is, I didn't want to deal with push pins, so I had to buy the backplate mounting kit for $12 I get it home, only to find out it's the wrong kit and is meant for the 4-heatpipe coolers! A little time with some needle-nosed pliers and a flathead screwdriver, and I swapped the pin assembly for the screw/spring assembly on the new kit (which were fine for what I needed, just the bracket was wrong) and mounted it onto the brackets which came with the cooler itself. Long story short, the cooler is mounted and running things much better....though still a little warmer than I'd like. I'm getting 60+ temps (60-64) @ 3.0ghz... I can live with that for now