Did I just screw up my heatsink?

[Jynx980]

I just got my Artic Silver Thermal Grease today in the mail and I was itching to use it. So I go to their installation page and clean off the thermal pad from the retail Xp heatsink. What I did not catch before I removed it was that I was not supposed to use a citrus based cleaner. ( They recomend "goo off" and i used "goo gone" a citrus based cleaner :disgust:

Anyways they say

<< Never use any oil or petroleum based cleaners (WD-40, citrus based cleaners and many automotive degreasers) on the base of a heatsink. The oil, which is engineered to not evaporate, will fill in the microscopic valleys in the metal and significantly reduce the effectiveness of any subsequently applied thermal compound. >>



I think it would still be ok to use it but I definatly want to make sure before hand.

Also, when I do put on the thermal grease, do I just put it on the die or both the die and the bottom of the heatsink?

Thank you.

 

[Mikewarrior2]

clean off hte heatsink with some isopropyl alcohol.



Mike

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

what mike said. that should fix it up.

put a dab on the bottom of the heatsink, smear it around, wipe it off. apply a dab to the die of the processor, spread, mount hsf.

 

[sohcrates]

<< Also, when I do put on the thermal grease, do I just put it on the die or both the die and the bottom of the heatsink?. >>



both. follow arctic silver's webpage instructions exactly and you'll be fine

 

[CStroman]

After I smooth out the grease on the cpu with my ATM card, I smear residue from the card onto the heatsink.

 

[Jynx980]

Thanks!🙂