Does Arctic Silver 3 dry up

[LoverBoyJ]

just wondering since I'm running my P4 2.4B to 2.9Ghz (and possibly 3Ghz ). Does the AS3 compound dry up with all the heat?

I'll be changing the stock HSF with either Alpha 8942 or the Swifty MCX4000 and with these huge sinks it will be bolted on the Mobo. If the AS3 dries up, it would be like doing an overhaul of the whole thing just to replace the AS3.

 

[Soulkeeper]

i noticed it does tend to get thicker even after just a week or so
I had a lot of it on my water block that dryed up
but if you don't take the heatsink off and on it won't really matter if it is dry cause it will have done it's job already by filling any microgaps
just reapply it everytime you remove your heatsink and it looks dry
if you aren't removing it then no worry

 

[LoverBoyJ]

thank for the reply, I'll just probably leave it as is when the CPU is running at its full potential.

 

[KF]

AS3 product description

"During the CPU's initial use, the compound thins out to enhance the filling of the microscopic valleys and ensure the best physical contact between the heatsink and the CPU core. Then the compound thickens slightly over the next 50 to 200 hours of use to its final consistency designed for long-term stability. "

So the stuff is supposed to get thicker with time. OTOH if you remove the HS before 50 hours, it is liable to be very thin. AS3 is peculiar compared to normal HS compound, and unlike AS and AS2.

 

[idea]

I really

really

REALLY suggest you apply a new layer of grease. I let an amd 1ghz run for about a week before i decided to take the HSF off to mount a new fan on, and I noticed the grease looked a little sparing... I could make out all the letters on the die. I ignored this ,thinking maybe the grease just settled and I ended up frying it

 

[EdipisReks]

AS3 has dried up on me, before.

 

[jpetermann]

I don't think I have ever had my processor in for 200 hours straight to ever know if the ASIII dried up.

PJ