Getting Retail P4@3.2C--Should I Use Aftermarket Thermal Compound?

[chrislong]

Hi All
I've ordered a retail P4 3.2 Northwood, and I was wondering whether I should skip their thermal pad/paste and use an aftermarket product instead. I heard that they've changed the HSF some,and that's fine--I'll use it, not going to be overclocking much, if at all. Then I saw somewhere a mention that there was a "thermal paste" supplied with it--I thought they had a pad, like the one I have with my 2.4C. Or have they changed that, too?

Do they now include a thermal compound with their retail box? And if they don't, is it worth getting a little Arctic Silver and using that instead of the pad (or whatever it is they give you now) when I do the install? The cost of the Silver isn't an issue, just curious if it would make any difference...

Thanks!

 

[MDE]

If you're not overclocking heavily then the stock compound will do. If you do see high temps (over 65C load) or instability then you may want to clean the Intel goop off and get some Arctic Alumina (what I use, cheap and better than silicone paste) or any of the Arctic Silver\Ceramique pastes.

 

[CheesePoofs]

I installed a friend's 2.8 and it had a thermal pad, but that was last january.

If its a northwood then the retail TIM will be fine, if it were a prescott i'd think twice before saying that, but the northwoods dont run very hot, so it'll be fine.

 

[AristoV300]

Yes all the retail coolers for intel have s thermal pad on them. It isn't a bad idea to reomve it and put some AS5 but it is not necessary. If you are not overclocking it will work just fine.

 

[chrislong]

Thanks everyone. I may do it anyway, but i can tell from your responses that i don't really need to. And that they still supply the "pad" and not a little container of goop. Thanks all--