Is no name thermal paste ok?

[Zero Plasma]

I need some now and am going to run to tiger direct and get a $3.99 tube of it.

 

[o1die]

Yes. I still have some radio shack white thermal grease, and it works ok.

 

[Zero Plasma]

Thanks, I have never reapplied a heatsink, how do I take the old stuff off the CPU? Am I suposed to?

 

[phaxmohdem]

Yes the old stuff needs to come off.

Depends what kinda stuff it is. If it is goopy, then I use a damp paper towl and wipe it down., if it is crusty stuff from a stock thermal pad, I use a dry paper towel and it will come off eventually. Some people use rubbing alcohol to aid the process, but I haven't found that necessary yet in my experience. Just make sure not to put too much of the new thermal grease on. Spread a nice even thin layer of it over the heat spreader, OR you can put a small daub (2 grains of riceish sized) in the dead center of the Heatspreader, and let the Heatsink spread it out for you when pressure is applied.

 

[Maximilian]

Originally posted by: phaxmohdem
Yes the old stuff needs to come off.

Depends what kinda stuff it is. If it is goopy, then I use a damp paper towl and wipe it down., if it is crusty stuff from a stock thermal pad, I use a dry paper towel and it will come off eventually. Some people use rubbing alcohol to aid the process, but I haven't found that necessary yet in my experience. Just make sure not to put too much of the new thermal grease on. Spread a nice even thin layer of it over the heat spreader, OR you can put a small daub (2 grains of riceish sized) in the dead center of the Heatspreader, and let the Heatsink spread it out for you when pressure is applied.

:thumbsup:

Yep, also if the old stuffs crusty and the CPU in question has an integrated heat spreader (metal plate present on P4's and A64's but not athlon XP's) then you can easily scrape it off with somthing without damaging the cpu.