Is thermal grease needed?

[Thetech]

I'm putting together a system with an Athlon64 3700+ (retail) my questions are....

1. Do they usually come with come type of thermal paste?

2. Is it necessary to use some? (I'm not going to overclock the cpu and I'm going to use the suppiled fan)

3. If I do need to use some should I use Artic Silver grease?

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

1. Yes, but you can buy better for cheap.
2. YES!! Please don't even consider even thinking about not using it.
3. Artic Silver and Ceramique is what to use. It's debatable as to which one is the best, although most people agree AS5 is.
Tas.

 

[BigCoolJesus]

Originally posted by: Thetech
I'm putting together a system with an Athlon64 3700+ (retail) my questions are....

1. Do they usually come with come type of thermal paste?

2. Is it necessary to use some? (I'm not going to overclock the cpu and I'm going to use the suppiled fan)

3. If I do need to use some should I use Artic Silver grease?

the heatsinks that come with retail versions have a thermal pad pre-applied to them

this is sufficient by bare minimum standards, so no you dont need thermal grease, but id reccomend artic silver 5 just to make sure your temps are a little lower

 

[Thetech]

Originally posted by: BigCoolJesus

Originally posted by: Thetech
I'm putting together a system with an Athlon64 3700+ (retail) my questions are....

1. Do they usually come with come type of thermal paste?

2. Is it necessary to use some? (I'm not going to overclock the cpu and I'm going to use the suppiled fan)

3. If I do need to use some should I use Artic Silver grease?

the heatsinks that come with retail versions have a thermal pad pre-applied to them

this is sufficient by bare minimum standards, so no you dont need thermal grease, but id reccomend artic silver 5 just to make sure your temps are a little lower

Could I use the thermal grease with the pad?
Or could I avoid dealing with the grease and just buy a better pad?

 

[JEDIYoda]

why? Use the pad!! Thats all thats required!

 

[fireontheway]

Originally posted by: JEDIYoda
why? Use the pad!! Thats all thats required!

 

[linjy2]

also do not touch the pad. and either use the pad or the grease.

 

[hemmy]

pads are better than they used to be, they are actually TIMs now, not just a pad. and stock AMD cooling is MORE THAN EFFECIENT

 

[l Xes l]

phuck pads. go AS5.. u definitely need it

 

[imported_Kensai]

Yes and no. You need a "TIM", a thermal interface materiel. It could be a thermal pad.. a thermal paste, a thermal grease or a thermal adhesive. (Don't use the glue on the CPU though )

 

[swtethan]

tampons are better than pads, yes?

 

[alexXx]

you are wrong.
you will not see much improvement by using arctic silver. why go through that hassle for 1C less.. if your comp becomes unstable due to that 1C difference, you have more serious problems than cpu heat. Most likely 40-45C ambient case temp.. which im pretty sure most people have..

 

[Operandi]

Originally posted by: alexXx
you are wrong.
you will not see much improvement by using arctic silver. why go through that hassle for 1C less.. if your comp becomes unstable due to that 1C difference, you have more serious problems than cpu heat. Most likely 40-45C ambient case temp.. which im pretty sure most people have..

I agree, unless that 1-3C is that big of a deal to you using somthing other then what came with the heatsink is a waste of time and money.

 

[JEDIYoda]

Originally posted by: Operandi

Originally posted by: alexXx
you are wrong.
you will not see much improvement by using arctic silver. why go through that hassle for 1C less.. if your comp becomes unstable due to that 1C difference, you have more serious problems than cpu heat. Most likely 40-45C ambient case temp.. which im pretty sure most people have..

I agree, unless that 1-3C is that big of a deal to you using somthing other then what came with the heatsink is a waste of time and money.

Just my point exactly!!
All you will be doing by going out and buying AS5 is making the AS5 stock go even higher!!
Alot of people on this forum have stock in AS5!!! lol

 

[allies]

Doesn't AMD use Shin Etsu on their heatsinks that is arguably just as good if not better than AS5?

 

[international]

in general most HSF comes with thermalpaste.......and it is needed....

good thermal paste and cheap ones have about 5C to 10C in differences

if you are looking for after market thermal paste, go for Anabond which is very very affect or just go with Artic Silver

 

[lenjack]

I don't believe you will ever see a 5 to 10 degree difference between thermal pastes if properly applied.

 

[JEDIYoda]

its not needed if the hsf comes with a thermal pad instead.....doh

 

[Howard]

The heatsink unit supplied with the processor will have a pre-applied thermal interface pad. It is unarguably sufficient for your application. Do remember, however, to peel off the protective plastic cover before mounting it.

 

[Unkno]

1. YES!
2. YES!!
3. YES!!!

 

[JEDIYoda]

rofl@Unkno!!

No it is NOT necessary to use thermal paste if the HSF already has a thermal pad attached!!

AS5 or whatever you choose to call it is NOT the great emancipator!!

"I don't believe you will ever see a 5 to 10 degree difference between thermal pastes if properly applied. "--- agreed!!