motherboard bundle?? or separate retail CPU purchase???

[PrineFan]

i'm building my second computer and my first one i went with a motherboard bundle as i was worried about installing the CPU/heatsink/fan assembly. so i got the MB bundle that came with the cpu/heatsink/fan already mounted on the board

but now i want to get over that -- so-- if i order a pentium 4 1.6/heat sink/fan..... retail.... can anyone here give me a boost of confidence that it's not a big deal mounting all that on the motherboard i'm getting (ECS)....

what really confuses me is the thermal paste/grease-- will i need that??? does that come with the retail CPU? and is it easy to apply?

thanks

 

[Dudubrown]

As much as I'd like to think that installing a HSF on a CPU is a highly technical and difficult task giving me self satisfaction, the truth is it is quite simple. Get some good theremal paste (Arctic Silver) and a P4 1.6A (remove the pad on the bottom of the HS).
Most important is to take your time, have a nice well lit uncluttered area, and static strap(better safe than sorry).
I just recently bought a Asus P4266 mb with Mushkin 256MB 2700DDR mem and a 1.6A P4. As I write this I'm coping a CD, running prime95(a benchmark program) and running @2320MHZ (145fsb). temp is 107/42C.
So after that windy answer to a simple question, don't be concerned about installing a HSF. Enjoy

 

[Dudubrown]

Follow up, one more thing, I didn't follow the instructions initially when I applied the paste to the HSF.
Go here and follow directions: http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm
Luckily I didn't break anything when I did it the first time. Also, if you don't have a store like a Fry's electronics (that sells Arctic Silver) any decent paste will work, just use Arctic Silvers instructions at the link above. Good luck!!

 

[PrineFan]

thanks