Old Arctic Silver 3 still OK?

[Muse]

I bought an Arctic Cooling Alpine64 HSF for my new AMD socket 754 Venice 2.2 ghz CPU, and am going to install them on my new MSI K8N Neo v2.0 H mainboard within a few days. I have some old (5-6 years old) Arctic Silver 3. Can I use this? I assume that Artic Silver is a better idea than what comes with the HSF.

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

Pretty much a toss-up choosing between the two. imho.

 

[Zepper]

Regardless of the mfr's claim, A-S will settle out over time so you will have to find a way to stir the stuff up before reuse. I'd probably use the included goop.

.bh.

 

[Puffnstuff]

I would work the plunger a little bit with the cap on the tube. Once you take the cap off then gently push the plunger up to remove any liquid before you get to the compound. I've got some as3 laying around somewhere myself but I haven't used it in years. You could just go over to radioshack and get some as5. They sell it under the thermaltake name.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Puffnstuff
I would work the plunger a little bit with the cap on the tube. Once you take the cap off then gently push the plunger up to remove any liquid before you get to the compound. I've got some as3 laying around somewhere myself but I haven't used it in years. You could just go over to radioshack and get some as5. They sell it under the thermaltake name.

Thanks, I may stop in Radio Shack and do that. I saw some sites saying AS5 improves on AS3, giving maybe a couple ° C improvement.

 

[Zepper]

The liquid is integral to the AS goop, don't get rid of it - stir the stuff up so it is evenly suspended as it was originally while avoiding getting air or extraneous material into it.

Places like jab-tech.com and svc.com sell AS-5 or Ceramique cheap and ship it free. Don't need to spend the gas to go to RS and save money too - almost everything at RS is way overpriced.

.bh.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Zepper
The liquid is integral to the AS goop, don't get rid of it - stir the stuff up so it is evenly suspended as it was originally while avoiding getting air or extraneous material into it.

Places like jab-tech.com and svc.com sell AS-5 or Ceramique cheap and ship it free. Don't need to spend the gas to go to RS and save money too - almost everything at RS is way overpriced.

.bh.

Thanks, I went to RS website and saw they were charging $10 for it (ouch!). Had to wonder of those 2° were worth $5 apiece! Jab-tech's not shipping it for less than around $6, though. SVC.com however is shipping it free!

BTW, I was going to rollerskate to RS. It's on the way to or from my workout today. Most times I go in there, it's on my skates.

 

[Puffnstuff]

Yeah if you can wait ordering online is cheaper but if you can't at least there's some right around the corner from most people.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Puffnstuff
Yeah if you can wait ordering online is cheaper but if you can't at least there's some right around the corner from most people.

I've been "waiting" for over two weeks to assemble my system. A few more days are OK, but I'll have to do it end of next week to test out my new MB and CPU to get in under the 30 day warranty policies. I think I'm pretty much ready now. I backed up a lot of data and am ready to wipe my boot drive, or so I figure. Want to enlarge my boot partitions from 6 GB to 12 GB.

I just completed my order. It's one of those orders where it says Free Shipping but it rung up with $6+ shipping. Had to find the area of the form where you change the default shipping method. Finally rung up with Free Shipping.

 

[Zepper]

I didn't know that J-T had stopped the free shipping on AS-5. Sorry.

.bh.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: Zepper
I didn't know that J-T had stopped the free shipping on AS-5. Sorry.

.bh.

Oh, no problem. Thanks for the help. Indeed, I didn't know about svc.com. I just ordered my AS5 there. Thanks!

 

[RallyMaster]

Just use the MX-1 included with the Alpine. It will work similar to AS5 (maybe even a degree or two better).

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: RallyMaster
Just use the MX-1 included with the Alpine. It will work similar to AS5 (maybe even a degree or two better).

Is the MX-1 that thermal pad on the Alpine64? I don't see anything else included besides the sticker and instructions. Thanks.

Edit: Well, I already ordered the AS5. I'll read the reviews (there are 127) at Newegg for the HSF and see what folks are doing. I think that should bring in a verdict!

Edit 2: The HSF instructions say:

Thermal Compound
The thermal grease is already pre-applied to the heatsink. If the cooler has to be installed a second time, we highly recommend the MX-1 thermal grease. Only this paste guarantees an optimum performance in combination with the special roughness of our heatsinks.

Maybe it is better than AS5 for this. I presume that what's on there already is MX-1....

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Either get new or use what comes with the HSF. Don't use old stuff.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: tylerdustin2008
Either get new or use what comes with the HSF. Don't use old stuff.

Yeah, right now I feel inclinded to use what comes on the HSF. I'm reading a lot of the 127 reviews of the HSF at Newegg. A few guys say to scrape off what's on there and use Arctic Silver, but I think they didn't try it. I have no evidence that any of them gave it a chance. Several people who rated their expertise "high" said they got very acceptable results with the stock thermal compound. Without somebody testing, maybe there's no way to know, but from the look of the reviews that stuff isn't bad. Arctic Cooling made a claim somewhere that the "rough" surface of this HS is matched to the compound. Arctic Silver will be coming in the mail but by the time it gets here, I'll probably already have the system up and running.

Edit: The next review I read was this, by a guy who rated himself "high" in expertise:

Pros: Very quiet. The lowest noise I've ever encountered from a forced air CPU cooler short of using a 120mm fan. Don't listen to those guys who claim the pre-applied thermal goo isn't any good. It is made by Bergquist . If anyone knows insulating pads and compounds, they do.

Cons: None.

Other Thoughts: Don't hesitate to buy this cooler if space is not an issue for you. And feel free to use the included compound. Don't waste your $$ on other pastes.
- - - -
I'm going to send an email to SVC and see if they'll cancel my order for Arctic Silver 5.

 

[tylerdustin2008]

Id get the artic silver the stuff really is worth it.

 

[996GT2]

Check around on the AT Cooling forums for the post with the thermal compound comparison...you'll see that the MX-1 that's pre-applied to your HS (MX-1 is basically re-badged Shin-Etsu G751) performs several degrees better than AS5.

If you decide to use the MX1, scrape off most of the pad, leaving just a bit in the center. Then press the HS down hard on your CPU and twist slightly side to side to get a thin, even layer (not the insanely thick pad that came with it).

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Check around on the AT Cooling forums for the post with the thermal compound comparison...you'll see that the MX-1 that's pre-applied to your HS (MX-1 is basically re-badged Shin-Etsu G751) performs several degrees better than AS5.

If you decide to use the MX1, scrape off most of the pad, leaving just a bit in the center. Then press the HS down hard on your CPU and twist slightly side to side to get a thin, even layer (not the insanely thick pad that came with it).

Well, I was hesitant to follow your directions and scrape off the MX-1 in an attempt to make the layer thinner. None of the reviewers' posts at Newegg for my HSF mentioned anything like that. The layer on there was (I am guessing) in the neighborhood of 1/50th inch thick, maybe less. I wiggled the HS from side to side a fair amount as I tightened down the screws. I'm pretty sure it's OK. Will probably install the board and fire up the system tomorrow. There's plenty of room on the motherboard for this HSF. It's not even close to anything else.

 

[ForumMaster]

dude, just get some Arctic silver 5. it's like $5 for a 15g tube. lasts for a really long time.

 

[Muse]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
dude, just get some Arctic silver 5. it's like $5 for a 15g tube. lasts for a really long time.

Alright, maybe I won't call SVC this AM and cancel (although I already emailed them). I already have the HSF on the CPU/mobo, so I probably won't use AS5 this time. So, I'll have it if/when I do need it.

 

[RallyMaster]

The Newegg reviews suck. Most of them don't know jack about computers in general and say "OMFG just use AS5." MX-1 is underrated stuff IMO and it will serve you well.

 

[xtremeskier97]

Originally posted by: ForumMaster
dude, just get some Arctic silver 5. it's like $5 for a 15g tube. lasts for a really long time.

Where the heck do you get that price from!?! It's $5.99 for a 3.5g tube at SVC.COM I think you are mistaken.

 

[996GT2]

Originally posted by: Muse

Originally posted by: 996GT2
Check around on the AT Cooling forums for the post with the thermal compound comparison...you'll see that the MX-1 that's pre-applied to your HS (MX-1 is basically re-badged Shin-Etsu G751) performs several degrees better than AS5.

If you decide to use the MX1, scrape off most of the pad, leaving just a bit in the center. Then press the HS down hard on your CPU and twist slightly side to side to get a thin, even layer (not the insanely thick pad that came with it).

Well, I was hesitant to follow your directions and scrape off the MX-1 in an attempt to make the layer thinner. None of the reviewers' posts at Newegg for my HSF mentioned anything like that. The layer on there was (I am guessing) in the neighborhood of 1/50th inch thick, maybe less. I wiggled the HS from side to side a fair amount as I tightened down the screws. I'm pretty sure it's OK. Will probably install the board and fire up the system tomorrow. There's plenty of room on the motherboard for this HSF. It's not even close to anything else.

Hmmm the layer that came on my Freezer 64 was much thicker than 1/50th inch, so I had to scrape off a large amount. Guess they've made their MX-1 pads thinner now...