Overheating CPU-melting thermal pad and squealing

[itguycns]

I am in the process of builing my FIRST PC. I ran into some problems with my motherboard and had to replace it. The processor and heatsink have been installed and removed a few times(it was overheating). I am using a P4 LGA775, with a thermal pad already on the heatsink. Now some of the thermal material has transferred on to the CPU from the heatsink, leaving a small bare spot on the HS - is that really bad? When the HS is installed the bare area(on the HS) goes over the area on the CPU with the transfer but still overheats(computer shuts itself down while I am in BIOS). Also there is a faint squealing sound when I power on the PC, and I'm assuming it's the processor because of it shutting down(I have double checked all of my other componets to make sure everything is seated right). I hope I am not making this difficult to understand. I just want to know:
*Should I completely remove the thermal material from both the CPU and HS or just the CPU and use some paste? If so what do I remove it with?
*Do I apply some grease to the pad to cover any bare spots?
*Or is there something else I can try?
Thanx~

 

[Navid]

Remove the pad from both the sink and the chip. Do not use a metallic object for that. Avoid scratching either the sink or the chip.
Use a credit card if you need a tool.

Then, use 90% isopropyl alcohol (get from a pharmacy) to clean both.

Then, use paste to mount.

 

[itguycns]

I've read that you can use both pads and paste, is that dangerous?

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: itguycns
I've read that you can use both pads and paste, is that dangerous?

I have never seen such an advice. As a matter of fact, I have seen many advise not to use both. It is either or.
But, the pad is best to be used once. After you remove it, it will never be as good as the first installation. Specially, if it has split in two (or more) sections.

 

[itguycns]

Sweet - thanx for the advise.
Now is thermal paste a generic thing or do certain processors require different paste make-ups? I'm not sure if that is a dumb question or not, you see I've never even owned a computer before a couple of months ago, so there are certain things that I don't know yet. I am bound and determined to learn everything that I can, so if anyone has some good solid advise or knows of some good links it would be much apprieciated.

 

[Navid]

Arctic Silver 5 is the best (reported) thermal compound. Its only con is that it is not a very good insulator. So, if you get it into the pins of the IC, you can damage the chip.

You can use the same thermal compound on any chip as long as you can be sure that you will not get it into the pins.

I have to add here that a thermal pad (tape) has an advantage also.
If the heat sink is not very well machined, or if the sink is warped, there will be large gaps between the chip and sink. A pad can fill a large gap better than paste.

If you choose to get Arctic Silver 5, you need to follow the instructions for applying it.
http://www.arcticsilver.com/ar...ilver_instructions.htm

 

[jackschmittusa]

Agree that you should only use the pad once. If the heatsink is not machined flat enough to make full contact with a film of compound, it is junk anyway and should not be used. The squeeling may be the audio thermal alarm. Free samples of laminate (Formica, Wilsonart) from a home supply center make a good scraper. For tough removal, I use Goo Gone, followed by 90% isopropal.

 

[LTC8K6]

It's actually normal for the thermal pad to "melt" and conform to the HSF and the CPU.

The pad is one shot only. Once it has been up to temp, if you remove the heatsink, you have to replace the pad as advised above.

It's possible that you scraped the pad up a bit when you first installed it and it just never worked right.

 

[itguycns]

Is Arctic Silver 5 a silicone based compound? Is it the same as a Radioshack brand heatsink compound?
~
~

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: itguycns
Is Arctic Silver 5 a silicone based compound? Is it the same as a Radioshack brand heatsink compound?
~
~

No, it is silver-based.
No, it is not the same as a Radioshack compound. It has pros and cons as I said before.

 

[itguycns]

Don't mean to keep dragging this on but I'm curious - will a Radioshack brand compound work for a 3.4 Ghz P4 LGA775?

 

[jackschmittusa]

Maybe. The stuff from Radioshack is on the low end of the scale for thermal compunds. Used to use it on stock speed Duron 800s and such. I wouldn't oc with it, especially with a P4.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: itguycns
Don't mean to keep dragging this on but I'm curious - will a Radioshack brand compound work for a 3.4 Ghz P4 LGA775?

It will work.
Based on reviews posted on the internet, Arctic Silver 5 will work better. In other words, the temperature will be lower with Arctic Silver 5.

This is a sample comparison of different compounds (in Polish I think). The chart does not need the understanding of the language.
http://www.neotec.pl/page.php?id=21

 

[itguycns]

O.K , I'm gonna get the artic silver 5.. Where else can I buy it other than on-line?

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: itguycns
O.K , I'm gonna get the artic silver 5.. Where else can I buy it other than on-line?

I have seen CompUSA carrying it.
But, you may be able to find it cheaper on line. There are several options mentioned in this thread.
http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ord1=arctic+AND+silver

 

[itguycns]

Hey guys,
I just wanted to thank ya'll for responding to my post, I know what I must do now .