Processor Shims. Yes or No

[blackKat]

I'm putting my new computer together tomorrow and want to know the pros and cons of using a Copper Shim. It seems like half of the people tell me to use one, the other half to avoid it. Any how, here is the hardware.

I-Will XP-333
XP 1600
Swiftech MCXC370 copper HSF (Heavy)

Some people have told me that the shim will protect the processor when I put the HSF on. Just curious on the forums opinion.

 

[MoFunk]

Use care and you wont need a shim. My $.02

 

[blackKat]

This HSF lets me slowly apply spring tension to the clips with 2 screws so I think that it will be gentle. I'm really leaning on just leaving it out all together. thnx for the input.

 

[BeauJangles]

Watercooling: Shim = neccessary
Air cooling: Screw it. Save the $5 and buy yourself an ice cream.

 

[blackKat]

I like icecream so screw the shim. Actualy I got the shim with my Artic silver,but I might go the watercooling route one day so I'll hold onto it.

 

[TheWart]

shims are lame if you are careful. besides, they impair heat transfer to the heatsink.

 

[BeauJangles]

<< shims are lame if you are careful. besides, they impair heat transfer to the heatsink. >>



How would they do that? They don't touch the core, where 99.9999999999999999999999% of the heat is generated... they are at exactly the same level as the core and don't intefere with good contact, a shim will not affect your cooling at all.

 

[johndoe52]

I'm getting a shim cause I've never installed a heatsink using the 4 screw holes in the motherboard yet. I'm not gonna risk cracking the core of my XP! Safe investment imho.

 

[Daovonnaex]

I recommend shims, but I'm biased since I use a peltier.

 

[blackKat]

I installed my processor and HSF tonight and nothing went "Crunch" thank God. That Swiftech is a little tricky to keep still while you back out those spring tension screws, but not to bad.
Why do you use a shim with a peltier? The weight? and is that the main use for a shim just to disperse the weight of the HS.

 

[Finality]

What about with an Alpha 8045? Are shims necessary for this heatsink?

 

[Daovonnaex]

<< What about with an Alpha 8045? Are shims necessary for this heatsink? >>

That heat sink is very large and heavy, so I would use one.

 

[Finality]

Wouldn't the springs help out though?

 

[Egrimm]

<< What about with an Alpha 8045? Are shims necessary for this heatsink? >>



I din't use a shim when I installed mine, it isn't necessary even though it is heavy if you mount it properly the springs will make it impossible to crush the core. Just place the heatsink and when fastening the screws tighten 'em alternating between each corner in a cross-pattern (top left, lower right, top-right, lower left and os on).

 

[Finality]

I din't use a shim when I installed mine, it isn't necessary even though it is heavy if you mount it properly the springs will make it impossible to crush the core. Just place the heatsink and when fastening the screws tighten 'em alternating between each corner in a cross-pattern (top left, lower right, top-right, lower left and os on).

Excellent it looks like they designed the Alpha to apply a specific load when installed properly

 

[SinfulWeeper]

<< Watercooling: Shim = neccessary
Air cooling: Screw it. Save the $5 and buy yourself an ice cream. >>



Man... your ice cream is expensive. How did you ever buy your computer?

 

[Egrimm]

<< Excellent it looks like they designed the Alpha to apply a specific load when installed properly >>


No need to be sarcastic, I just wanted to say that it's much harder to destroy the core with this hsf because of the way it's mounted, with hsf's that use the taps on the zif-socket you could be installing the hsf nearly correct and still get it a little unbalanced and destroy the core.
Sure, you can install the PAL8045 improperly too, but it's harder to srew things up.

 

[dakata24]

i got a cool-shim for my XP 1700+/Alpha PAL8045 just to make me feel better.. $9 down the drain, but oh well.. at least i got my computer up with no hitches on first bootup.. this was the first time most of my stuff was bought thru the internet (newegg is awesome ) so i didnt want to do anythign that would require RMAing anything..

and considering i spent somewhere in the neighborhood of $900 for my new system, $9 was nothing..

 

[ShinSa]

OMG!! 9 bux for a shim??? Stop the madness!

Go here and get it for 4 bux. The shippping is a buck so your total will be 5 bux.

blue non-conductive shim for 5 bux