Retail Pentium4 Question

[BlameTheBigBang]

I'm planning on buying a P4 2.8C. The website says it's a full retail version with heatsink and fan included. My question is, do I need to buy thermal paste or does that come with a full retail CPU? Does a "full retail" box actually come with EVERYTHING I need?

 

[joeryu]

it wont come with thermal paste, but the heatsink that comes with it has a pre-installed thermal pad. its ok for default applications, but if you plan to OC i would invest in some thermal paste, like arctic silver or the like.

 

[Acanthus]

Originally posted by: jOjO316
it wont come with thermal paste, but the heatsink that comes with it has a pre-installed thermal pad. its ok for default applications, but if you plan to OC i would invest in some thermal paste, like arctic silver or the like.

exactly, ive found AS3 to drop temps only 1 or 2 degrees, but with OCing everything counts.

 

[Corporate Thug]

get thermal paste, i hate pads

 

[XBoxLPU]

pads suck

 

[Chaotic42]

Retail comes with the pad, like they said, but it also comes with a much better warranty.

 

[Wingznut]

If you aren't planning on overclocking, and trying to get every last mhz out of the cpu, and you aren't planning on removing the heatsink any time soon (the pad cannot be reused), then the thermal pad will suit you just fine.

The overwhelming majority of PC users have some type of thermal pad on their heatsinks (video, chipset, cpu, etc), and have no issues with it.

 

[SexyK]

I never had a problem with the pad on my old 1.6@2.13, just for the record. I'm using compound now that i've moved to a 2.4C@3G with an AlCu7000 CNPS though. I think you're fine either way, especially with the retail HSF.

 

[bgeh]

Originally posted by: BlameTheBigBang
I'm planning on buying a P4 2.8C. The website says it's a full retail version with heatsink and fan included. My question is, do I need to buy thermal paste or does that come with a full retail CPU? Does a "full retail" box actually come with EVERYTHING I need?

yes, but if you overclock, dump the pad and use paste. if you don't then it's probably fine

 

[ripthesystem]

as above- so below

The retail chip comes with everything you need to run the CPU right out of the box. The heatsink will attach to the CPU with a thermal pad instead of the paste. It is fine for running the CPU at default speeds or a very small overclock. AND the retail CPU comes with the full warranty.

If you are going to overclock then you will need to move to the paste and other cooling, etc. but then again that voids the warranty

hth
ripthesystem

 

[Slogun]

OK, if someone wants to overclock their P4, what's the best way to remove the thermal pad?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Slogun
OK, if someone wants to overclock their P4, what's the best way to remove the thermal pad?

If I were going to overclock, I'd get a different HSF. Just keep the retail HSF somewhere safe incase you need it.

 

[mattg1981]

yeah .. go with Artic Silver 3 ... there is actually a brand that is even better than Artic Silver .. but I forget the name of it and it is very hard to work with (have to mix it yourself, very thick and hard to move, cleanup is a hassle) ... I cant remember the name of it though

 

[mattg1981]

hey! that was my 100th post

 

[Wolfsraider]

to remove the pad i used my drivers license to scrape the pad off and denatured alcohol (rubbing alcohol will also work) to remove the rest of the residue.

i used latex gloves to apply the as3 (a dab will do ya) paper thin and as even as possible.

on the heatsink, i sanded the surface as smooth as possible using 600,800 and 1200 grit sandpaper.

mike

 

[Dowfen]

I just removed the pad on a retail P4. Basically, I gently (without scratching the heatsink) peeled up one of the edges and then pulled it off. It wasn't too difficult because it was only glued on the ends and not very strongly. Then I rubbed off the remaining glue.

 

[Slogun]

OK, thanks for the info about removing the pad guys.

One person said get a different HSF than the retail version, is that important?

Might as well get the OEM CPU then, yes?

 

[Fallengod]

Also, why would you buy a retail box CPU if you are gonna OC it and just take shizzle off, that makes no sense. The retail box is all about the warranty. You OC it, that is gone.

 

[OverVolt]

Originally posted by: jOjO316
it wont come with thermal paste, but the heatsink that comes with it has a pre-installed thermal pad. its ok for default applications, but if you plan to OC i would invest in some thermal paste, like arctic silver or the like.

NO!

Retail comes with the pad, like they said, but it also comes with a much better warranty.

NO!

You see, my 3.0C came with no thermal pad and some decent Silver compound all pre-measured. Running 35C right now! I don't see why the 2.8C wouldn't be any difference. They make ALMOST the same amound of heat.

 

[Slogun]

Originally posted by: OverVolt

Originally posted by: jOjO316
it wont come with thermal paste, but the heatsink that comes with it has a pre-installed thermal pad. its ok for default applications, but if you plan to OC i would invest in some thermal paste, like arctic silver or the like.

NO!

Retail comes with the pad, like they said, but it also comes with a much better warranty.

NO!

You see, my 3.0C came with no thermal pad and some decent Silver compound all pre-measured. Running 35C right now! I don't see why the 2.8C wouldn't be any difference. They make ALMOST the same amound of heat.

Well that's interesting. Was it the retail version with HSF?

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: OverVolt



You see, my 3.0C came with no thermal pad and some decent Silver compound all pre-measured. Running 35C right now! I don't see why the 2.8C wouldn't be any difference. They make ALMOST the same amound of heat.

Was it the retail version? Where did you get it from?