running without thermal pad or paste

[DT4K]

How bad would it be to run my system without a thermal pad or paste between the cpu and heatsink. My new mobo (8kha+) is arriving today, but my Arctic Silver 3 won't be here until Monday. I already removed the old thermal pad from my heatsink and lapped it until it looked like a mirror. It's the stock Athlon heatsink and I have an XP 1700+. I really want to put the system together and play with it. Should I do it, or will I fry my cpu. What about putting some cheap Radio Shack thermal compound on, then replacing it with AS3 when I get it. Would this be a bad idea. Would it make the AS3 not work as well if the cheap stuff is used first. I'm in an area where I can't get Arctic Silver locally.

Thanks

 

[GoodRevrnd]

Very bad.

 

[CTho9305]

<< Very bad. >>


also, using cheap stuff will make the AS3 not perform as well. or so they claim. I think you can use "cheap stuff" if you later clean the core & ehatsink with rubbing alcohol though before applying AS3.

i powered up my tbird 700 yesterday to see if I had zapped it or not (long story) without any paste/pad, and it got to at least 55C within 5 seconds or so (i only cared that it posted - thought it might be dead ). this was a mirror-smooth heatsink i'd just lapped, and the heatsinkd idn't really get warm at all b/c of the poor contact.

 

[DT4K]

Ok, I won't run it without. How about using $1.99 Radio Shack paste, then cleaning with Goof-off and rubbing alcohol before applying AS3 next week? Anyone think using the cheap stuff first will be a problem if I clean the core and the heatsink before putting on the AS3? I could also do a little lapping again before applying AS3. I really don't want to go all weekend without using the computer, but I also don't want to screw things up.
Thanks

 

[Neuroanatomist]

Monday is a weekend away. Too bad you already lapped your OEM heatsink.

Definitely use some heatsink paste. see thermal transfer compound comparison @ dansdata.com

You should be able to get through the initial computer build (but not necessarily heavy-load gaming) if you can get your hands on some radioshack heatsink stuff. Be sure to carefully watch your temperatures by installing motherboard monitor and/or watching your temps in the BIOS.

When you get your AS3.. just clean with alcohol/acetone and re-lap your heatsink and install per AS3 instructions.

 

[WarCon]

In a pinch, I have used Zinc Oxide (you know the stuff you put on your nose to block the sun). Its grease melts out pretty fast, so its not great stuff for long term use or high temp use. But just to see if its going to run and maybe basic loading it would be ok. Don't push it with loading programs like Prime95 or SETI or any gaming.

But honestly, it would be better to just wait for your AS3.

I can't recommend running it with nothing though.

 

[Crucial]

If you absolutely must run it this weekend use the radio shack paste or some antec paste from Best Buy. They will both work fine. You probably won't notice much of a difference after putting on AS3. It works better but it's not like it going to drop your temps like 10 degrees. It may only be 2-4 degrees cooler after putting AS3 on.

You will have to make sure you clean it all off and lapping again will help to clean it good. You have to remember that as soon as you put on the radio shack grease it will never completely come off. It fills in the microscopic pits on the surface of the heatsink. Lapping will help to remove the paste though.

Whatever you do DO NOT run it without anything. It is not worth the risk of burning up your cpu. You will then have to wait for the new cpu to be shipped to you. How crappy would that be.

 

[DT4K]

OK, I got my 8kha+ last night and picked up some $1.99 thermal paste from radio shack and put it all together last night. I'm running at 47C at idle with a generic 80mm intake fan and only the power supply fan blowing out. I haven't put much of a load on it. Next week I will get my AS3 and an 80mm 38CFM Sunon to blow out. I'll put the new fan in, clean the heatsink, lap it, and put on the AS3. If temps don't get much better, I'll think about upgrading the heatsink. I would like to overclock eventually, so I guess I'll have to upgrade the heatsink then.

 

[Crucial]

Sounds like a good plan. Those temps a little high but definately ok. If you're not overclocking it won't hurt anything at all.

 

[DT4K]

Okay, I got my stuff and put it in last night. My temps actually did drop 9-10 C. I cleaned the core and heatsink, and spent several hours lapping the heatsink again. I put in the Sunon, and used the AS3 when putting the heatsink back on. Before I was at 47C idle and 56C under load. Now I'm at 38C idle and 46C under load. I'm sure the AS3 and lapping helped, but the fan definitely helped. My case temps have dropped about 6-7 degrees. At these new temps, I'm wondering if I have room to OC a little. I tried 140Mhz and it didn't seem to raise the temps much. I tried 150, and it posted but windows wouldn't boot, so I put it back at 133. I didn't mess with the voltage. I'm not sure if my hsf is good enough to OC at all, or if I should upgrade. Also, anyone have any good links to overclocking for a beginner.
Thanks