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Simple Athlon XP [Retail] question...

Zim Hosein

Zim Hosein

Super Moderator | Elite Member
Super Moderator
Here goes my stupid Athlon XP [Retail] question, I plan on upgrading my rig in a few days and I'm wondering, I know "retail" CPU's come w/ the heatsink and fan installed, but do I need one of those "shims" I see everywhere to hook up to my motherboard, or do they just go in like the old ZIF Intel chips like the socket 7 boards? Thanks for your time.
 
You don't need a shim. The heatsink attaches just like the old socket 7s. Only the higher end heatsinks attach with screws.
 
Thanks Swanny 🙂

Ummm..why does the shim exist in the first place then 😕
 
During installation. Early shims seemed to have problems in terms of thickness - to thick, and it would actualy hurt cooling capability.
Shims themselves don't affect cooling though; they're just to keep you from crushing or chipping the core during installation.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
During installation. Early shims seemed to have problems in terms of thickness - to thick, and it would actualy hurt cooling capability.
Shims themselves don't affect cooling though; they're just to keep you from crushing or chipping the core during installation.
Click to expand...

Maybe this is where I'm thinking the wrong thing, the shim goes between the processor and the HS, right? Thanks for your response Jeff7.
 
Originally posted by: CubicZirconia
the shim goes between the processor and the HS, right?
Click to expand...

Thats correct.
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks CZ, since I'm purchasing a retail CPU, I won't have to worry about cracking the core 🙂 😎

Thanks to everyone who helpme me out, much appreciated 🙂
 
Maybe this is where I'm thinking the wrong thing, the shim goes between the processor and the HS, right? Thanks for your response Jeff7.
Click to expand...


Yeah, pretty much. Just make sure the shim isn't on top of any of the small components on top of the processor itself; and try to get an anodized one. Those aren't conductive, which is definitely good. Bestbyte.net has them for a good price with ok shipping.
 
Originally posted by: Jeff7
Maybe this is where I'm thinking the wrong thing, the shim goes between the processor and the HS, right? Thanks for your response Jeff7.
Click to expand...


Yeah, pretty much. Just make sure the shim isn't on top of any of the small components on top of the processor itself; and try to get an anodized one. Those aren't conductive, which is definitely good. Bestbyte.net has them for a good price with ok shipping.
Click to expand...

Since I plan on buying a retail CPU, I shouldn't have to worry about this unless I decide to overclock the CPU and need to install a more efficient h/s and fan right Jeff7 😕 Again, thanks for your time 🙂
 
A [Retail] Processor comes with a heatsink, but you still have to install it just like any of the high performance heatsinks. If you are worried about cracking the core then look in to getting a shim, but if you are careful you can install the heatsink without it, but be sure to use thermal paste, ( some will come with the heatsink but there are better ones on the market like Arctic Silver II ).
 
Besides helping during installation, I believe that the shims are also helpful for those who transport their machines often (LAN parties, anyone?) and have a heavy HSF. For retail box HSF, if you don't ever plan to remove it and if you aren't planning to overclock, just pull off the paper liner (leaving the waxy pad) and install using a slotted screwdriver. The paper liner must go, but the pad helps cushin the core a bit as well as helping heat transfer (in-between no compound at all and any compound).
 
A [Retail] Processor comes with a heatsink, but you still have to install it just like any of the high performance heatsinks. If you are worried about cracking the core then look in to getting a shim, but if you are careful you can install the heatsink without it, but be sure to use thermal paste, ( some will come with the heatsink but there are better ones on the market like Arctic Silver II ).
Click to expand...

Are you sure about that JediJeb, the last two retail processors I purchased already had the heatsinks installed [one one an AMD chip and the other was an Intel chip.] 😕

Besides helping during installation, I believe that the shims are also helpful for those who transport their machines often (LAN parties, anyone?) and have a heavy HSF. For retail box HSF, if you don't ever plan to remove it and if you aren't planning to overclock, just pull off the paper liner (leaving the waxy pad) and install using a slotted screwdriver. The paper liner must go, but the pad helps cushin the core a bit as well as helping heat transfer (in-between no compound at all and any compound).
Click to expand...

Zap, I don't move my mid-tower at all, unless I'm installing/upgrading parts. Thanks for the slotted screwdriver tip, should come in handy when I decide what I plan on buying 🙂
 
Hey dude,

I bought a retail XP 1600+ a few months ago and the stock HSF (some coolermaster low-end piece of trash) was incredibly hard to install. I was scared I was going to crack the mobo... hahaha. Even my roommate had problems getting it off when I wanted to install the HCC-002 (copper coolermaster)... that was so much easier to install.

However, that was my first time putting on the HSF (the hard stock one) and although i was being really careless, I didn't do any damage to my chip. So don't worry about it. You don't need a shim.
 
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