Stock P4 HSF question

[Beowulf]

I am setting up a P4 system and planning on using the stock hsf but I have one question. I was wondering if anyone is using thermal compound instead of the pad and if so which compound should I use.

 

[jamesbond007]

Hi there. Intel actually ships thermal compound with the HSF and doesn't use the pink pads...at least my S423 P4 1.7Ghz did anyways. I still used some Arctic Silver I had laying around instead of the shipped compound. If it doesn't say Arctic Silver, then it probably won't perform like it.

Hope this helps!

 

[Beowulf]

Alright well I just ordered myself a Sunflower hsf from pc power & cooling though they call it cpu-cool 478.So ASII is a safe bet for the P4 according to the only reply that has been posted.

 

[jamesbond007]

So ASII is a safe bet for the P4 according to the only reply that has been posted.

Yup, works on pretty much every component that needs cooling in a computer. Video, CPU, Northbridge, etc.

Good luck with your new computer!

 

[HeinekinMan]

I upgraded a few weeks ago to a P4-1900 (Socket 478); I'm using the stock HSF and there wasn't any additional thermal compound supplied with the retail CPU/HSF that I bought. There is a thermal pad on the HS itself. Intel recommends AGAINST using any additional thermal compound; the instructions just say to make sure that when you clamp the HSF down onto the CPU to not twist it in any way to avoid damaging the thermal pad.

I've had no problems with cooling using this Intel recommendation...

 

[Tubbz]

I also purchased the retail intel cpu/hsf combo and it did not com with a thermal compound. I believe the instructions do say not to use a thermal compound. Anyways, I am worried about the RPMS for the stock fan. i'm getting around 2700. Is this about right?

 

[jamesbond007]

Yup, I get about 2700 RPMs as well.

I am very suprised to see that Intel does not include the compound anymore. IMHO, pads just suck. They make it a chore to get the HSF off without damaging the core. (AMDs mostly) They're pink in color. And they don't transfer heat as well as some cheap compound would. Maybe it's just me, but how much money are manufacturers actually saving by using a pad versus thermal compound?

My $0.02

 

[JackBurton]

OK, let me set the record straight. I believe the first time I got my P4 1.9GHz (478pin) chip it DID come with thermal compound but the second time I bought a P4 1.9GHz chip it didn't come with the paste. Either way it doesn't matter because I won't use that cheap crap. Also, the P4 retail heatsink doesn't really have a pad, it is more like a piece of tin foil with a VERY thin black coat of some kind of funky material. The first thing I do is scrape that crap off though. And once that is done I make sure the surface of the heatsink is super clean by using some alcohol. After that I apply ASII and mount the heatsink. I get temps of 28C-30C idle and 48C full load. These are some pretty dang good temp for a P4 1.9GHz running at 2.05GHz (1.75v). And I haven't even tried for more. I hope this helps.

 

[Zap]

Beowulf, are you planning to OC the CPU? If not, then just slap that HSF on and don't worry about it. Running at default settings, the P4 CPUs don't get very warm at all.