Thermal Compound?

[davidkay]

I am about to put my Cooler Master heatink on my Athlon 1000MHz Socket A CPU. Are you sure that gunk (Thermal Compound) wont damage the processor? I know its meant to be there but surely there are alernateives

 

[Viper GTS]

It will not hurt the processor. Guaranteed. Remember, Intel ships paste with their P4 retail packages.

The "alternatives" are much more likely to do damage, since their thermal conductivity is MUCH lower than a good paste.

The one exception is conductive thermal compound, typically the CircuitWorks Silver stuff. That can short a processor if you cross two points you shouldn't. Any non-conductive paste, however, is perfectly safe.

Viper GTS

 

[madthumbs]

I know a PC shop that doesn't even use the thermal paste (I think they're just skimpy). The paste can actually be insulative. It is recommended that you use "just enough" to fill in any spaces between the cpu and heat sink. If there is excess, it can insulate and actually cause the cpu to run hotter. If you put it on sparingly, I can't see it dammaging anything.

 

[AMB]

Sometimes, the Thermal Pads supplied with the HSF can be more effective than the Thermal Compound

 

[Viper GTS]

AFAIK there ain't a thermal pad in the world that can compete with a good paste. Arctic Silver, for instance, will kick ass on any thermal pad.

Viper GTS

 

[Mikewarrior2]

the PCTC pads on AMD Socket A approved heatsinks does do a very good job. Arctic silver still beats it by a good margin, but this "pad" is usually better than most silicon greases(due to it being "heat-fused" onto the heatsink).


Mike

 

[Howard]

Actually, the reason many swear off thermal pads is because they didn't know about the ~60 degree Celsius temperature that is needed to melt the pad and fill in the imperfections. Otherwise, it's just another layer of conducting material.

 

[davidkay]

I am confused now, whats the difference between the pads and paste? My CoolerMaster has a flat pad but it seems to be paste like anyway. Is it a pad or paste? Are they roughly the same thing?

 

[DaddyG]

They are completely different. The pad is Phase Change Thermal Compound and actually changes state, from a wax like semi-solid to a bubble-gum like substance. The change usually occurs at 58c in the case of Chomerics T-725 which seems to be the preffered PCTC. As posted PCTC fills small gaps very well, none of the greases , including AS can do this. The pad also has a small cushion action to protect the core. Also, AS is about the only other compound that can handle the heat and pressure of Socket A.

Since PCTC is the default compound on AMD approved HSF's (AMD hasn't approved AS), the surface of many heatsinks is not very smooth, goes without saying that PCTC fills in so they don't need to be. If you switch to AS, spend some time lapping the base.