Thermal Grease on the Fx-53

[GoldFiles]

I am buying the retail 939-pin Fx-53

Will I need to buy a seperate tube of thermal compound?

 

[Tiamat]

I am assuming you are overclocking since you are buying the FX53. If this is indeed true, yes, go ahead and buy Artic Ceramiqué or Artic Silver 5. I like Ceramiqué because its much easier to clean. Make sure you get a good 3rd party heatsink if you intend to overclock more than 5-10%

 

[GoldFiles]

No overclocking

 

[GoldFiles]

Why do you assume I am overclocking? Is it very easy?

Either way, I wouldn't mind buying thermal compound if it will help.

 

[WobbleWobble]

No.

The retail HSF will have a thermal pad which does the same thing as thermal compound (grease) and it'll be fine for running your CPU at stock speeds.

 

[imported_whatever]

and about overclocking on the a64 fx-53: it is the easiest a64 to overclock. the non-fx series a64s have a multiplier lock, meaning you must increase the fsb to overclock. the a64 fx series does not have a multiplier lock, so all you need to do is increase the multiplier. good thermal compound will give you better temperatures whether or not you are overclocking. also, make sure that you are getting a socket 939 system as opposed to a socket 940, the s939 is both cheaper and a bit faster. (the s940 requires registered ecc ram)

 

[GoldFiles]

Okay, I will go with the 939-pin fx53 and this thermal compound: http://www.coolerstar.com/articsilver5.html

 

[JBT]

uhh I wouldn't say Shin Etsu is a thermal "pad" That stuff was all the rage a little while ago with OCing even I would stick with that.

 

[charloscarlies]

Originally posted by: JBT
uhh I wouldn't say Shin Etsu is a thermal "pad" That stuff was all the rage a little while ago with OCing even I would stick with that.

Agreed. If you're going retail and aren't overclocking...no need to buy anything else. Shin Etsu is good stuff neways.

 

[o1die]

With the retail boxed heatsink, try the thermal pad first if not overclocking. You might void your warranty otherwise. I know Intel doesn't care (I've already made one warranty claim with them), but amd is different.

 

[GoldFiles]

Yes, I found out that thermal grease WILL void your warranty. The only exception to this is Shin Etsu, and that may only be used for evaluation purpose.

I'm just gonna go with the thermal pad on the retail heatsink.