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Thermal Paste needed if not overclocking?

W

wjgollatz

Senior member
I watched Intel's video guide to installing their Core 2 Duo chip series (which I believe covers their Dual Core series - there was no support option for the E5200). The video does not demonstrate or discuss using thermal paste. The manual for the motherboard I plan to use, a Gigabyte model, describes using thermal paste.

Eventually, I may overclock. I have read many posts that the stock cooler for the e5200 and the like allows the chip to be overclocked to some extent, but third party heat sinks are recommended for vigorous overclocking. But are those posts assuming the use of heat conducting materials for the stock coolers?

Should I be using at least some thermal paste even if I do not plan to overclock?
 
Absolutely. Never, ever install a heatsink without thermal paste.

EDIT - the installation instructions didn't feature thermal paste because there is some pre-applied to the E5200's stock heatsink.
 
I was just coming back to edit my post , watched the video for the 3rd time and realized I missed the scant reference to the pre-applied past, that they made when picking up the fan, that was already arranged outside of its packaging - as if the fan was just in the box and nothing done to it (like protecting the paste).

That said, is the pre-applied paste bad? Should I scrap it off and use better paste?

 
Originally posted by: JaYp146
Absolutely. Never, ever install a heatsink without thermal paste.

EDIT - the installation instructions didn't feature thermal paste because there is some pre-applied to the E5200's stock heatsink.
Click to expand...

+1. There must always be some form of thermal interface material, be it paste, pad or whatever, between the CPU and HSF.
 
Originally posted by: wjgollatz
I was just coming back to edit my post , watched the video for the 3rd time and realized I missed the scant reference to the pre-applied past, that they made when picking up the fan, that was already arranged outside of its packaging - as if the fan was just in the box and nothing done to it (like protecting the paste).

That said, is the pre-applied paste bad? Should I scrap it off and use better paste?
Click to expand...

If you clean the base carefully and use whatever is the best out there, you might win a few degrees but you should think whether it's worth it or not. Running stock I'd say it's a complete waste of time and time is money.
 
I wouldn't even necessarily substitute it for an aftermarket paste. Intel didn't qualify the stock application for a 3 year warranty period because they felt like it; they did so because they were confident that it would last and perform at least that long in a "set and forget" application.

It's one thing if you're an enthusiast and replace heatsinks/CPUs/paste relatively often. It's quite another if you're building a box for someone else who may not even bother to blow dust out of the case.

Intertube people love to second guess well trained and well paid thermal engineers. Let them do their job and trust in what they provide.
 
IMO the stock thermal paste on current retail box CPUs is completely adequate. Can't find the link right now, but I recall some thermal paste roundup that found the stock Intel stuff decent.

I don't know what Intel uses, but NVIDIA (for GTX 295, etc) uses Shin Etsu for the GPU. I laugh when people say that they want to replace it with "something better."
 
Intel stock paste is decent, especially if you're not overclocking. However, if you remove the heatsink, you may need to re-appy paste; in that case, I recommend cleaning the surface with IPA, and applying AS5.
 
Originally posted by: Zap
I don't know what Intel uses, but NVIDIA (for GTX 295, etc) uses Shin Etsu for the GPU. I laugh when people say that they want to replace it with "something better."
Click to expand...

:X

well i never use stock sink tho.
 
Yes, always use TIM (thermal interface material). I always use the OEM TIM that comes with CPU or 3rd party HSF at least at first, but then I seldom stress my components. If I find I have to separate things, then I clean and use some good 3rd party TIM. Currently I have AS Ceramique on some of my things. AFAIK, the stock stuff is still on my Cooler Master CPU HSF. I've got some Arctic Cooling MX-2 on hand for whenever next I need some TIM.

.bh.
 
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