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Thermal Paste, or No Thermal Paste?

A

AlpooplA

Member
Is thermal paste necessary??? Here's my first experience with it:

I just built my first AMD system after having always built Intel systems in the past.
I purchased a CPU/MOBO combo where they installed the CPU.
It's a non overclocked AMD64 3000 S939 retail box+ retail AMD fan

I was getting idle temp. readings around 65-75 Celcius, but whenever I loaded up any sort of decent game, alarms would go off and pretty soon afterwards it would shut down. I felt the heatsink, and it felt luke-warm. Not knowing much abt AMD, I thought these are maybe false alarms, so I increased the tresholds to a max shutdown temp. of 95C. Still alarms went off and shutdowns happened when gaming.

Next I reseated the CPU and made sure it was in place correct. Idle temps. dropped to 60-70C range.

Then I started getting suspicious of the thermal paste and removed most of it with a paper napkin and now my systems seems to be running somewhat normal. I am now seeing temp readings between 45-55 C in Win XP and no alarms or shutdowns are happening.

So, is thermal paste necessary? It was probably put on too thick, but I am now wary about using it and wonder if it is necessary.

Also, I'm wondering if my current temp readings are where they should be. I'd like to see what other people's CPU temp. range is.








 
If you put too much on then it acts like a blanket over top of the cpu and keeps the heat in. Use a VERY thin layer. Enough so you can see the white of the paste but so little that you can see the color of the core though the white.

Thermal paste is nessesary.
 
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
If you put too much on then it acts like a blanket over top of the cpu and keeps the heat in. Use a VERY thin layer. Enough so you can see the white of the paste but so little that you can see the color of the core though the white.

Thermal paste is nessesary.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:

Acutal amount of paste varies from one processor generation/family to another as well as between compounds. Best way to do it is to follow the directions from the compound maker TO THE LETTER... Don't use any more, or less, than they say. Either of those will yield bad/poor results.
 
Originally posted by: akira34
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
If you put too much on then it acts like a blanket over top of the cpu and keeps the heat in. Use a VERY thin layer. Enough so you can see the white of the paste but so little that you can see the color of the core though the white.

Thermal paste is nessesary.
Click to expand...
:thumbsup:

Acutal amount of paste varies from one processor generation/family to another as well as between compounds. Best way to do it is to follow the directions from the compound maker TO THE LETTER... Don't use any more, or less, than they say. Either of those will yield bad/poor results.
Click to expand...

What he said. :thumbsup:
 
Would anyone care to share their CPU temperatures with a A64 S939? Is everyone using thermal paste nowadays? Do AMD and Intel require ir just recommend it? I seem to be doing pretty good without it.
 
Originally posted by: AlpooplA
Would anyone care to share their CPU temperatures with a A64 S939? Is everyone using thermal paste nowadays? Do AMD and Intel require ir just recommend it? I seem to be doing pretty good without it.
Click to expand...

It's requiered. I wouldn't even start up a system if I'm not sure theres TIM in it.
 
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
If you put too much on then it acts like a blanket over top of the cpu and keeps the heat in. Use a VERY thin layer. Enough so you can see the white of the paste but so little that you can see the color of the core though the white.

Thermal paste is nessesary.
Click to expand...

However, if you use Artic Silver 5 (wich is a dark gray) you wont see the color of the core through it.
 
Originally posted by: AlpooplA
Would anyone care to share their CPU temperatures with a A64 S939? Is everyone using thermal paste nowadays? Do AMD and Intel require ir just recommend it? I seem to be doing pretty good without it.
Click to expand...

Actually without it your CPU would reset/burn up, you still have some on there after you scrapped alot away. The only way to get rid of it is to use goof-off or pure iso alcohol and a lint-free cloth. If you think your CPU could run without it then go ahead and remove it all and up your temp threshhold some more. Make sure you post pics of your burned out core for all of use to see. 🙂

Yes, you NEED it, there is no ifs ands or buts about it. You can use a thermal pad (as that is the least thing REQUIRED for a cpu to operate correctly) but the grease is much better.

My temps on a AthlonXP 2.2ghz (which runs hotter) are usually 34-36 c idle and 42-44 under load, though alot of that depends on the case you have and mine happenes to be pretty good at moving air through it. Yours should be lower if you have a decent case and the right heatsink setup.

-spike
 
Originally posted by: AlpooplA
Would anyone care to share their CPU temperatures with a A64 S939? Is everyone using thermal paste nowadays? Do AMD and Intel require ir just recommend it? I seem to be doing pretty good without it.
Click to expand...


3000+ artic silver ceramic paste + zalman 7700-alcu

35-36 C idel
45 prime95
 
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