Thermal Paste or Thermal Pad

[CletusTheDwarf]

I got a Volcano9 heat sink and a smart fan 2 for my Athlon XP 2400+ mobile. I also bought some artic silver 5 for when i mount the heat sink. but last night I saw some stuff online that said thermal paste like artic silver should only be used if the heat sink will be removed several times, because since it has a lower viscosity, after 6 months or so, the thermal paste might have been squeezed out from covering the die. For a more permanent solution a thermal pad should be used. Any input? And where could I buy a thermal pad?

 

[SneakyStuff]

I've had a thermal pad, that was in my old P933 MHz, it is still there to this day, doing its' job fine. Until a CPU can actually MELT the pad, it's a pretty reliable solution.

 

[lucky9]

Should find pads at the local Radio Shack or CompUSA

And they are what AMD and Intel put on their HSF's (the retail ones), so you can bet they'll do the job at stock speeds. My celeron has never whimpered.

 

[Gravity]

Well, I have read that the pastes work better than pads. I have that TT 9 and it's a beast.

Let us know what you decide and the results.

 

[SneakyStuff]

I think paste works better for P4 processors, simply because the die is larger. But for the Athlon XP's the pad seems to do the job.

 

[txxxx]

Try getting ahold of Shin Etsu pads - AMD approved, and superb thermal transfer properties. Best of all , it'll stay put

 

[SWScorch]

I used to use a thermal pad called Thermagon, but was unimpressed with the results. Paste or goop seems to work better, but yes, can dry out over time. A pad should be fine for everyday use and might be better in your case. As for the PCM that AMD and Intel uses, I've noticed that it can dry out over time as well and squeeze out from in between the CPU and heatsink.

 

[Coquito]

So what should an oem amd user be looking for?

aa

as5

ceramique

find a good 'ole stock pad