Those with a core2duo stock cooler

[sadffffff]

i bought an intel core2duo heatsink/fan, and the thermal pad looks kinda odd. its like 3 seperate strips. is it supposed to be like that? or should i just remove it and use some thermal compound?

seems kind of weird, pic:

http://img294.imageshack.us/img294/2722/hsfanrf0.jpg

 

[CurseTheSky]

Yes, that's normal.

I suggest using other compound if you have it, though.

 

[sadffffff]

its normal? seems weird since you'd think it should have more surface contact than that...

well anyways, i'll probably take your advise and use the arctic silver ive got instead. Thanks for the reply

 

[krotchy]

Originally posted by: sadffffff
its normal? seems weird since you'd think it should have more surface contact than that...

well anyways, i'll probably take your advise and use the arctic silver ive got instead. Thanks for the reply

they basically put thick globs in three spots, and when it tightens down it will spread. However I find the stock cooling kinda sucks to begin with.

 

[wgoldfarb]

It's normal, but what you are seeing is not a thermal pad. They pre-apply thermal paste along those three strips. When you install the heatsink, the paste gets spread out over the entire surface of the CPU.

 

[crimson117]

Mine looked like that too.

Just get some high-percentage isopropyl (should be less than a dollar for a big bottle at the pharmacy), and wipe the stuff off with an old clean t-shirt. Then spend $5 and get some 3rd part thermal grease, such as arctic silver 5.


edit: isoproply -> isopropyl