Those with a core2duo stock cooler

sadffffff

Senior member
Jan 6, 2006
228
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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

Golden Member
Mar 29, 2006
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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

Senior member
Aug 26, 2006
239
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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

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2001
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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