Uh Oh...I ripped off the piece of foil between my heatsink and CPU...

[50]

Can I still use my heatsink without it? I'm running a P4 2.4b. Where do I buy one of those pieces of foil if I can't? Also does anyone know a good way of getting rid of the residue left by the thermal grease? I got most of it but not 100% and I can't scrape the rest off, I think I need a cleaner (anyone know one that is safe?). Thanks

 

[kitkat22]

I would need someone to second my thought but I believe isopropyl alcohol works for cleaning. I can't help with the foil thingy, sorry.

 

[Cheezeit]

Originally posted by: cscpianoman
I would need someone to second my thought but I believe isopropyl alcohol works for cleaning. I can't help with the foil thingy, sorry.

yes, alchol does the job.

also, can you post a pic of the foil so we can understand what you are saying more?

 

[50]

Originally posted by: Cheezeit

Originally posted by: cscpianoman
I would need someone to second my thought but I believe isopropyl alcohol works for cleaning. I can't help with the foil thingy, sorry.

yes, alchol does the job.

also, can you post a pic of the foil so we can understand what you are saying more?

I'm at work right now but I'll do it when I get home. If you know retail intel heatsinks, there is the heatsink and in between it and the processor, there is (what looked to me) a piece of metal in a square shape that I would assume helps dissipate the heat from the processor to heatsink. I'm not sure but it might be called a thermal pad. When I was scraping off the residue, I did not realize there was one on there and I bent it and pretty much ruined it.

 

[PsYcHoCoW]

I guess he's talking about the heatspreader... like in the cpu on the left on this picture ? http://www.hwextreme.com/reviews/processor/intel_2aghz/images/10sm.jpg

I think there was a technical term for it but I can't remember it

I think its sole use is to dissipate heat, but it might be harder to fit a HS/Fan on it if it's half-broken...

 

[Cheezeit]

Its not a themal pad, because thats what comes as a subsitute for thermal grease on AMD retail coolers.

 

[50]

See the square on the bottom of the heatsink? Thats what I took off...

 

[Bona Fide]

That might be important, because that's the contact point with the CPU. I'm wondering if the HSF will even work now.

As far as replacing it goes...if you can find a thin piece of flat copper or aluminum, you should be good to go.

(Foil won't work...it's too flimsy)

 

[Jeff7]

I once installed some P4's at a summer job. I believe that foil covers the thermal compound. I don't remember if it was supposed to be there or not; the heatsink instructions would have said so.

In any event, clean the thermal compound off of the heatsink, using isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and cotton swabs (Q-tips), then get another compound, such as Arctic Silver 5.

 

[Raduque]

I bet the foil thingy he's referring to is similar to this roll of stuff. If it's roughly the same thing, it's useless now, and you should clean the bottom of the heatsink off 100% and use a thermal paste of your choice. Most people perfer Arctic Silver, but I find the difference between AS and the normal white stuff not worth the premium of AS.

 

[Bozo Galora]

Yeah, thats the sanyo OEM cooler sold to Intel
http://www.digital-daily.com/cooling/coolers-for-p4-2002q3/index05.htm
It has thermal paste on top of foil square.
Its useless anyway.
(Quote)
The contact of radiator with the processor is designed in a tricky way. First, there is a thin foil layer on the radiator and its area is slightly greater than the processor area (the foil is easily seen on the photo). Secondly, a layer of thermal interface is applied on the foil (shown in black - not visible in the photo). After second or third removal of the cooler the thermal interface layer destroyed and I cleaned it off. This thermal conducting material is not bad at all in quality, with the temperature difference compared to the KPT8 paste was 2-3 C in favor of the latter.
(Unquote)

99% Isopropyl alcohol on lint free CD wipe to clean
Artic Silver 5
done

 

[50]

Whew..thanks guys I was afraid I would have to buy another heatsink. Also this is the first time I'm installing a heatsink (I bought this PC from ibuypower). How do you suggest I spread the AS5? Also there was some residue left on the CPU by the heatsink, I used a credit card to scrape it off, however there is a little left that can't be scraped off. Can I use alcohol on the top of the CPU as well? Thanks again

 

[Navid]

Yes, you can use alcohol to clean it off. Don't leave any residue left, neither on the CPU nor on the sink.
To apply Arctic Silver, follow the instructions on the Arctic Silver web site.

 

[0roo0roo]

yea i've had that b4.. rip it off clean and use normal grase.

 

[patsfan33]

Artic silver instructions

http://www.arcticsilver.com/instructions.htm