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From: Paul on 25 Feb 2010 21:08
pez wrote:
> I haven't built a PC from scratch in years. I just got my Dual-Core
> E6500 from new egg. It did not come with any themal paste. But the
> cooling unit looks like it may have some compound attached to the
> surface that will be pressed against the processor. My question is,
> do I need to get thermal paste before I seat the cooling unit? I just
> want to make sure I don't install it incorrectly leading to my
> processor getting damaged. If this is a rudimentary question please
> be kind, it's been a long time since I actually build a PC on my own.
> Thanks
>
> PDZ

(Intel LGA775 movie)
http://cache-www.intel.com/cd/00/00/24/12/241209_241209.wmv

There is supposed to be pre-applied TIM on the bottom of the
retail heatsink. If the TIM becomes scratched up or distorted,
such that it impairs contact during some future installation,
then you'd clean off the original material and apply fresh
Thermal Interface Material.

Liquid cleaner is available in kit form here. This cleaner helps
with the typical organic carrier used for thermal interface materials.
Isopropyl alcohol is a substitute and can be used as a cleaning
liquid, but is not a solvent for grease, and tends to smear grease
around. You can use isopropyl on a cleaning rag, but the rag is the
thing doing the cleaning.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100010

A small tube of paste should be sufficient for a number of installs.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835100009

In the silver-based variety, the silver is a relatively small
component part of the composition. Boron nitride, a ceramic, is
used in a lot of them.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/PDF/thermcom/AS5_MSDS_3.pdf

You can compare that, to the ceramique type.

http://www.arcticsilver.com/PDF/thermcom/CMQ_MSDS_3.pdf

If you need instructions for paste installation, the Arctic Silver
site has suggestions. I like to put a rice grained size portion in
the middle of the CPU and just press the heatsink into it, on the
theory that air bubbles will be forced outward as the paste
spreads. This method has the disadvantage, that the material is
not "pre-spread" as would happen with the razor blade spreading
method, but does answer the question of whether air is getting
trapped or not.

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

And in any case, you'd only need those instructions, if you were
doing a reinstall at some future date. If the TIM on the heatsink
is still in good shape, then finish your install.

Paul
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