Is Thermal Paste required?

[bluedeviltron]

So I just started reading the instructions for my AMD 64 3200+ processor, and it says that "thermal interface material" is REQUIRED for all AMD processors...

Is this really necessary? Do I HAVE to put this paste on?

If so, what kind of paste is the best to get, and does anyone have a link to a guide on how to apply it?

 

[sniperruff]

for the last time, yes.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

and to reiterate, YES!!! Wow, that's scary. Get some Artic Silver, and search google. Trust me, you will find plenty of information.
Tas.

 

[bluedeviltron]

OK, well I just read on this other site that it is NOT required for the first time you install the CPU/heatsink/fan. They said something about a thermal pad already on it, and that I have to peel off some kind of thin film.

 

[NiKeFiDO]

Originally posted by: sniperruff
for the last time, yes.

 

[bluedeviltron]

Here: http://www.computing.net/cpus/wwwboard/forum/11243.html

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, well I just read on this other site that it is NOT required for the first time you install the CPU/heatsink/fan. They said something about a thermal pad already on it, and that I have to peel off some kind of thin film.

Okay. When you put your heatsink on your processor, there should be something gooy-ish inbetween. Either paste, or a thermal pad (you will see it on the heatsink), but there HAS to be something inbetween there. Not all heatsinks have a thermal pad, in which case, it is required that you have thermal paste. Cool?
Tas.

 

[bluedeviltron]

OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

Correct.

Are you talking about the retail fan that comes with an AMD cpu?

 

[WraithETC]

Did you buy the 3200 retail meaning it came with the hsf in the box?

If you did there is a thermal pad already stuck to the bottom of the heat sink, if not your going to have to go buy some.

 

[bluedeviltron]

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

Correct.

Are you talking about the retail fan that comes with an AMD cpu?

Yes, I'm using the heatsink and fan that came with the cpu. Also, there is a square in the middle of the bottom of the heatsink that has a gray gooey film on it. Is this the thermal pad? Or is the black layer on the bottom of the processor the thermal pad?

 

[UsandThem]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

Correct.

Are you talking about the retail fan that comes with an AMD cpu?

Yes, I'm using the heatsink and fan that came with the cpu. Also, there is a square in the middle of the bottom of the heatsink that has a gray gooey film on it. Is this the thermal pad? Or is the black layer on the bottom of the processor the thermal pad?

The grey stuff is the thermal pad. The black layer protects the thermal pad I think. It has been a while since I have seen one.

 

[Promethply]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

Correct.

Are you talking about the retail fan that comes with an AMD cpu?

Yes, I'm using the heatsink and fan that came with the cpu. Also, there is a square in the middle of the bottom of the heatsink that has a gray gooey film on it. Is this the thermal pad? Or is the black layer on the bottom of the processor the thermal pad?

The thermal pad's stuck to the bottom of the heatsink -- just make sure that you remove the protective layer covering the thermal pad before you install the heatsink.

 

[Ike0069]

The bottom of the processor should have a bunch of gold pins (actually 939 of them). DO NOT]/b] put any thermal paste on that part. It goes between the Heatsink and the top of the CPU (flat silver area).

 

[CheesePoofs]

Originally posted by: Promethply

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron

Originally posted by: UsandThem

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

Correct.

Are you talking about the retail fan that comes with an AMD cpu?

Yes, I'm using the heatsink and fan that came with the cpu. Also, there is a square in the middle of the bottom of the heatsink that has a gray gooey film on it. Is this the thermal pad? Or is the black layer on the bottom of the processor the thermal pad?

The thermal pad's stuck to the bottom of the heatsink -- just make sure that you remove the protective layer covering the thermal pad before you install the heatsink.

IIRC there's no real protective coating over an A64's heatsink, only a plastic cap that you take of.

 

[Leros]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, there's a black piece of foam over the bottom of the processor. Is that the thermal pad?

If it is a thermal pad, then that means that I DON'T need to apply thermal paste, correct?

The black foam is packing material. Throw it away or save it. It doesnt not go in your computer.

 

[mettleh3d]

i put my AMD sticker on my processor just the like pictures.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage...or%20Model%20ADA3000AXBOX%20-%20Retail
No good came out of that.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
Is this really necessary? Do I HAVE to put this paste on?

Thermal interface materials are only required in order to fill in any imperfections in the mating surfaces of the CPU and HS.
If your mating surfaces are perfectly matched, you don't need to bother with TIM.

 

[agnitrate]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
Is this really necessary? Do I HAVE to put this paste on?

Thermal interface materials are only required in order to fill in any imperfections in the mating surfaces of the CPU and HS.
If your mating surfaces are perfectly matched, you don't need to bother with TIM.

Exactly. So the next time you can find two surfaces both of which are completely perfect and level atomically, feel free to disregard that compound. Until then (most likely never), stick with the compound.

 

[David Brent]

remember to put the heatsink with the fan facing the cpu, so the cpu can get a nice cool breeze. otherwise you're just sticking a hunk of metal on it which acts like a blanket and results in overheating.

 

[tfinch2]

PUT THE PASTE ON IT'S SKINNNN

 

[Brian23]

Originally posted by: Ike0069
The bottom of the processor should have a bunch of gold pins (actually 939 of them). DO NOT]/b] put any thermal paste on that part. It goes between the Heatsink and the top of the CPU (flat silver area).

ROFLOL

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: David Brent
remember to put the heatsink with the fan facing the cpu, so the cpu can get a nice cool breeze. otherwise you're just sticking a hunk of metal on it which acts like a blanket and results in overheating.

That all depends on how the HS was designed. Alpha heatsinks are designed to have the fan pulling air up off the HS (aka "sucking").

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: David Brent
remember to put the heatsink with the fan facing the cpu, so the cpu can get a nice cool breeze. otherwise you're just sticking a hunk of metal on it which acts like a blanket and results in overheating.

That all depends on how the HS was designed. Alpha heatsinks are designed to have the fan pulling air up off the HS (aka "sucking").

The heatsink will have the fan attatched already, in the way that AMD decide they want it, either blowing or sucking. Or at least IIRC, my Athlon XP heatsink came with fan already attatched.
Leave the fan as it is. As Blain says, some heatsinks blow, some suck.

 

[Buz2b]

Originally posted by: bluedeviltron
OK, well I just read on this other site that it is NOT required for the first time you install the CPU/heatsink/fan. They said something about a thermal pad already on it, and that I have to peel off some kind of thin film.

First off, if you are not sure about this process, you shouldn't be building a system. Please do some more research first. Second, the folks that you read saying the thermal paste wasn't required were, if not ill informed, akin to idiots. You MUST have a thermal interface material between the processor and the heatsink; Period! Yes, there is a thermal interface pad on the stock AMD retail heatsink. Yes, it can be used instead of thermal paste, if you must. However, you MUST remove the protective paper/plastic layer on that thermal pad BEFORE applying it to the processor (otherwise it does no good). Pic of that. NO, that thermal pad is not as good as a high quality thermal paste (like Arctic Silver). Yes, there are places you can go to get instructions on how to apply the paste--Go Here. NO, I would never trust the heart of my system to anything less than a good quality thermal paste. Especially when it only costs ~$5.99 on this site.
One last reminder for you though......you MUST first remove the thermal pad before using Arctic Silver or any other thermal interface material. That can be accomplished by using the edge of a plastic card (like a CC) and some alcohol on a clean rag.
Bottom line, you should use the paste, as others here have posted. You can use the thermal pad but when a better option is so easily and cheaply available, why bother?