The Freezer 64 retention plate (shown in step 3
http://www.arctic-cooling.com/downloads/installation/install_freezer64.pdf) frames the cpu and the thermal pad frames the opposite side. The mat portion of the plate (maybe 2/16 thick) PREVENTS contact between the cpu and the thermal pad. You guys are saying there MUST be contact so I took a hack saw blade and removed the mat portion of the retention plate. Now the retention plate frames the cpu with no mat (top of cpu now totally exposed) so the thermal pad now has 100% contact, sandwiched between the cpu and the copper plate of the cooler. I locked the cooler down, plugged it in, fired it back up again. Kept my hand above the cooler (cooler fan spinning) hoping to feel the cooler dissipate heat, my son entered setup to check temperature? 100+, 120+, 130+, 140+, 150+ shut down. No heat coming off the cooler.
Couple observations about the Freezer 64:
This model is for the Athlon 64 (up to 5000) I?m running a Athlon 64 3500 so according to their web site, it is correct for this cpu.
The included retention plate goes underneath the mounting plate requiring longer screws which they DO NOT include. I had to go running around finally finding them at the Home Depot.
They do not include instructions with the product. The installation instructions on their web site does not explain contact must be made between cpu and thermal pad, they do not explain the mat PREVENTING contact between the two.
Responding to the possibility of something on the thermal pad preventing heat transfer, I peeled the first layer off both sides of the pad. It shredded just like cardboard would, it wasn?t some kind of protection that should be peeled off to properly install the cooler.
Just to confirm, the thermal paste only goes between the cpu and pad, not between the pad and the copper mount of the cooler ? correct?
So in conclusion here, I?ve now got 100% contact between cpu and thermal pad, the cooler is properly clamped down, but results are negative. I think I?ll simply pick up a stock heat sink fan today from CompUSA or wherever I can find one and try that.