Question about P4's and arctic silver

[Azwethinkweiz]

I just recently purchased a P4 processor and was wondering if it was worth it to get rid of the pad on the heatsink and replace it with arctic silver. I have some old arctic silver II which I used on my old athlon system when I built it a couple years ago. The reason I ask is because I plan on overclocking and unlike the old athlons which ran really hot while at stock speeds, let alone overclocked, the P4s run a little cooler. So I just wanted to know if it was worth the hassle to add the arctic silver, or if I'd have no problem overclocking with the stock cooling solution.

 

[The_Lurker]

Well you'd probably have no problem overclocking with the stock, although at some point if you want to reseat the heatsink, you'll have to replace the paste anyways, and at that point, the stupid thermal pad may be kinda super melded to your P4 and Heatsink. So personally i'd recommend you put on some Artic Silver anyways, one it'll keep your CPU cooler, and two when it comes to reseating your heatsink, well you won't have to worry about it sticking the heatsink and your CPU togther.

 

[Goatsan]

to put it lightly, thermal pads suck, you will notice a temp rop using artic silver

 

[beatle]

Remove the stock thermal pad and use the AS2. I would look into replacing the AS2 soon, as mine would "fail" in a few months.