Question for AC Freezer 64 PRO Owners...

[GTaudiophile]

I got mine yesterday (CPU arrives Thursday).

Question: Did you remove the stock "heat grease" on the copper heatsink and replace it with AS5, or did you simply use the stock stuff? Or did you use the stock stuff plus AS5?

 

[RallyMaster]

never combine two thermal pastes. you will get detrimental results. i'm planning to use MX-1 when I get the Freezer tomorrow but then i will switch to AS5 after I get my Silencer. I will post results here to let you know.

 

[GTaudiophile]

So you will remove the stock stuff and use something else. I am tempted to do the same with AS5.

 

[RallyMaster]

Well, I will be getting a Silencer NV 5 as well. If testing shows that MX-1 outperforms the AS5 on my Freezer 64 Pro, then I will keep it for the Silencer. If not, I will switch the Silencer over to AS5.

 

[DieselPUmp]

I read somewhere on here that if you apply AS5 with the silencer, there is a gap somewhere between the unit and the card. Any truth to that?

 

[RallyMaster]

I think that's only with the Rev 1s. Rev 1s had the memory areas extruded out a bit. Rev 2 and 3 had a completely flat surface with memory pads. I'm betting if you screw the sink in enough, you'll be able to force those mem pads to become flatter and eventually you'll have contact between AS5 and heastink base.

http://www.nvnews.net/reviews/arctic_cooler_nv5_silencer/images/card02.jpg Rev 1
http://www.3dxtreme.net/images/reviews/ArcticCoolingNVSilencer5Rev3/IMG_1954.jpg Rev 3

couldn't find a Rev 2 image

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Arctic Cooling seems to think that their Freezer 64 Pro works best with their MX-1 paste, which is more expensive than the Arctic Silver or Ceramique, at least at SVC. I tend to believe Arctic Cooling since it's hard to think of a benefit that they'd receive from not using the best thermal interface; it's not like they would have to purchase Arctic Silver or Ceramique from Shin Etsu.

 

[DieselPUmp]

I installed the freezer with the mx-1 paste at first, but wasn't satisfised with the temps, so I cleaned it up and put a dab of AS5 and temps dropped 2-3 degrees.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

I ordered the Ceramique with my Freezer 64 Pro (along with all the other knick-knacks for this weekend's build). I'm not really planning to use it though; I just wanted to have something just in case I have to take the HSF off the CPU for some reason. Might also see what kinda crap was used as the thermal paste for my video card (Connect3d x800 GTO).

 

[GTaudiophile]

I mean, my question is, should I REMOVE the existing stuff that's on the copper HSF as it comes in the box and replace it with AS5, or simply leave it be?

 

[slatr]

I scraped mine with a credit card, cleaned with alcohol and applied AS5. I am sure the stock material would have been ok, but always was under the impression As5 was the best. Too late to test now, but I am happy.

Stock I went from about 125 F under load to 108-109 with the Pro on an Opteron 148 at 2860.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: slatr
I scraped mine with a credit card, cleaned with alcohol and applied AS5. I am sure the stock material would have been ok, but always was under the impression As5 was the best. Too late to test now, but I am happy.

Stock I went from about 125 F under load to 108-109 with the Pro on an Opteron 148 at 2860.

Okay. That's what I was thinking about doing.

 

[Ping to the Pong]

i would scrap off the exisitng pad, clean it up and use arctic silver 5.

Oh and for Rallymaster, here's a pic of the NV5 rev2: pic

 

[RallyMaster]

I don't think there is a need to reapply AS5. I'm full loading at 35C and idling at 27C. 35C load is a 10 degree drop from my stock sink. That's ownage for you.

Ping to the Pong: Aha...same sink as on the Rev 3.

 

[RallyMaster]

Retest:
Using NV's Bendy Logo Screensaver as a benchmark (full load on GPU and CPU for 30 minutes), I got up to 40C for a brief 5 seconds and then went back down to 39C. That's at full speed for both Freezer and 120 mm exhaust. Once I get a Silencer, I'm betting it will be cooler. The other factor that I find to be annoying is how much MX-1 paste AC put onto the heatsink. I honestly think that amount is excessive (compared to how much AS5 I put on the same chip and got 45C degrees at full load with a stock heatsink). This weekend (regardless of whether or not I get my Silencer, I will apply AS5 and then run my NV Logo Screensaver test again.

 

[DieselPUmp]

What way did you guys position your freezer pro?

I have mine facing the rear exhaust fan, but I'm seen some pics of ppl facing it towards the front of the case.

How did you guys mount it?

Thanks

 

[RallyMaster]

Facing rear exhaust fan here. Probably why I get so much turbulence and whining from the fan. Ack!

 

[DieselPUmp]

I was thinking the same thing.

I wonder if it would affect case temps for the worse if I faced it towards the front?

 

[RallyMaster]

well, you would have to turn the rear exhaust over to make that an intake. then you'll be cooling the RAM (if you have it in those areas) instead of the mosfets. i doubt you'll see much of an adverse effect but where would all that hot air go? of course, it won't have a way to get out so it will be stuck in the 5.25" bays

 

[imported_Sincity]

GT: Congrats. You will not be disappointed!

Kept and MX-1 and faced towards rear exhaust fan.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Gosh, guess I need to decide whether to go with that MX-1 pre-applied paste or clean it off and use Ceramique. Am I the only one who chose Ceramique over the Silver?

 

[slatr]

Blowing towards the back and the exhaust fan.

like on step 4

http://www.arctic-cooling.com/downloads/installation/install_freezer64_pro.pdf

 

[Dave Sz]

I'm gonna leave the mx-1 on as it's supposed to be better than as5 with this cooler. I did just order the 22g tub of ASC just in case.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

Originally posted by: Dave Sz
I'm gonna leave the mx-1 on as it's supposed to be better than as5 with this cooler. I did just order the 22g tub of ASC just in case.

Heh heh. That's why I ordered 2.5 g of Ceramique. I would prefer to use the MX-1 too. However, according to what people are reporting, the problem is that AC put too much on there. My understanding is that the thermal interface layer should be very very thin and not pad-like.

Maybe it would be possible to scrape the MX-1 off onto a clean surface, clean the bottom of the heatsink, and then reapply a small amount of it, spreading it evenly over the surface?

 

[Dave Sz]

Well, I went with AS5 instead. The little lever to tighten everything down ios very poorly constructed. When tightened, it isn't at a 90* to the board, it's sort of crooked, so it actually rests on the bottom few fins of the heatsink.