Smudged Thermal Pad

[Nordic119]

I was just trying to install a retail 3800+ processor. While doing so, I accidentally smudged the center of the pad and removed a portion of the corner of the pad. I was hoping not to install Arctic Silver b/c I was under the impression it would void the warranty. Can anyone take a look at this picture and advise if I should install the processor anyway or just remove it & apply grease? Thanks!

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/8002/asdf002an5.th.jpg

[anticlutch]

How would applying Arctic Silver void your warranty? Stock thermal compounds generally aren't that good so just clean it off and put some AS5 on there :)

[Mussels]

that smudge aint so bad, as its not in the center. However yes, AS5 or AS ceramique would certainly provide better temps.

[ex_reven]

Putting different paste on wont void your warranty.
Putting NO paste on DOES, I think its comes under negligent use or something :)

[Nordic119]

Thanks guys. When putting on the AS5, the instructions say just put a small dab in the middle of the core heatspreader only. I've read other places where people spread out the grease over the heatspreader and then do the same with the heatsink & fan. Has anybody here done this, or should I just follow Arctic Silver's instructions? Thanks!

[Mussels]

if you spread it, you get an airtight seal and it makes it very hard to remove later - for example, you can pull the CPU clean out of the socket, it sticks to the heatsink!

If your heatsink can say, twist off, or slide off to the side then its ok, but what you really want is 90% of the heatspreader covered (Remember the CPU core is really only in the center) with the very corners clean. That way you get best cooling, with no removal problems later.

[ex_reven]

Thanks guys. When putting on the AS5, the instructions say just put a small dab in the middle of the core heatspreader only. I've read other places where people spread out the grease over the heatspreader and then do the same with the heatsink & fan. Has anybody here done this, or should I just follow Arctic Silver's instructions? Thanks!

Follow the instructions. The small dab is fine as it spreads out across the cpu when you apply a bit of pressure on the heatsink upon screwing it into the mobo on top of the cpu. That way you get a nice even coating of thermal interface material and you have less chance of getting hardened as5 crud on your board from it overflowing off the cpu.

If your not confident and think youve put on too little or too much you can always clean it off and start again, practice makes perfect :)

[TLH]

I think it's better to spread it out myself. If you don't put enough in a blob it won't get to the edges and if you put to much it could get messy. If you spread you can at least make sure it gets everywhere it should. Removing the heatsink with the normal supplied grease was rather easy I found, it just popped straight off after a quick sideways twist, although I have no idea for AS5.

[anticlutch]

If you spread it out, there is a good chance that there will be pockets of air between the thermal compound and the heatsink. As everyone knows, air = fail at cooling so that's why the rice grain sized dot in the center method is recommended.

[Mussels]

I think it's better to spread it out myself. If you don't put enough in a blob it won't get to the edges and if you put to much it could get messy. If you spread you can at least make sure it gets everywhere it should. Removing the heatsink with the normal supplied grease was rather easy I found, it just popped straight off after a quick sideways twist, although I have no idea for AS5.


AS5 has a stronger bond, because its made of smaller particles. I've had to straighten pins on about 5 939 CPU's so far, and its definately a real phenomenon - AM2's new retention bracket was actually designed so that the heatsink can slide to the side, and not just straight up!

TLH: spreading it only works for chips without a heatspreader. For those with a spreader, the corners are worthless - the actual CPU is only in the dead center.