Is Thermal Compound necessary when installing a Processor chip to a Mobo???

[Thunderwind]

Is Thermal Compound necessary when installing a Processor chip to a Mobo???

I was reading the instructions for a new mobo and it doesn't mention it at all.

FYI, i am quite new to building PCs, my first in fact!

Thanks

[crazyman]

you don't put it between the chip and the mobo,

you need to put it between the chip and the heatsink that mounts on top of the chip(CPU).
read here,I like "Arctic Silver"

[Thunderwind]

Originally posted by
you don't put it between the chip and the mobo,

you need to put it between the chip and the heatsink that mounts on top of the chip(CPU).
read here,I like "Arctic Silver"

Ok, that is some good info.

My next question, is it necessary to use the thermal compound though? I am reading the instructions off of the Pentium 4 chip to install in the Mobo and it says nothing to this about it. Nor does the instructions on mobo.

Is thermal compound an option for better heat distribution, or is it manditory so as not to fry your parts???

Thanks for your help.

[crazyman]

yes,it is nessasary to put some kind of thermal compound between the chip die and the heatsink.
and I happen to think that "arctic Silver II or III" is the best,a $6 tube will last for like 20 times or more.

[Thunderwind]

Thank you so very much!!!!

[ilovetheusers]

One thing to note is that many if not most heatsink fans (HSF) are comming with a thermal compound built on to the fan already. They may have a black or white (or any color for that matter) pad where the HSF will be touching the CPU. If you are going to use arctic siler or another thermal paste you will need to scrape this pad off first. I personally just use this pad and do not do anything in addition to using it. Please note that there is a plastic "film" over the pad that will need to be removed before you stick it on the CPU.

Please note that besides arctic silver that the "white goo" thermal compound may not even help that much for heat transferrance. Also, be darn sure not to use too much. Too much is just as bad as too little. Too much will block the heat from being transferred or leak out the side when turned on, shorting things...

Advice before doing anything - read every manual you get before you use the part. Haste makes RMA's.

[Thunderwind]

You know, there is a black pad on the bottome of the HS!

I may just use that. I am sure that the thermal compound is better, but being it is my first PC, I may just use the pad!

I really dont want to funk this PC up any.

[NooNoo]

So its a retail intel proc with fan? Should be fine!

[Radical Dreamer]

Originally posted by NooNoo
So its a retail intel proc with fan? Should be fine!

Yup, intel overdoes the cooling. As for the pads, the only problem I have is with the intel ones, sometimes when you try to remove the heatsink, the whole CPU comes out with it

I never use HS compund unless I removed the HS and am putting it back on, or if the HS has no compound/pad to begin with

[Thunderwind]

Yep, it is fresh out of the box retail. Glad to hear what you all are saying, this will go smoother than I thought!

Thanks so much


Now I have to wait unitll my bud gets his case over to me, then i can begin. We were gona start yesterday, but he found that his "brand new" case was used. The front panel was all f'ed up and hot glued back together, the window in the case was all scratched up, a few other scratches and stuff. Needless to say, he is sending it back.

He got it from colorcases.com. I was hoping that was a good place, but so far I am pretty disappointed with them.