Proccessor/Cooler

Stokey · 08-29-2009, 08:02 AM

I've just installed my Processor into my motherboard and i've attached the cooler but there was no thermal paste with the processor, does this mean that the cooler already had thermal paste on?

Also, i cant seem to get the final hindgeof the cooler down, how secure do you think it'll be with only 3 and a bit? The diagram tells me i've to just push down untill it clicks but whenever i push down the last one it clicks then clicks off.

**grimx133** · 08-29-2009, 09:18 AM

All four legs need to be secure. The heatsink has to be rock solid. There would of been thermal pad on the heatsink base, three dark grey strips.

Stokey · 08-29-2009, 09:31 AM

So i dont require thermal paste because of those pads?

**wrench97** · 08-29-2009, 01:41 PM

That's correct, but all the legs need to be tight, if you have removed the cooler after the first install then you will need to clean the thermal pads off and use paste.

Stokey · 08-29-2009, 08:00 PM

Its all ok i think, i've managed to set it all up. Thanks for feedback.

Finished building it earlier today, seems to work fine although i havent done the bios or installed an OS yet.

**wrench97** · 08-30-2009, 02:43 AM

You can check the temps in the Bios on the PC Health page.

Stokey · 08-30-2009, 07:03 AM

I've just went into PC Health page and its telling me that the System Temp = 42oC and the CPU Temp is 56oC.

Is that too hot?

**Tyree** · 08-30-2009, 07:09 AM

Yes that is too hot. Here's a good guide for installing Intel CPU coolers.: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...15&cid=19&pg=6

Stokey · 08-30-2009, 07:16 AM

Damn, so i guess i'll have to do the thermal paste again. Can i just apply new paste or will i have to remove it somehow?

**Tyree** · 08-30-2009, 07:35 AM

Remove the old paste thoroughly with the strongest Alcohol (usually about 90%)you can find.

**grimx133** · 08-30-2009, 07:37 AM

Remove it. High purity isopropyl alcohol, 90% or better, can get it at a pharmacy or Walmart etc. Arctic Silver sells a two stage cleaner, but alcohol works just as good. I use the ArctiClean, but since you want something soon, just get some alcohol, if you don't already have some. The 70% stuff has too many impurities and that can make a difference. Use a paper coffee filter or some real good paper towel that doesn't shed fibers.

Less is better when it comes to thermal paste. You need to have enough, but too much can be as bad as none, the paste becomes an insulator if it's too thick. I do it as thin as I can, while still covering the top of the cpu.

Stokey · 08-30-2009, 04:39 PM

Thanks for the quick detailed reply. I've got some thermal paste remover so i'm all set for reapplying the thermal paste 2morrow.

I was just wondering if the processor required the same amount of thermal paste as the thermal pads used. As in, the thermal pads just placed a circle shaped layer of thermal paste in the center, does the processor not require to be completely covered by thermal paste?

**wrench97** · 08-30-2009, 05:06 PM

Instructions> http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm

Stokey · 08-30-2009, 05:44 PM

Thanks, very handy :D

Stokey · 09-01-2009, 06:00 PM

I've redone the paste about 5 hours ago and i've just put it onto bios and the pc health status says my System Temp = 42oC and my CPU Temp = 42oC. Are these acceptable levels of heat?

**grimx133** · 09-01-2009, 07:50 PM

Yep, lower is always nicer, but those are certainly in the normal range, shouldn't be any problems.

Stokey · 09-01-2009, 08:02 PM

Great stuff!
Just got my OS installed and everything is running GREAT!

Almost had a bad moment when it said that my graphics had a rating of 1...but i forgot i had to install the drivers :P

Thanks for all the help guys :D

**grimx133** · 09-02-2009, 01:43 AM

Good to hear, and you're welcome. Some thermal pastes have a curing time, AS5 is 200 hours of use with at least three shutdowns where it's allowed to cool to room temperature. Others say they have no curing period, so you may have a further drop in temp in a week or two, just a few degrees, though that can vary somewhat.

08-29-2009, 08:02 AM	#1 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Proccessor/Cooler I've just installed my Processor into my motherboard and i've attached the cooler but there was no thermal paste with the processor, does this mean that the cooler already had thermal paste on? Also, i cant seem to get the final hindgeof the cooler down, how secure do you think it'll be with only 3 and a bit? The diagram tells me i've to just push down untill it clicks but whenever i push down the last one it clicks then clicks off.

08-29-2009, 09:18 AM	#2 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler All four legs need to be secure. The heatsink has to be rock solid. There would of been thermal pad on the heatsink base, three dark grey strips. __________________

08-29-2009, 09:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler So i dont require thermal paste because of those pads?

08-29-2009, 01:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,650 OS: Win7	Re: Proccessor/Cooler That's correct, but all the legs need to be tight, if you have removed the cooler after the first install then you will need to clean the thermal pads off and use paste. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-29-2009, 08:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Its all ok i think, i've managed to set it all up. Thanks for feedback. Finished building it earlier today, seems to work fine although i havent done the bios or installed an OS yet.

08-30-2009, 02:43 AM	#6 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,650 OS: Win7	Re: Proccessor/Cooler You can check the temps in the Bios on the PC Health page. __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-30-2009, 07:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler I've just went into PC Health page and its telling me that the System Temp = 42oC and the CPU Temp is 56oC. Is that too hot? Last edited by Stokey; 08-30-2009 at 07:09 AM.

08-30-2009, 07:09 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,686 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Yes that is too hot. Here's a good guide for installing Intel CPU coolers.: http://www.hardwarezone.com/articles...15&cid=19&pg=6 __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

08-30-2009, 07:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Damn, so i guess i'll have to do the thermal paste again. Can i just apply new paste or will i have to remove it somehow?

08-30-2009, 07:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Tyree Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2009 Location: Illinois Posts: 5,686 OS: XP Pro-7RC-Mandriva My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Remove the old paste thoroughly with the strongest Alcohol (usually about 90%)you can find. __________________ Posting your PC specs will help us to help you quicker and more efficiently.

08-30-2009, 07:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Remove it. High purity isopropyl alcohol, 90% or better, can get it at a pharmacy or Walmart etc. Arctic Silver sells a two stage cleaner, but alcohol works just as good. I use the ArctiClean, but since you want something soon, just get some alcohol, if you don't already have some. The 70% stuff has too many impurities and that can make a difference. Use a paper coffee filter or some real good paper towel that doesn't shed fibers. Less is better when it comes to thermal paste. You need to have enough, but too much can be as bad as none, the paste becomes an insulator if it's too thick. I do it as thin as I can, while still covering the top of the cpu. __________________

08-30-2009, 04:39 PM	#12 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Thanks for the quick detailed reply. I've got some thermal paste remover so i'm all set for reapplying the thermal paste 2morrow. I was just wondering if the processor required the same amount of thermal paste as the thermal pads used. As in, the thermal pads just placed a circle shaped layer of thermal paste in the center, does the processor not require to be completely covered by thermal paste?

08-30-2009, 05:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
wrench97 Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Pennsylvania Posts: 18,650 OS: Win7	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Instructions> http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_s...structions.htm __________________ Power Supply and Selection

08-30-2009, 05:44 PM	#14 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Thanks, very handy :D

09-01-2009, 06:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler I've redone the paste about 5 hours ago and i've just put it onto bios and the pc health status says my System Temp = 42oC and my CPU Temp = 42oC. Are these acceptable levels of heat?

09-01-2009, 07:50 PM	#16 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Yep, lower is always nicer, but those are certainly in the normal range, shouldn't be any problems. __________________

09-01-2009, 08:02 PM	#17 (permalink)
Stokey Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 50 OS: Vista	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Great stuff! Just got my OS installed and everything is running GREAT! Almost had a bad moment when it said that my graphics had a rating of 1...but i forgot i had to install the drivers :P Thanks for all the help guys :D

09-02-2009, 01:43 AM	#18 (permalink)
grimx133 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Canada eh Posts: 3,151 OS: xp mce sp2, xp pro sp2, windows 7 beta My System	Re: Proccessor/Cooler Good to hear, and you're welcome. Some thermal pastes have a curing time, AS5 is 200 hours of use with at least three shutdowns where it's allowed to cool to room temperature. Others say they have no curing period, so you may have a further drop in temp in a week or two, just a few degrees, though that can vary somewhat. __________________