Do you prefer thermal pads or grease?

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pcbuilder98

Which do you prefer to use between heatsink and CPU, thermal pad or thermal
grease? I can't remember now, do thermal pads glue themselves to the CPU? I
have a vague memory (maybe mistakenly) of having to use solvent and scrape
off the remains of a pad from a CPU after removing the HS. I'm installing a
HS with a pad on it. What do you think, should I remove the pad and use
grease or just go with the pad? Any suggestions? I hate these big decisions.
 
Which do you prefer to use between heatsink and CPU, thermal pad or thermal
grease? I can't remember now, do thermal pads glue themselves to the CPU? I
have a vague memory (maybe mistakenly) of having to use solvent and scrape
off the remains of a pad from a CPU after removing the HS. I'm installing a
HS with a pad on it. What do you think, should I remove the pad and use
grease or just go with the pad? Any suggestions? I hate these big decisions.
Click to expand...

Generally, the consensus is Arctic Silver compound is better than either
pads or grease. Pads are preferred by suppliers because they don't get
lost, are less messy, stay in the proper place, and are generally a
little more fool-proof for idiots who don't know how to use grease or
silver-laden goop.

However, lusers *still* goof up with pads quite often.
The commonest way is not removing the cover to the pads as instructed.
;-{

Silver compound has higher heat-conductivity, is thinner (and thus makes
better contact) but is considerably more messy than pads. White goop is
better heat-wise than pads; but not as good as silver; and probably
twice as messy; but is definitely the cheapest. The difference between
white goop and silver is *small*; but if you're fighting for every
degree, then worth the three times or greater price. Small anyway,
considering the price of what it's protecting. One dinky tube will
probably do for about ten or more CPU installations.

All just my opinion, of course; but I doubt I'll get much static or
difference of opinion from those here who replace CPUs all the time.
 
pcbuilder98 said:
Which do you prefer to use between heatsink and CPU, thermal pad or
thermal grease? I can't remember now, do thermal pads glue themselves
to the CPU? I have a vague memory (maybe mistakenly) of having to use
solvent and scrape off the remains of a pad from a CPU after
Click to expand...


Yes, thermal pads melt making a bit of a mess. I scrape it off with a credit
card then clean up the remainder with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Wes Newell mentioned using axle grease in place of thermal paste. I first
tried it with a 1.4GHz T-Bird which was known to run very hot. More than two
years later I decided to replace the fan which was starting to make noise.
Close inspection showed very little discoloration and no evidence of flowing
from the die.

I still use Arctic Silver products but I'm perfectly content to use a
semi-thick automotive grade grease.

removing the HS. I'm installing a HS with a pad on it. What do you
think, should I remove the pad and use grease or just go with the
pad? Any suggestions? I hate these big decisions.
Click to expand...

Use one or the other but never both. If you use paste you should be able to
read the writing on the heat spreader.
 
HS with a pad on it. What do you think, should I remove the pad and use
grease or just go with the pad? Any suggestions? I hate these big decisions.
Click to expand...

grease... easier to be removed and cheaper overall.

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Frank McCoy said:
decisions.

Generally, the consensus is Arctic Silver compound is better than either
pads or grease. Pads are preferred by suppliers because they don't get
lost, are less messy, stay in the proper place, and are generally a
little more fool-proof for idiots who don't know how to use grease or
silver-laden goop.

However, lusers *still* goof up with pads quite often.
The commonest way is not removing the cover to the pads as instructed.
;-{
Click to expand...

Instructions? I didn't get no stinking instructions. Don't recall ever
removing any covers eithier. I guess that puts me dangerously close to the
luser catagory. YIKES, maybe I'm not the hot shit rocket scientist I thought
I was! After reading this I removed the clear plastic shield on the bottom
of the CK8-8JD2B-0L I just recieved. I touched it lightly and gray matter
came off on my finger. UGH I grunted. I wondered, is this a pad or thermal
grease or some infernal cross between the two? What do you think?
Thanks
pcbuilder98
 
pcbuilder98 said:
Instructions? I didn't get no stinking instructions. Don't recall ever
Click to expand...

I didn't get no stinking instructions, mang.

the bottom of the CK8-8JD2B-0L I just recieved. I touched it lightly and
gray matter came off on my finger. UGH I grunted. I wondered, is this a
pad or thermal grease or some infernal cross between the two? What do you
think? Thanks
Click to expand...

The grey stuff is a thermal pad. I'd scrape it off and use paste at this
point.
 
Brett Kline said:
Yes, thermal pads melt making a bit of a mess. I scrape it off with a credit
card then clean up the remainder with 99% isopropyl alcohol.

Wes Newell mentioned using axle grease in place of thermal paste. I first
tried it with a 1.4GHz T-Bird which was known to run very hot. More than two
years later I decided to replace the fan which was starting to make noise.
Close inspection showed very little discoloration and no evidence of flowing
from the die.

I still use Arctic Silver products but I'm perfectly content to use a
semi-thick automotive grade grease.



Use one or the other but never both. If you use paste you should be able to
read the writing on the heat spreader.
Click to expand...

Didn't plan on using both. No shit, axel grease works! I would have never
guessed.
Thanks
pcbuilder98
 
pcbuilder98 said:
Didn't plan on using both. No shit, axel grease works! I would have never
guessed.
Thanks
pcbuilder98
Click to expand...
Were I to try axle grease it would be molybdenum. I've used it in CV joints.
It's high speed (rmp not clock cycles) and high temp.
 
davy said:
Grease, because the CPU runs that couple of degrees cooler, plus the
fact the grease gets into all the uneven surfaces thus increasing the
contact area...

..where as the pads they tend to 'sit on top' of the uneven surfaces
rather than fill them, if you look at the mating surfaces under a
microscope they'll be full of craters so so to speak.

Avoid the bog standard white stuff you see in amplifiers and TVs etc...
no good for CPU usage, use Arctic Silver or equivalent. And you only
need the slightest of smears to cover the surface... use too much and
your defeating the object.

davy
Click to expand...
Thanks for the input. I have used the white stuff myself on large high power
transistors in a manufacturing environment with success (not recently
though). Having said that maybe not all white stuff the same. Some may be
closer to mayonnaise that thermal grease. IIRC it does solidify and requires
effort to remove.
pcbuilder98
 
pcbuilder98 said:
Didn't plan on using both. No shit, axel grease works! I would have never
guessed.
Thanks
pcbuilder98
Click to expand...
Someone here, I think it was Phil W. used peanut butter and it worked
fine........:-). Probably got a bit rank after awhile, but worked...........


Ed
 
Ed Medlin said:
Someone here, I think it was Phil W. used peanut butter and it worked
fine........:-). Probably got a bit rank after awhile, but
worked...........


Ed
Click to expand...

I built a machine for my ex wife and used cat poop.
 
Not sure if one provides a major advantage over the other. My AMD 3200 with
the stock HSF and pad/wax, kept the CPU to about 38c.

My AMD 4800, with a large Zalman fan and Artic Silver, keeps it cool to
about 35 to 38c.

-g
 
Pads these days..........
much faster and I have not seen a difference in heat between two properly installed CPU/HS
that utilize either of the techs.
 
He he he he, riiiiiiiiight! Just sign up and create your own
user/password. It don't cost nothin' and they don't ask for any
personal info.
 
I dunno, ask them. If you're afraid to sign up and give them a
throw-away email addy, then you can miss out on the info!
 
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