Bonding the CPU to heatsink

jive01

Distinguished
Oct 22, 2008
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Hello Folks,

I just got the Intel Q9550, and it comes with a fan and heatsink, but not bonding material (like arctic fox). Do I need to bond this CPU? Sorry if my question
seems ignoramous, but I really want to get this right.

Thanks for any help.
 

NMDante

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Oct 5, 2002
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If it is stock Intel heatsink, it should have a grey pad on the bottom of the heatsink. That is the thermal compound. You can use it, if you don't have any thermal paste around.

If you do have thermal paste, and want to use that, instead of grey pad, make sure you clean off grey thermal pad off heatsink.
 
The grey pad NMDante mentioned should look something like this:
intelC2Dstock_bot.jpg