Copper heatsink

[Patchworkblue]

I finally received my new hs/fan in the mail, a Thermaltake Volcano 11 Xaser Edition w/copper heatsink. I have some questions to ask before I install my new heatsink.
1. The fins seem incredibly thin (compared to my old aluminum heatsinks.) Is thinner better?
2. Is it bad to touch the heatsink? I already accidentally touched the part that will adhere to the CPU; what can I use to clean it off?
3. I've heard that using Artic Silver will void my CPU's warranty. (Barton 2500) Is this true? Is Arctic Silver the best compound to use?
4. The fan is currently oriented so that it is blowing down into the heatsink - this is the correct way, right?

I would also appreciate any other info any of you have on the supject. Thanks for your time.

Women--can't live with them, can't have heterosexual same-species intercourse without them.

 

[c0d1f1ed]

1. No, thinner is not neccesarily better as it conducts slightly less heat. But more fins is certainly better, and for that you need thinner fins. Copper conducts heat very well anyway. Keeping the fins thin also allows more airflow.
2. Just use some toilet paper. If you're really extreme you can use some pure alcohol or other product that evaporates and leaves no residue.
3. Don't know if it will void your warranty. But I assume you intend to overclock so that voids it anyway. Artic Silver certainly is excellent.
4. Most fans blow onto the heatsink, yes. But I know one cooler from Zalman that sucks air away and blows it toward a case opening or fan so the heat doesn't stay in the case. Sucking is also better for noise because there's less turbulence around the heatsink fins.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

If you touch the middle bit where the cpu will rest, just use a lint free cloth and some rubbing alcohol or metho to clean it off.

Leave the fan the way it is. works best that way.

The thinner the fin the less heat it conducts yes, but you then have more fins with more surface area. Course if you have too many fins they become too tightly packed and airflow suffers, so there is a balance.

And yes. Using arctic silver is fin.
Use a VERY SMALL amount. half a grain of rice. All it has to do is fill the microscopic gaps between the cpu core and the heatsink.

<b>I am not a AMD fanboy.
I am not a Via fanboy.
I am not a ATI fanboy.
I AM a performance fanboy.
And a low price fanboy.
Regards,
Mr no integrity coward.</b>

 

[DOHCrazy]

installing a different heatink voids your warranty. so use the Artic Silver!

AMD Barton 2500+ @ 3200+ speeds
A7N8X Deluxe
Corsair Matched 256x2 PC3200 w/ Platinum Heat Spreaders
ATI Radeon 9600pro
Thermaltake X3
Western Digital 80 gig 7200 HD