HSF installation HELP!

[girlnamedlou]

Newbie here. I'm in the middle of building my first system, and have a question. While installing my new HSF, some of the thermal tape seemed to "come off" onto the die while I was trying to figure out the right way to put the thing on. I just left it, got it on correctly, but now am worried that this might prevent the unit from cooling properly!

Any suggestions? Can I clean it off somehow? Should I not worry about it??

I've got an ASUS A7V333 mobo, AMD Athlon XP 2000, and a Volcano 7 HSF.

Arg...
Thank you!

 

[Black_Cat]

I just got a chill. My last girlfriend was named Lou. Mary Lou to be exact but we all called her Lou.

Anyhow, you're probably okay with it the way it is. The easiest way to find out is to check the temperatures with Anus Probe or more accurately in the BIOS. If you're in the 50's C it's running a bit hot. 60 C is usually the crash point. However, to be safe I would scrape off the remaining tape from the heatsink and carefully clean the die with rubbing alcohol and a Q-tip. I use brake cleaner to thoroughly clean the heatsink. I then use steel wool to lightly polish the heatsink and use brake cleaner again to give it another cleaning. I would get a quality thermal compound like Arctic Silver III and apply it as per instructions:
<A HREF="http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm" target="_new">http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm</A>

To start press any key. Where's the "any" key? --Homer Simpson.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

It should be fine.
thermal pads are designed to melt into place the first time you power on the PC, forming a good contact between cpu core and the heatsink.
thats the most important thing. good contact between the two.

what CAN be dangerous is removing the heatsink and putting it back on without replacing the thermal pad. as the pad has allready been melted into shape, missalignment may mean that your not getting proper cpu-heatsink contact.
so if you do want to remove the heatsink, thoroughly remove the thermal pad and apply a small amount of thermal grease to the cpu core.

<b>"True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth."</b>

 

[girlnamedlou]

Okay...since I haven't powered it on yet...I'm going to cross my fingers and pray that it all works out and "melts" as it's sposed to.

Thanks for your replies...and sorry 'bout your "chill". It's Cindy-Lou...yes...like the Who.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

if the pad is located ontop the central 'core' of the cpu then yes, it should work.

<b>"True communication is possible only between equals, because inferiors are consistently rewarded for telling their superiors pleasant lies than for telling the truth."</b>

 

[eden]

Woa, another woman since the last one we had (and literally ate her). That's cool!

--
What made you choose your THG Community username/nickname? <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=19957#19957" target="_new">Tell here!</A>

 

[girlnamedlou]

Well...all worked out just fine. This system flies! Thank you! And since the last female suffered such a horrible fate, I'll be keeping my eye on you guys...

Till we meet again, or I hose something up...

 

[buddry]

Just beware of a guy called wingding, and you should be safe.

<font color=blue>Unofficial Forum Cop</font color=blue>

 

[girlnamedlou]

thanks for the tip...

 

[eden]

That only applies if you are to venture into the depths of the OTHERs forum, where the abyss seems to be a surface.

--
What made you choose your THG Community username/nickname? <A HREF="http://forumz.tomshardware.com/community/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=19957#19957" target="_new">Tell here!</A>

 

[letdown]

The easiest way to find out is to check the temperatures with Anus Probe

I surely hope that was a typo...

 

[Black_Cat]

They might as well call it Anus Probe. It's not very good. I hear a lot of complaints about misread temperatures.

To start press any key. Where's the "any" key? --Homer Simpson.

 

[lhgpoobaa]

i have allready copyrighted calling it 'anal probe'

<b>I am an Emotional and Intellectual Strumpet! </b>

 

[morganwill]

Freudian slip for sweet litttle Cindy LOU!!!