Plastic thermal pad on heatsink

[enngee]

Most of the heatsinks come with a thermal pad (square thing) with plastic on it, on their bottom (where they attach to CPU). The instructions say that remove the plastic on the pad, but leave the pad in place. The instructions also don't talk about applying any thermal paste while on the boards everybody is talking about arctic silver. So, I am confused as to what is the best procedure to keep the CPU cool.

Should I remove the thermal pad along with plastic? If so, what is best procedure so that I don't damage the bottom of the heatsink?

Please advise.
Thanks.

 

[psykoikonov]

Either use the Pad as per instructions OR use thermal paste, not both. IMO the pad sux, thermal paste is WAY better. If you do remove the pad for paste make sure to completely remove any residue with isopropyl alcohol on both CPU and HS.

<A HREF="http://forums.btvillarin.com/index.php?act=ST&f=41&t=421&s=205efc501496823a64ba7fbd37152ff2" target="_new">Psyko's Rig</A>

 

[Teq]

Ok, here's the straight and skinny...

The thermal pads work OK... but just ok, no better.

The problem with them is the adhesive used to hold them to the heat sink. It's like the sticky side of scotch tape, has thickness, remains between the heatsink and cpu and has <i>lousy</i> thermal characteristics. Add to this that when you first install a heatsink with the thermal pad, there will be a few seconds in which the stuff actually insulates, the CPU gets hot enough to melt the pad and seat itself against the heatsink for the pads to work. An AMD CPU has about 5 seconds to live without a heatsink... not a risk I like taking.

I always remove them and use heat sink grease instead.

The argument between Arctic Silver and everyone else is all about one or two degrees. Given the cost of the stuff, it's better, but not a whole raving lot better, as some people claim. In my opinion the minor difference is not worth the expense and, in my area, that stuff is expeeeennnnnsssssivvvvve.

Any heatsink grease is going to perform well enough and they will all outperform those idiotic rubber pads.

I strongly suggest removing the rubber pads with a plastic scraper (the edge of a credit card works great) and then cleaning both hetsink and CPU with isopropal (rubbing) alcohol, hospital clean, before applying grease and installing the heatsink.

If you want instructions for the proper application of thermal grease, you can find them here:
<A HREF="http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm" target="_new">http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm</A>
(use the same method no matter what grease you use)



--->It ain't better if it don't work<---

 

[Helpmostimes]

One other note..If you leave the Heatsink in place for a period of time,Its like glue.You will have to be carefull when removeing the Heatsink or you will take the top of the core off.As I have experienced. I just use regular Thermal Grease and good cooling and im fine. My good cooling is a Modified GlobalWin CAK II 38 which i did myself. Its just a thought.....

 

[lhgpoobaa]

A pad is the simple way to ensure thermal contact. Its cheap and cheerful and doesnt require application. it is also a ONCE ONLY APPLICATION.

if you remove the heatsink once you have powered on the system once it has to be removed and thermal paste used.

<b><i>Poloticians and Nappies should be changed often... For much the same reason.</b></i>