Quick New Computer Questions

[foolish_sagacity]

I've just finishing building my first computer. It was pretty intense making sure I did everything right and worrying about frying all my expensive parts. Now, it booted up fine, CPU temperature was around 35C. Real nice and cool overall, and stayed that way for minutes on end.

My question is this...I'm concerned because I foolishly added my own layer of thermal paste without realizing that the heat sink already had its own layer (discovered this when I picked it up from the table and it had left a sticky mark.) Should everything be okay if the core temperature was alright for 5 to 7 minutes straight?

Second, my computer is running VERY slowly as its installing windows. It was taking a long time to go to BIOs menus, and now on the windows vista installation it is hanging between screens for almost a minute at times. Is this because I didn't update my mobo drivers and BIOs? Or is it a sign of faultiness.

Any help will be greatly appreciated so I can stop worrying and enjoy this new computer more! b(^_^)b

 

[starams5]

Hi

You should not mix two different thermal compounds. What might be okay today might not be okay tomorrow. I would break it down and reapply just to be on the safe side.

 

[foolish_sagacity]

Alright, thanks for the info. I'll do that, pain that it is, shouldn't take too long. Any tips on cleaning it off? Also...is it normal for the computer to hang so often like it has been doing? It REALLY hangs so far, but I don't have windows done installing or any drivers installed either.

 

[starams5]

Everyone has there own way of doing it but try this.

Heatsink surface: Clean the old paste off. Use some ArtiClean (or Alcohol if you don't have any) to clean the surface. Use something that is link free like a coffee filter or pillow case. After it has been cleaned put very small amount of AS5 on the heatsink and rub it into the surface in a clockwise manner with your finger in a plastic bag, shake & bake bags work well, at this point you don't want anything on the heatsink (lint, hair, body oils). The purpose of the last step is to fill in any imperfections on the surface of the heatsink. Now take your coffee filter, pillow case, etc; and polish the surface. Don't press down to hard or you will remove the AS5 from the bad spots.

The CPU heat spreader can be cleaned with just ArtiClean or Alcohol. How you apply the paste depends on your CPU type. I know a C2D is the line method, x4 would be a spread. Very important that use the right method.

 

[foolish_sagacity]

Thanks a ton. I feel like an idiot for adding thermal paste I didn't need at all. On top of that, now I need to get the heatsink out and I can't seem to get the damn thing off the lugs. It was a pain putting it on, but WAY worse getting it off those things.

Oh well, nothing worthwhile is easy.

 

[starams5]

Don't feel like an idiot. This one guy from another site wiped off the factory paste and didn't use any at all. His complaint was computer shutting after approx 30 secs. He couldn't find the paste that came with the heatsink but he was able to produce some Silica gel from the box. Take care and good luck.