Question Silicon grease on CPU

[Dxvid0880]

Okay so, I've seen an old thread saying using silicon grease instead of thermal paste was possible if low tdp. The question is, do I apply as much silicon grease as I would apply thermal paste, or do I put more?

Thanks

 

[Darkbreeze]

In a pinch, when I have run out of TIM, I have scraped the existing TIM from an old unused stock cooler, and it worked great.

In a pinch, yes, I'd agree, so long as it is still somewhat malleable. If it's hard or dry to the point it has "cracks" in it, no good. Unfortunately, most users don't have spare or junk systems sitting around like we do. LOL.

 

[CountMike]

Some tried even mayoneze and chocolate but bare surfaces showed to be better. I imagine it smelled good though.

 

[Darkbreeze]

I mentioned mayo. Nobody bit on it.

 

[aldan]

jeezus,after all the discussion on this you would have figured your "real heatsink compound"would have arrived.ive never seen so much debate on a subject that only had one answer.Patience.lol

 

[mitch074]

Toothpaste (the low-cost, pure white version) has been tested by others as good in a pinch for a limited time. Anything else that is water based or oil based should be avoided at all cost (water corrodes and evaporates, oil can attack some alloys and compounds). Or just be patient.
You could also see if there's a computer store near your place and get your fix right away.

 

[CountMike]

Toothpaste (the low-cost, pure white version) has been tested by others as good in a pinch for a limited time. Anything else that is water based or oil based should be avoided at all cost (water corrodes and evaporates, oil can attack some alloys and compounds). Or just be patient.
You could also see if there's a computer store near your place and get your fix right away.

To say nothing about things like that cementing cooler to CPU. I have seen one use crazy glue as his cooler mount broke off.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Nah, i ran toothpaste on a laptop for a year. The cooler came off easily and with a bit of alcohol and elbow grease the toothpaste came off.

 

[Darkbreeze]

You could probably just as well have run it with nothing between the heat spreader and heatsink for a year and had the same or similar temps anyhow. The heat still transfers without a medium AND if the heat spreader and heatsink base were COMPLETELY flat, and non-porous, there would be no need for thermal compound at all. It just doesn't transfer AS well because they are NOT totally flat (Even with non-machined lapping) and they are porous to some degree or other.

 

[NightHawkRMX]

You could probably just as well have run it with nothing between the heat spreader and heatsink for a year and had the same or similar temps anyhow. The heat still transfers without a medium AND if the heat spreader and heatsink base were COMPLETELY flat, and non-porous, there would be no need for thermal compound at all. It just doesn't transfer AS well because they are NOT totally flat (Even with non-machined lapping) and they are porous to some degree or other.

On a 7w CPU, probably. The CPU had a thermal pad originally. It has the weakest 4 core i have ever seen.

 

[InvalidError]

TIM is not only a silicone or other type of grease, it's just media to hold very. very fine metal, ceramic or other compound micro particles in suspension. Those are the ones that actually conduct heat, not "grease". That's similar to metallic particles in brake pads, same function, providing heat passage to cool better.

Pretty much. Silicone oil is a horrible thermal conductor (less than 0.2W/K), the silicone oil is there mainly to facilitate application, the fine filler particles (with thermal conductivity typically above 10W/K, 50X better than the oil) are what do the bulk of actual heat transfer.

 

[Darkbreeze]

Exactly what I said earlier in this thread. Without the added compounds, silicon oil or grease are not good conductors. They have their uses, but heat transfer isn't one of them.

 

[Karadjgne]

Many of us said that, much earlier, right about the time toothpaste (and denture cream) were first brought up lol. Wonder if op got his cooler yet.

 

[bmacsys]

Mayonnaise works a lot better. Plus, when you're ready to change it you can just lick it off. 🙄

Does Mayonnaise Last as a Thermal Compound? | Hardware Secrets

www.hardwaresecrets.com

How about mustard? Relish perhaps?

 

[bmacsys]

In a pinch, when I have run out of TIM, I have scraped the existing TIM from an old unused stock cooler, and it worked great.

This I would do. Food condiments not so much lol!

 

[NightHawkRMX]

Nah, water works the best. That's why water coolers are soo amazing.
(dont actually do this)

 

[Darkbreeze]

No, water won't work. It's too wet. Check the news, it says so right there.

And on that note I think this horse has been beaten to death enough already. I'm closing it, if the OP wants to continue on they can PM me.