Hi, I just got my last (final) part for my pc building project Got the heatsink and processor today, but just have a few questions on them.

1. What is the silicon compound gel (?) used for and do I need it? It's in a small package that came with the heatsink.

2. For the heatsink, I just peal that plastic cover on the bottom and mount it on the processor on the motherboard right?

3. Does it really matter what heatsink I got for my processor (AMD Athlon 2600)? I just read on the box that it recommends XP2400+, XP2700+ and XP3200+

This is my first time building a computer but I shouldn't have any problems with it. Just had those two curious questions once I opened the package

More info (just in case it's needed) - I bought the AMD Athlon 2600 and the heatsink is copper based...

Thanks.

First of all YES you do need some sort of layer between the heatsink & CPU.

One of the problems with transferring the heat between the processor and the heatsink has to do with the thermal interface. Neither the heatsink nor the processor has a completely smooth surface. This introduces air pockets that exist between the two materials and air has a very high thermal resistance or a poor heat conductor. Many modern double paned windows use this fact of air's poor heat conductivity as an insulator, but that is the opposite effect you want to happen with computer components. To help alleviate this problem, thermal compounds are used to fill in the gaps between the two surfaces. There are 4 types of thermal compounds used: thermal tape, thermal pads, thermal grease and thermal epoxy.

Sounds like your heatsink has a pad already applied to it. If so all you have to do is install it atop the processor.

Heatsinks vary depending on a few factors including airflow and mounting holes so yea it does matter which one you have. You obviously want one that will properly install onto the motherboard and supply sufficient cooling. Especially if you plan to overclock.

I doubt that the heatsink already has thermal pad installed, otherwise it wouldn't come with a bag of heatsink compound.

Here ( http://www.heatsink-guide.com/content.php?...=compound.shtml )is a guide how to apply it, tough I have 2 small remarks.
1) Arctic Silver is very conductive, don't spill it on the pins or you'll kill the cpu (don't worry, you have to do strange thing to get the stuff there).
2) Don't use your finger to spread the thermal compound, best is to use something like a credit card and remember, the layer has to be THIN.

3. Doesn't matter, the recommandation is just to say what the highest graded cpu (w/ highest heat output) the cooler can handle.

There is also this little thing you have to remember, be carefull not to crack your core. Never apply pressure when the heatsink it resting on a corner of the core. Keep the heatsink base flat on the cpu.

On other tip, use a screwdriver that is wide enough, I've killed a mobo because the screwdrivers slipped out of the handle

Thanks for the replies.

I'm not sure if it has a pad. It's a thin piece of blue plastic on the bottom of the heatsink. Should I just peal that plastic off? This is my first time so I'm not sure if it's a pad or not...

It did come with the silicon compound though. It shouldn't matter if I spread it too wide on the heatsink right (doesn't have to be exact to fit processor)? I will use some plastic (maybe the one I will peal off) to apply the heatsink. Don't think any hard object will spread it well and thinly...

Still didn't find time to build this thing yet, but will soon.

Screwdrivers? You mean for prying the heatsink out if needed right? I know I had to use a flathead on my job whenever I had to change the motherboard (pry the metal locking for the heatsink).

I'll explain how we do it at the PC Repair shop I work at. I'm not very technical smart, mostly a mindless worker, but I'll give you my advice anyways. If it has a conductive pad on it's probably easiest to use it. If not, squirt a small amount of the conductor onto the processor, probably a little bigger than a match head. Place the heatsink on top, and fit the mounts into the mainboard holes but do not screw in/press down. Wiggle the sink around a bit to spread the gel out. Remove, take a look, and then put the heatsink in place.

It may not necessarily be covering the whole processor. Any other questions, post back.

Thanks derouge...that sure cleared one of the questions. It wouldn't overheat or anything is I just cover the center area of the processor right? It should still spread pretty evenly?

I'm not sure if it's a "pad" or not. It's a very thin, transparent blue sheet. Is that just to protect the bottom of the heatsink or is that the actual "pad"? I can peel it easily so I think it might just be a protective sheet for it. I can upload a image of the heatsink if needed...

This is what a thermal pad on a HS could look like:
http://www.hadmilk.com/ebay/tpnew.jpg
http://www.cheapcomputersandparts.com/Imag...-ThermalPad.jpg
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/sidewinderc...s/shinetsu3.jpg
http://www.madshrimps.be/articles/Heatsink...n-jmke-9409.jpg

If it's just a protective sheet, then there's nothing on the base and you'll only see copper (or alu).
This is what it'll look like when it's just a protective sheet
http://www.ap0calypse.com/MaDDN3ss/kamakaze/kaze10.jpg
http://bigbruin.com/reviews/silent2l/image...lip%20large.jpg

Thanks for the pics wutske Was just going to post the ones I took also. Not very clear (camera phone), but...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/grey...17/Picture8.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/grey...17/Picture7.jpg

Looks like it's just a protective sheet...(the last image you posted there).

Should have taken a closer look at this before. I was just about to finish up building the computer and finally opened up the CPU package/case. I see 4 rubber stumps on the corners. Is the Silicon Compound still needed in this case? Image of the processor:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v95/grey...17/Picture9.jpg

Can't wait to fire this baby up...hopefully no problems will arise

Thanks.

Those stumps are the crsuh pads of your cpu, they are there to help support the heatsink and to prevent the heatsink from crushing the core (don't realy too much on them tough , you always must be careful).

I'd say, remove the plastic and see if there is a thermal pad on it, if not, you should use the thermal goop.