When installing Heat Sink - is there some set time before fire up?

[Jamin43]

I just reinstalled my DELL CPU / Heatsink with new thermal compound b/c I wanted to get more familiar with that piece of hardware before jumping into my own build.

1) Is there a time frame I should be waiting til I fire up the PC - like a setting time for the compound. Or is it best to turn on when it's freshly installed.

2) How do I monitor my CPU temp - so I know the compound is working properly and that I seated it correctly. Is there a free application I can download to do the job?

3) What do you use to spread the compound. My compound had a card spreader I used - but it was a bit challenging to control as I used the card more - it spread from center of card - to cover the whole edge. DO most people use thinner strip of plastic - or is there some other trick?

Thanks

 

[zombine210]

1) Is there a time frame I should be waiting til I fire up the PC - like a setting time for the compound. Or is it best to turn on when it's freshly installed.

it depends on the compound used. some suggest firing it up in intervals with cool down periods. i know some peoples will leave the pc on for a whole day to 'set in' the compound. i think if you buy the high end stuff it would come with instructions, or visit their website for how2s.

2) How do I monitor my CPU temp - so I know the compound is working properly and that I seated it correctly. Is there a free application I can download to do the job?

most motherboards come with driver cd and most include a monitoring utility. at least both of mine did. i'm sure there are some free aps you can download, but i've never had to

3) What do you use to spread the compound. My compound had a card spreader I used - but it was a bit challenging to control as I used the card more - it spread from center of card - to cover the whole edge. DO most people use thinner strip of plastic - or is there some other trick?

on the P3 i covered the chip with the stuff before sticking the cooler on it. for the C2D, i don't remember what guide i used, but it said to run a thin line across both cores and then use the heatsink, moving back and forth about 15 degrees, to spread the compound. somepeople will still cover the entire surface with a spreader, but the way i did it works just fine. you can always redo it if you get high temps. good luck

 

[Bodaggit23]

1) Is there a time frame I should be waiting til I fire up the PC - like a setting time for the compound. Or is it best to turn on when it's freshly installed.
Fire it up.
Some compounds do claim to get more efficient after some heat cycling, but I've seen none that require a "wait" period.

2) How do I monitor my CPU temp - so I know the compound is working properly and that I seated it correctly. Is there a free application I can download to do the job?
Real Temp is free and made for Intel cpu's.
http://www.techpowerup.com/realtemp/

3) What do you use to spread the compound. My compound had a card spreader I used - but it was a bit challenging to control as I used the card more - it spread from center of card - to cover the whole edge. DO most people use thinner strip of plastic - or is there some other trick?
Spreading the compound manually is only one method.
I just put a small, grain sized dot onto the center of the cpu and install the heat sink with no spreading.

.....

 

[bomberboysk]

Realtemp is mainly for 45nm cpu's, i would suggest using either everest ultimate or speedfan for non 45nm cpu's(pentium 4, Pentium D, Older Core 2 Duos)

 

[CardboardSword]

Speedfan is what I would recommend personally. I've heard some compounds do need to set before you get maximum effectiveness, but I don't think this is affected for better or worse by using the computer immediately. Another thing, if you're using enough thermal paste that you have to worry about how its being spread, its quite possible you've used too much. If you do get unusually high temps, re-apply a smaller amount of thermal paste.