After Thermal Compound on CPU...

[alvinc5]

Hello,

Firstly, I'll stated my system specs for better analysis:

- AMD Athlon XP 3000+ (NO OC)
- ASUSTeK A7N8X-LX Motherboard
- Inno3D FX5700LE 256MB
- 512MB DDR RAM DIMM
- Antec SmartPower SL300SP 300w PSU
- Antec SmartCool 92mm Case Fan
- PC Cooler (PA9C-CUAL) Heatsink w/Arctic Silver 5

Ok. I noticed that my CPU was at extremely high temperatures- an average of 58°C to 60°C when idle. God knows what it was at 100% CPU usage. Anyway, following the very much understandable advice, I recently ordered and just this morning, installed my new case fan, heatsink and also applied some Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound.

I've layered about 1.5mm of thermal compound, carefully and with precision, onto the CPU die. I've also applied some to the base of the heatsink, and cleared it off to leave a haze- to ensure the valleys are filled. I'm constantly monitoring my CPU temperature using SpeedFan and BIOS now, and am reading an average temperature of 48°C to 52°C when idle. I'd like to know, is this safe and normal, taking into account the procedures i've applied?

I understand that is takes several power on and off sessions of my PC for the Arctic Silver 5 to become more effective, but over time, do you advise I add more thermal compound to lower the temperature?

 

[Praetor]

asustek a7n8x-lx motherboard

. Is this an oem board?

ok. I noticed that my cpu was at extremely high temperatures- an average of 58 to 60c when idle.

1. Thats fairly high but i think "extremely high" might be a bit overboard. 2. Are you using the stock cooler?

i've layered about 1. 5mm of thermal compound, carefully and with precision, onto the cpu die. I've also applied some to the base of the heatsink

1. Potentially tooooo much
2. Why put it on both??

do you advise i add more thermal compound to lower the temperature?

id say less

 

[alvinc5]

Re:

Hellooo,

Yeah my ASUSTeK is an OEM board by Compaq. Yeah I think I get really paranoid with my PC. Oh, 'Stock Cooler'

Is 1.5 millimetres too much? And I smothered the heatsink with some thermal compound to form a thin layer, then wiped it off with an anti-lint cloth, leaving only a haze...(so that the microscopic valleys fill to produce a finer and smoother contact surface).

 

[Praetor]

Is 1.5 millimetres too much? And I smothered the heatsink with some thermal compound to form a thin layer, then wiped it off with an anti-lint cloth, leaving only a haze...(so that the microscopic valleys fill to produce a finer and smoother contact surface).

Too much = more than tranlucent layer

 

[Yeti]

I doubt that you used 1.5 mm of arctic silver (unless you used an entire tube of it). Anyway, you should really only use a very thin film of it. All you want to do is fill in the little imperfections of the CPU and heat sink with the compound, any more and you'll be adding to the thermal resistance, making it harder for heat to go from the CPU to heat sink.

 

[alvinc5]

Re:

I see....it was extremely hard for me to put 1.5 millimetres on...pray for me when I redo it with a light haze ...

 

[Praetor]

I see....it was extremely hard for me to put 1.5 millimetres on...pray for me when I redo it with a light haze ...

Just put a wee bit on the cpu, smear it around and pop the HSF on -- no need to put the goop on the HSF -- the goop cant tell the difference where it is

 

[alvinc5]

Re:

ok...thanx alot

Tomorrow I'm gonna clean and re-layer some thermal compound...and I'll report back