Heatsink/CPU

haynea4f

New Member
I have never built a PC nor even really looked on the inside of one with the exception of putting in some memory and putting in a new graphics card.

Does a new CPU (specifically AMD x2 4800+) come with a heatsink? I hear of people talking abot having special heatsinks. Also, will I need that thermal compound when I build?

I dont plan on overclocking.
 
If you buy a retail package, then it comes with the heatsink and thermal compound. If you buy an OEM version then it only has the cpu.
 
Thanks for the quick reply. My CPU is retail, not OEM. So if my CPU or heatsink comes with a heatpad on it should I put the thermal compound on? Or should I scrape off the heatpad and put thermal compound on in its place? :confused: Or should I just leave it the way it is?

I hear that the AMD CPU is difficult to put into its place because it is not level, has anyone hear ever had any problems with this issue? Any helpful suggestions?

My first computer build so this is a learning process. I wont be building for another 5 weeks though.
 
Thanks for the reply. I have read that is a good thermal compound on this forum many times. Does anyone disagree that I should remove the thermal pad and apply arctic thermal compound?
 
nope, i give my consent lol..
you do NOT want more than one type of thermal compound, in fact too much of ANY thermal compound is not good, you only need a TINY bit, just enough to fill in microscopic "canyons" so to speak.
(basically about the size of a grain of rice for an athlon 64 (X2))
 
haynea4f said:
Thanks for the reply. I have read that is a good thermal compound on this forum many times. Does anyone disagree that I should remove the thermal pad and apply arctic thermal compound?
you dont need to do that, the stock one is fine. I would only recommend putting a different kind on if you were planning on overclocking.

The temperature difference is only a few degrees, and you may apply it wrong so in fact it may not help at all, or make it worse. AMD's usually run cool anyway, so you should be fine with the stock stuff.
 
I also read about overclocking. Although I have no clue how to do it, I didnt really even plan on doing it. I think I will take your advice and stick with the thermal pad instead of using the compound. I dont want to damage a $630 AMD CPU for something that wasnt necessary. :cool:
 
if were you, i would go for an aftermarket CPU cooler, spesifically an Arctic Cooling freezer 64 Pro, it ill make your CPU about 15 c cooler, much quieter and it costs like $20.

Good Luck.

Manktelow.
 
The freezer 64 pro is not the best cpu cooler out there. Better options would be the Zalman cnps9500 or the Thermaltake big typhoon
 
I think I would go with the arctic cooling freezer 64 pro because of the price. From the reviews I have been reading it is the best value for the money, but a little louder than the others. I dont care about that though.

But if I got this would I need the thermal compound? I dont really understand where the thermal pad is attached on my new CPU, is it on the heatsink or the CPU?
 
The Typhoon would be my choice, but it's also more difficult to install.

The thermal pad will be on the stock heatsink that comes with the CPU (which you're not using). Just follow the instructions posted earlier to apply the thermal paste to your new HSF.
 
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