Heatsink Question Please Help!?!

[shawn.cusack]

I was told on a separate forum that my heatsink being dirty might be causing my computer to not turn on. I have dusted the heatsink completely. What I am wondering about is a substance thats on top of my processor and on the bottom of my heat sink. Is there supposed to be a clean surface or is there supposed to be some sort of conductive material. Its kinda similar to auto grease(thats the only thing I can relate the substance to.)

Thanks

 

[PC eye]

Depending on the bios and make and model board as well seeing an overheat protection circuit on just about every board at this time and date once the fan if plugged into a certain spot on the board will see a system shutdown once the revolutions have slowed down to a certain amount of rpms. That protects the cpu from damage as well as being monitored by the board.

If the fan isn't upto the minimum speed when first turning the system on generally some type of alert is heard or the system will simply stall rather then finish the post tests and load the OS. A stock hsf included with the cpu will typically see a thermal pad of preformed compound while 3rd party coolers require some type of thermal paste or compound applied between the cpu and hsf in order to bond and effectively transfer heat away from the cpu into the hsf itself.

When first applying any paste or compound both surfaces have to free of any dust, dirt, or paste/compound leftover from another application. Denatured or rubbing alcohol is the common cleaner used to insure a clean surface.

 

[StrangleHold]

I was told on a separate forum that my heatsink being dirty might be causing my computer to not turn on. I have dusted the heatsink completely. What I am wondering about is a substance thats on top of my processor and on the bottom of my heat sink. Is there supposed to be a clean surface or is there supposed to be some sort of conductive material. Its kinda similar to auto grease(thats the only thing I can relate the substance to.)

Thanks

Yes, it called thermal compound and you need to clean it off and reapply.

 

[porterjw]

Depending on the bios and make and model board as well seeing an overheat protection circuit on just about every board at this time and date once the fan if plugged into a certain spot on the board will see a system shutdown once the revolutions have slowed down to a certain amount of rpms.

Orly?