Installing AMD 64 X2 with stock heatsync/fan?

dwalden · Rated PG-13 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 35

I just got my new AMD Athlon 64 X2 yesterday and I was looking at the stock heatsync fan that came with it.

Yes, I'm going to use the stock fan for a while. I promise I'll change it out sometime soon.

Anyway, the bottom of the heatsync has the grey pad of conductive material on it and the package didn't come with any thermal grease. I have a thing of Arctic Silver 5.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835100007

What should I do?

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Wed, 24 May 2006 12:24:40 Post Subject:

You either use it as is... the grey square is a thermal interface, but generally they aren't very good ata ll. Or, you scrape the bottom clean of all the grey gook, clean it up really well with alcohol (or whatever), and then apply your AS5 before installation.

I'd take the second route.

Tech-Daddy · Rated R Joined: 04 Apr 2005 Posts: 67 Location: Plano

Agreed... if you have the AS5, gently remove the thermal pad, clean it with pure alcohol (not rubbing alcohol that has lanolin in it), then apply the AS5.

dwalden · Rated PG-13 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 35

Ok, great. I'll do that. If I scratch the surface while removing the pad, should I sand it to a superfine finish first?

Also, any tips on the AS5 stuff? I heard it takes a while to set.

Kilamon · Rated XXX Joined: 22 Mar 2005 Posts: 811

here's the lapping guide, which is what you've just asked for. Grin

http://www.bigbruin.com/reviews/lappingguide/index.php?file=1

dwalden · Rated PG-13 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 35

**Doctor Feelgood** · Posted: Wed, 24 May 2006 16:59:27 Post Subject:

Just apply a razor thin, consistently covered layer of paste over the entire area that the CPU will touch. I generally use an old credit card as my edge to smear it on.

dwalden · Rated PG-13 Joined: 17 May 2006 Posts: 35

Thanks.

FYI - I found this:
http://www.arcticsilver.com/arctic_silver_instructions.htm

Macenko · Rated PG Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 12

I just also put a sytem with an AMD 64 X2 in it. Mine is also stock for the moment. I was planning on trying a WC system that would cover my all the chips including the VGA's of which I have 2. Can a better fan do just as good as a WC system?

johndoe · Rated PG Joined: 15 Mar 2005 Posts: 11

The stock heatpipe HSF that comes with the dual core opterons is superb. so far there have been to the best of my knowledge two reviews of it and in both it was either above or at par with other high performance air cooling solutions. plus, it comes with an 80 mm delta fan Cool