1. I am putting together my new system.I have an Akasa Evo 33 913 HSF for the processor. I have looked in the manual and it makes no mension of thermal compound in the manual.It looks as though the HS goes directly onto the surface of the processor. I'm a bit scpetical about not needing any thermal compound.

The base of the HS has a plastic cover, which obviously you take off and then the copper bit looks like it has a protective peel? Im thinking thats what it is and you peel that back.Im then wondering whether theres already paste applied or its direct contact or you need some compound and its not said?

Any ideas?I thought I'd better get it confirmed from Akasa.
I have bought Arctic Silver as I naturally assumed I would need some. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but I'dprefer not to melt my cpu.

Thanks.

The small square of goo on the base of the heatsink is a thermal pad which melts over time once the system is up and running. It is covered with a thin plastic film which you must remove before assembly.

If you want to use Arctic Silver you will have to remove all traces of the thermal pad from the heatsink first. There are insructions on the Arctic Silver web site on how to use it.

you need a thermal compound, i would recommend artci silver, often when i have asked for a pea sized amount (the amount you need) i have got it for free).

without this your cpu will overheat very quickly

Thanks. You can see it here on the pic described as the thermal base.

Obviously the clear plastic bit I remove.

The shiny copper bit, then has a covering, which is a bit like the lid you get on a carton of milk. I'm assuming that peals off, but I'm not convinced theres anything under that i.epea sized paste or thats a thermal pad.I think its just the shiny copper. In which case I'd assume I'd need a correct clean and then put some thermal paste on, but Akasas manual doesnt mention it.

If it is a thermal pad then I see from the artcic silver site how to clean it properly. Annoyed cos I bought some akasa stuff, but thats not good enough apparently.

Sorry just cautious about not wanting to melt the cpu. have mailed akasa just to check, but it should be in the manual or maybe Im just a thickie.

Thanks guys

http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/spec_page/coolers/spec_ak_913.htm

Thanks Greybeard
It is a thermal pad as you say.I'm going to buy some of this, which seems designed for it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6785543864&indexURL=1#ebayphotohosting

Wish it wasnt on. What a pullava.

Originally posted by 999tigger


http://www.akasa.co.uk/akasa_english/spec_page/coolers/spec_ak_913.htm

In the manual it states, - "Step Two - Remove the thermal interface protection cover from the base of the heatsink and then place the heatsink into position...." :confused: ;)

Thermal pads are generally 'good enough', but Arctic Silver is probably better. Results are also subject to the cpu fan speed, overall case cooling efficiency and your acceptable noise level.

Anyway if this is your first 'build' just take your time and double check everything - good luck :thumbsup:

Originally posted by 999tigger
Thanks Greybeard
It is a thermal pad as you say.I'm going to buy some of this, which seems designed for it.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=6785543864&indexURL=1#ebayphotohosting

Wish it wasnt on. What a pullava.

I went through lots of stuff in the shed before I found that thinners for Hammerite paint will shift anything, but it's no cheaper than the stuff in your link :)

To remove the bulk of it, - warm it up with a hair dryer and scrape off with a credit card or something similar but non metallic.

nail varnish remover is what you want, the clear plastic protector, from experience with akasa coolers is just there to prevent scratching the copper base...

sometimes they come with a set TIM on them, like in this pic (http://www.systemcooling.com/images/reviews/Heatsinks/Akasa_AK-855/tim_sm.jpg)

that will be sufficient, but i would recommend AS Ceramic - dont be scared by its name (it dont set hard) - and it is again marginally, better than AS5...

Just bear in mind that you need to apply it in a very thin layer - putting too much on is actually worse than not using any at all!

Were you also aware that AMD will void the warranty on the processor if you use thermal compound to excess ?

Originally posted by parrotface
Were you also aware that AMD will void the warranty on the processor if you use thermal compound to excess ?
Would they be able to tell if you wiped it clean?? :)

Out of interest, has anyone actually used a cpu warranty on anything other than a DOA? I've never had a processor fail, just had ones delivered faulty. And when I've had to RMA them, I got a refund that I suspect had nothing to do with AMD - dabs sent me the cash straight away, so they must then negotiate the refunds through AMD. Fair enough really, my contract was with them. Although I actually found out a bit later that the cpu probably wasn't at fault! ;) I peeled off the sticky plastic protecting the surface on the heatsink (not the cpu), but didn't wipe clean the remnants of the gunk. The replacement cpu wouldn't work either until I spent 10 minutes with fairy liquid and a sponge scourer :)

AMD are a really good company to deal with. They replace virtually no quibbles. They dont have the time to check much anyway. I will also void the warranty I assume if I overclokc the chip.

I know how much to use because theres detailed instructions on the as website. The stuff im getting is best. Other stuff leaves gunk behind that you cant see.

Originally posted by 21steve
you need a thermal compound, i would recommend artci silver, often when i have asked for a pea sized amount (the amount you need) i have got it for free).

without this your cpu will overheat very quickly

I would disagree. I have built numorous PC's and I never use thermal compound, none of them have over heated todate.

Thermal compound harks back to the old days of PC's and as long as you have a decent fan on top of your CPU, you will be fine.

I think you have taken that out of context serapis.
I think Rich meant if you had no thermal compound or a thermal pad then your cpu would overheat, which is correct.

Thermal pads are adequate although the best results are had with thermal compound such as Arctic Silver. It becomes relevant when you start to overclock.

Originally posted by serapis
Thermal compound harks back to the old days of PC's and as long as you have a decent fan on top of your CPU, you will be fine.


you still need something to transfer the heat, its no good just having the metal of the cooler directly on the core of the cpu...



might be a little bit of leway on cpus with heatspreaders, but still need your healthy blob of transfer material. be it a pad or paste.



working in an RMA department for an online retailer, makes you very aware of that fact.

Originally posted by serapis
I would disagree. I have built numorous PC's and I never use thermal compound, none of them have over heated todate.

Thermal compound harks back to the old days of PC's and as long as you have a decent fan on top of your CPU, you will be fine.

If you look at the base of any heatsink under maginification you'll see tiny imperfections which when the HS is mated directly to the cpu will trap that well known heat insulator called 'air'. This will impede the transfer of heat from the cpu to the HS.

The point of a thermal interface is to fill these imperfections with a heat conductive material and enhance the transfer of heat.

AMD AFAIK have for some time included a pad on the heatsink that comes with their retail boxed cpus, - so they must believe it's needed ?