Thermal "goop" between fan and CPU?

[Mytybaby7]

I can't find the original post about which type of thermal stuff to put between the fan and cpu.

I'm resorting to getting a new fan at bestbuy (since the one I purchased from a site is cheap looking and also smaller than my original fan). Will return that one.

I would like to get the thermal stuff there as well (if they supply that). What is the best stuff to buy and can it be purchased at a local computer store?

[SuperSparks]

I don't think many people here will argue with Arctic Silver 3 being the best. It is expensive compared to other brands, though.

[bistro]

SuperSparks is somewhat incorrect because he knows dang well that I would argue the point just for arguments sake. But yes, Artic Silver 3 is what you want. But you have given me an idea to invent my own and call it "Thermal Goop 4 and 1/2".....

Remember: All you need to do is "paint" the chip with the thermal paste. A very, very thin layer is all you need. The sole purpose of the paste is to fill in the tiny abberations on the heat sink surface that comes into contact with the chip to facilitate heat transfer.

[Ridgerunr]

Full instructions for Ar(c)tic Silver application are here ...

[HaroldW]

I was at the local BestBuy yesterday. I just happened to notice that they had some sort of generic "knock-off" of arctic silver. That was the only thermal compound that I "noticed", but there could have been others in the same area of the store (that I didn't notice, I wasn't there to get thermal compound.)

[Ridgerunr]

Best Buy,along with Circuit City and several others are on my "tread lightly" list. If they have "exactly" what i want,at the exact price i want to pay,i will go there to buy. But,i will not listen to any of the unknowledgeable crap the clerks will try to pawn off on you.

As to the "knock-off" of Arctic Silver, you might want to read what Arctic Silver itself has to say about it on the page i linked to...

[Dr.Gibbs]

My 1.4GHz Athlon runs fine with a $0.99 pouch of paste from TigerDirect... I don't think I'd ever buy Arctic Silver

[Ridgerunr]

Yep,,a $5.95 "surge protector" would probably work just fine too. That is until you had a major brown-out or power surge. Then it would be about as safe as using peanut butter for heatsink compound.
Your money,,your choice...

[Dr.Gibbs]

I wouldn't trust a $5.95 surge protector because the joule rating would be too low and it wouldn't protect equipment against large surges... but my $0.99 thermal compound seems to be performing just fine, as my CPU runs at just over 40 degrees under the hardest stress I can put it under

A higher cost doesn't neccessarily always mean the product is that much better.

[bistro]

Tonight on NBC: The epic miniseries "The Thermal Paste Wars"....



The main difference between Artic Silver and regular thermal paste is that on the latter, there is a separation of the silicon from the base over time (and temps). When that silicon starts to separate, you get less heat transfer (not to mention a mess on your chip). Not so with the Artic Silver---more durable. Also, AS tends to "paint" the chip better for a better seal.