do I really neeD thermal paste?

[MaximusNukeage]

I just bought an AMD 3700 processor, and it came with a heat sink and that heatsink already has a square of grey stuff on the bottom. so my question is, it that stuff thermal paste that comes withthe processor? and if so can i just install the processor without getting additional thermal paste?

 

[morgster]

It is a thermal pad. You can use it on its own and they work fine, some like to use artic silver paste but most dont bother.

 

[FghtinIrshNvrDi]

Yeah, if you're not overclocking or anything, just plop that ceramic goo on there. The standard one works fine for the everyday user.

Ryan

 

[Ihatewalmart]

I got an amd athlon 64 3500+ and it didn't come with any goop but the fan allready had the stuff on it.

 

[MaximusNukeage]

and if I overclock the processor and at the same time I dont use arctic silver?

 

[Green Radience]

Its recommended that you have some Thermal Paste on there, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I had an older PC that I overclocked, but didn't use Thermal Paste on and the load temps reached 56°C-57°C. Thats not quite dangerously high, but it made me uncomfortable.

 

[HAVOC]

I hate thermal pads. When I build PC's for people, even just a simple basic PC, I remove the pads and put on AS5. Regardless of OCin' or not. It just works 10 times better then anything.

I put AS5 on a HP with a crap celeron and the idle temps went from 34C to 28C, even with a small HS & Fan.

 

[cyrax]

I'd rather use the pad though, I'm not confident enough in my computer-building skills to use paste. Afraid I might get some on the mobo, or somethin.

 

[Waphlez]

I plan on not putting AS5 on mine because I'm not going to overclock for a while. And once I do I want an aftermarket heatsink and don't want to have to bother cleaning all the crap off.

 

[cyrax]

Yeah, once I start overclocking I will probably do the same thing.