does a retail cpu come with thermal paste?

[endeavor]

If I bought a amd athlon 64 3200+ retail (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103535), would it come with thermal paste? or do I have to buy my own?

If it does come with thermal paste, is it already applied?

and does the retail cpu come with sufficient instructions regarding thermal paste?

 

[brinks]

There is already paste spread onto the heatsink, just make sure you don't touch it before you put it onto the cpu.
No, not much instruction on the paste.

 

[baronvongogo]

it`ll come with a thermal pad normally has a plastic cover over it remove that then put the heat sink on. Make sure to read any instructions that come with the box.

 

[Jorsoft]

I believe that amd retail cpu's come with thermal paste, yes.

 

[uzi9mm]

and does the retail cpu come with sufficient instructions regarding thermal paste?

if it already comes with applied on the stock HSF... then no... They want you to use their stock HSF, which already has paste on it, they wont give you any instructions to apply your own.

 

[desiboi]

THe retail CPU's come with a thermal pad. t's more than enough anyways, unless you're going to overclock like a madman, I'd suggest Arctic Silver 5

 

[uzi9mm]

THe retail CPU's come with a thermal pad. t's more than enough anyways, unless you're going to overclock like a madman, I'd suggest Arctic Silver 5

and if you do that...... Remember to scrape it off completely,and to wipe the surface clean with isopropyl alcohol

 

[endeavor]

and if you do that...... Remember to scrape it off completely,and to wipe the surface clean with isopropyl alcohol

that's only if the cpu has a thermal compound on it already, right?

what's the difference between a thermal pad and thermal paste?

to take off a thermal pad do you have to use alcohol?

 

[uzi9mm]

paste is very slimey like

the pad is hard, feels like putty, but over time it will melt a tad and form to the CPU heatspreader.

I am talking about cleaning off the HSF before you put it on, if you want to upgrade to AS5, but you apply as5 to the heatspreader on the CPU and not the HSF.

 

[Nitestick]

i don't know how many times i've said it but i'll say it again . AMD's stock HSF's have thermal paste on them not a thermal pad. all you need is something alcohol based with high purity, such as isopropyl alcohol or methylated spirits. thermal pads are harder to remove but thats irrelevant, this is thermal paste.