Thermal Compund on AMD 2500+?

[HpiSavage21]

Hey guys I was told that I need to put thermal compound on the CPU/Heatsink? Is this really nessecary or not? Thank You.

[Fastfly]

The retail heatsink and paste/tape should be fine.

But if you were asking if it was need period. It is needed, there will be drastic changes with and without thermal compund. Not sure if you could keep the tempature down without thermal compound.

[Cricket]

Originally posted by Fastfly Not sure if you could keep the tempature down without thermal compound.

It depends on whether the heatsink is installed properly or not. If it is and the heatsink is big enough, it will be able to transfer enough heat to atmosphere to keep the CPU working under the critical temperature.

If the heatsink isn't installed properly and not making full contact with the CPU die, you'll end up with a fried CPU pretty quickly.

Thermal compound or a thermal pad is necessary to help the CPU die make good contact with the heatsink. If you have better contact between the two surfaces, the more thermal transfer will take place to help keep the CPU core cool.

Cricket

[HpiSavage21]

Thanks, I much rather me safe and not fry my CPU. I will head on over to CompUsa or Best buy after school to get some. Thanks.

[Confused]

If this is a new build with a retail CPU the heatsink that comes with it may have a pad. If that is the case you don't need the compound. Just be sure to remove the plastic covering before installing. Point is that you need something but don't use both.
Chas