Silica Gel Needed?

I've got a new Motherboard, boxed Celeron 330 (2.6) with Intel Heatsink. Motherboard manual says use silica gell, but Intel instructions don't. I know it may improve thermal transfer and thus keep the CPU cooler but is it ESSENTIAL or not?

Thanks

If that's the proper name for thermal paste then yes, use it.

silica gel is used to soak up extraneous moisture. Thermal compound like Arctic Silver or the like is what you want.

Yeah, sorry I meant thermal paste, I know what silica gel is (those little bags you get in electronics boxes), I was just using the manuals crappy terminiology.

The point is, is it essential with a modern CPU or can it go amiss on a boxed Intel Celeron and Fan, otherwise I've gotta go out and buy some, sigh.

Err...I think they meant Silicon Paste/Grease... |oD

You should definitely use some sort of TIM.

I DONT NEED A BREAST IMP... Oh...


if the processor and heatsink are already stuk together then you wont really need it, but you still can.

50 pence a tube, and dont get artic silver if you think you might get any near components. :)

Yes, I would say thermal paste is absolutely neccessary.

Going to buy a tube now. Only size they have is 25g for £4.99, might have to start a factory line to use that lot up. Can anyone offer some "smearing" instructions/links/pics? Cheerz ALL!

Does the heatsink have a self-adhesive pad to make contact with the proc? They usually do. If so, I'd try just using that to begin with and then see what temps you get.

If it runs too hot you'll have to clean off the sticky pad completely and re-fit using thermal paste, like arctic silver. Don't use too much, though. There are website guides to show you how to use it properly.

Cygnus: I thought arctic silver was non-conductive so it can't cause short circuits. Is that what you meant?

Yeah the heatsink does have a pad of some kind (manual calls it "thermal interface material" on the bottom, it's an Intel one, came with CPU and like I said the Intel manual doesn't mention paste. Do you think this means I don't need to bother?

Yeah, just try the pad first but using thermal paste should give better results. Just remember that the pad is probably self-adhesive so you have to peel off the backing paper before fitting! :)

Yes, the pad is sufficient if the heatsink came with the CPU unless you plan on overclocking it.

I must've used the invisible link tag yet again...Bugger!

I always scrape that crap off and use good old silicon grease myself. The pad is perfectly safe to use though.

hmm, didn't mention any backing paper on the pad in the manual. I'll have to have to have a look at it now! I don't want to peel of the actual pad by accident ...

May not be self-adhesive, then. Some are, some aren't.

Actually been a while since I fitted a heatsink, so things have probably changed a bit. Hate doing it. My heart rate doubles and I get a right sweat on, frightened of breaking the proc core. :/

The pad is usually a square of thermal compound attached to the heatsink and normally doesn't have a piece of paper attached.

Big10p- Arctic silver contains silver particles- it could create contact between components but in general cools better than standard thermal paste.

Grey, the heatsinks i get round here dont have the peelable bit on the bottom, they just fit right on the CPU.

I'd say if youre unsure, wipe it and use the thermal paste anyway :)

Paranoia over, the "pad" is a grey pastey compound, so I'm hppy to leave it at that for now. My mini-maglite just stopped working though, and new batteries don't help, bummer. Anyone know if the bulbs can go on these?

Yup. you can get a replacement pack from Maplin Electronics (and probrably a ton of other places.)

By the way, Arctic Silver 5 is the silver compound one, the one that could short out.
[edit]
heh, can't find them on Maplin anymore. :(

If you dont like pc noise you'll need to bin the supplied cooler and get a new one, i've yet to see a 'free' cooler that was actually worth using :(

if you have a Cooler with Pad remove the Pad ! use Brease !
be careful the Cooler may not be scratched and must be bright !! handle with care !

paste are alway better as Pad's
(see some toms-hardware.xx Tests)

Some pastes are transferred with silver particles .
Dont use to many paste !
mfg

lol -> http://www2.tomshardware.de/praxis/20060104/index.html

Intel's HSF and pad are good from a waranty standpoint.

I use them for a first install. If I get as far as a second install then I use Zalman HSF and akassa pads. Also akassa citrus TIM remover.

Seems to be a good enough combination for some good cooling and quiet fanning. Just make sure your mother board is up to it with Zalman's stuff as it weighs in at super heavy weight! ;O) Nice stuff though so it's worth the extra little bit of hassle. Just wish they'd outgrow that childish LED fetish they got at the moment.

Actually this machine is well quiet, very quiet CPU fan and PSU and HD!

Panno: Well it's in German but it looks funny! Oil cooled?

he the "Toms Hardware " Guys make fun or ?
The first fully oil cooled homepc ! lol
mad ;)

@GA, that's why I use them as first install, they are pretty fair in most respects. Since you get no possibility of a waranty issue that way either then I find it a rather compelling argument to use them really.

On second install, I use the other stuff, and that's when you find out what quiet means! ;O) I tend to go for a quiet PSU at that point too. Nexus 400W, enough power and quiet, but without the price penalty of most of the others on the market.

Only sound I get after all that is done, is a low & gentle wooshing sound of air being moved about. When I got three of them running it's almost as loud as one normal machine with the intel HSF solution.

Oh and your temps should drop after 24 hours, that pad needs to be allowed to "melt in" - see the instructions that came in the box! ;O)

Good luck with it.

Thanks, it's all tickety boo now.