Build log: Mines

[nick09]

The stock cooler will allow for a little overclocking but not much. You only really need a aftermarket cooler if you are overclocking a large amount, want the fan to be more silent, or you just want your CPU to run cooler.

 

[opendriver]

The stock cooler will allow for a little overclocking but not much. You only really need a aftermarket cooler if you are overclocking a large amount, want the fan to be more silent, or you just want your CPU to run cooler.

True, if you use some Arctic silver 5 on the HS, make sure to get all of the old stuff off first with some isopropol alcohol, 99% works best. You should be able to get 3.4-3.6 if you go with the E8400. If you do go with a quad, dont even consider overclocking on the stick HS, let alone use it at stock speeds with it.

 

[nick09]

And you should use something like a credit card to spread the stuff because just making a dot on the CPU and attaching the HS is only going to make a circle of area to conduct heat versus a square you would apply. There is such as a thing as two little and too much. Its a good idea to keep the thermal paste also to reapply it every year or two.

 

[hamstrings]

It may surprise you that Arctic Silver Inc. recommends a line of compound down the integrated heat spreader and not spreading it around in a thin layer. They use the clamping force of the heatsink to spread the paste out. It is no longer critical to fully cover the die since the IHS does a very good job of increasing the contact area, in contrast to the physical die to heatsink days where you needed paste to cover the die completely.

For the same reason the stock thermal pad is adequate for stock speeds. Paste would be better, but if not overclocking it might not be worth the effort. It is better to get an aftermarket cooler if overclocking.

 

[opendriver]

I dont think it really matter how you apply the TIM, but:

As long as you get most of it in the center, it will be just fine.