Is Arctic Silver a "requirement?"

[disc13]

Do I really need to get some Arctic Silver if I'm not going to be overclocking or anything?

Also, I've read that it like "expires" or loses it's effectiveness after a year or two - is this true?

Thanks much in advance...

 

[RandysWay]

It's not required, but it'll keep things mucho cooler.

 

[HighwayAssassins]

yea its really only useful for OCing...the shit that comes with your heatsink should be good enough to get the job done, but its always nice just to know you have the AS5 on there.

 

[disc13]

thanks for the responses - don't know if i wanted to blow $12 on some paste, but if it will help the longevity, I might get some.

 

[Liam]

CPU's are designed to last decades with default voltage and the temps the stock HSF gives. . Prescotts may be different though . Not worth it if you ask me.

 

[dandragonrage]

Get some Arctic Alumina. It'll be like 1 degree worse and be like $5 for even more than the like $12 things of silver. The normal paste isn't much worse for temps, but it dries up. I have to constantly replace that crap on friends PCs randomly, they just start overheating.

 

[dargon]

If you have a retail HS and CPU it's probably got a thermal pad on it. Since you're not gonna OC this will probably serve you fine. All arctic silver etc will do is improve the thermal conductivity between the cpu and hs (assuming it's applied correctly, too much will actually make things worse), allowing things to be just a little bit cooler. The intent behind thermal paste is to fill in the little groves etc one the surface of the cpu and the hs, eliminating trapped air. Air is an insulator therefore if you get rid of the air between the two components, things run just a little bit cooler. That said, why spend the money if you don't need to.

 

[GeForceX]

I use it on all of my client's PC's. It's a wonder. Pushes it down to the mid 30-40 C's on Athlon processors. Either way, seeing this number would keep me feeling safe if I hear there goes a problem over there. Who says it has to be $12 dollars? I bought one for $3.75 that can be reapplied over 10 times.

-J.

 

[drewb99]

I use AS Ceramique, works perfectly fine for me and is hella easy to clean.

 

[HighwayAssassins]

All arctic silver etc will do is improve the thermal conductivity between the cpu and hs (assuming it's applied correctly, too much will actually make things worse)

lol i did that with my first application of AS5...smeared it all over the place and couldnt figgure out why the temp went strait up...then my room mate showed me how it was done and i got like a 10 degree drop. definatly read the instructions

 

[EnderW]

it's a requirement for my systems

 

[NeoNemesis]

My god man its 12$ if that is too much money for you then I wouldn't risk overclocking my computer. I bought a drink that cost that much last night.

 

[Anarchonixx]

My god man its 12$ if that is too much money for you then I wouldn't risk overclocking my computer. I bought a drink that cost that much last night.

Fact is he isn't overclocking his computer; at least that's what I gather from his original post. And as stated, the thermal pad included in the retail packaging, or any other thermal paste will work just fine.