Temp Difference between thermal pad and paste

Flak Pyro

Gawd
Joined
Sep 9, 2003
Messages
527
Hey guys, my core 2 retail just shipped and i thought i would ask a quick question about thermal compounds. I have some OCZ Ultra paste left over form a AMD build, would i be better off using that then whatever comes on the stock HSF? How big a difference is it? Next if i should clean that gunk off the bottom of the HSF what is the best way to go about it? That stuff seems like it could be hard to get off. In past i have always bought OEM cpus and used my own paste but i thought i would at least ask before dismissing the stuff that comes with it. Alot of people suggest removing it but if its only 1-2 degress big deal. (Gonna be running stock)

Thanks guys.
 
Nobody has any comments on this at all? I know its kinda newb question but i wanna do this core 2 build right and i havnt build intel since back in the northwood days. Got the cpu today (Still havnt recieved the mobo yet) and it has 3 strips of thermal compound already applied.
 
if you're going to be running the thing stock then don't worry about it - the heatsink that comes with it was included for that very purpose.

should you decide to remove it and use your own paste in the future you can always use a paper towel wetted with household isopropyl alcohol. it comes right off.
 
thats what i figured. Last pc i built was my linux box and it was a AMD and came with no thermal compound and i needed to apply my own paste, i was kind of surprised to see intel including paste on their newer chips, but hey if it works why not :D
 
Considering how well the Core 2s overclock, it would be rather silly not to, but as was said before, for running stock it'll work fine. However, the temp difference is rather large and if you plan on doing any decent overclocking then you will want to use your own paste.
 
i tacked on a order of OCZ silver paste, now any tips for getting the pad off the stock HSF? Mobo arrives sept 1st so i have some time to do this right.
 
razor blade and some isopropyl alcohol and precision should get it off...Although im no expert, it worked for me..

GL
 
Just peel it off, then soak a paper towel or kleenex with isopropyl alcohol and rub off the residue.
 
Peel it off, and soak a Qtip in alcohol and use that to rub off any residue. I find that the paper Q tips are the best as you can use the sharp edge of the paper "stick" to do some grunt work if you must. The plastic ones scratch the HSF.
 
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