Thermal Pad or Artic Silver 2?

[Geshtar]

Hey guys, i just bought a retail xp 2800+ cuz i got a mobo with a cap in the way that prevents anything bigger than a stock cooler from being used. I think its an easy question(I'd say AS2), but just to be sure since AS2 is old stuff, which would you go with? the AS2 or thermal pad that comes with it? Also would removing the thermal pad void my warranty? I don't think it will from reading the documentation, but it doesn't say explicitly.

thanks in advance.

 

[Shorty]

Arctic Silver 5... don't be cheap, go get a tube. Your temps will thank you in the long run!

 

[Geshtar]

I figured that there wouldn't be that much difference between how AS2 and AS5 perform. is there really a big difference between them? what did they change in it?

 

[nst6563]

yes, good thermal paste will only cost you about $4 for a small tube which is more than enough for what you need. I've been using the same tube of Ceramique for about 8 months now and I've replaced the cpu about 10 times (tinkering some, new cpu others), put heatsinks on my 9600xt gpu, ram and mosfets, heatsinks on the motherboard mosfets, replaced the thermal pad on NB heatsink, heatsink on SB (even though it probably didn't need it...it got one anyway while I was going nuts with the heatsinks). And I still have over half a tube left.

And if you're questioning against a Thermal pad or AS2, use the AS2. Generic Radio Shack silicon thermal compound is better than most of those thermal pads.