Thermal Paste

[Xephian]

Does it matter if you put some more expensive thermal paste or just the regular stuff that comes with your CPU or HSF?

Do the Opteron 165's come with thermal paste?

I've forgotten to order some AS5 with my new build and was wondering if it'll be alright with no tempature difference if I were to just use the stuff that comes with my hardware?

 

[WhyYouLoveMe]

I would say that getting higher quality thermal paste is the BEST Celsius/dollar cooling ratio you can find. Spend the $6 and get a tube of AS5. You won't be disappointed.

 

[quietRiot]

there is MOST DEFINATLEY a temp difference, i'd say ~5C. You will be fine with the stock paste, however, and you could even OC with it. You just will not get the same temp results, and therefore hitting a ceiling that can be raised with better temps.

 

[WedgeTail]

A more expensive paste eg. AS5 will yield better temperatures. They also perform better after they have been 'broken-in.'

Due to the unique shape and sizes of the particles in Arctic Silver's conductive matrix, it will take a up to 200 hours and several thermal cycles to achieve maximum particle to particle thermal conduction and for the heatsink to CPU interface to reach maximum conductivity. (This period will be longer in a system without a fan on the heatsink or with a low speed fan on the heatsink.) On systems measuring actual internal core temperatures via the CPU's internal diode, the measured temperature will often drop 2C to 5C over this "break-in" period. This break-in will occur during the normal use of the computer as long as the computer is turned off from time to time and the interface is allowed to cool to room temperature. Once the break-in is complete, the computer can be left on if desired.

 

[CoW]8(0)]

Many seem to be misinformed. The temperature difference between one paste and another is fairly small (maybe 2C at most). You're attributing temperature improvements to remounts, not the thermal paste itself.

 

[Sphere]

I can vouch for AS5 giving me 1-2 degrees lower than the thermal paste that came on the hs/f, which is well within the margin for error, so to me, it's not worth the effort.

Sphere

 

[TheRapture]

Many seem to be misinformed. The temperature difference between one paste and another is fairly small (maybe 2C at most). You're attributing temperature improvements to remounts, not the thermal paste itself.

Amen. I have NEVER gotten a better overclock just by going to some AS5 (or AS3). There is very little difference in any decent thermal paste. Properly applied a white paste will work fine. The biggest advantage is lifespan of an application. The white stuff WILL dry out over time, where as the AS will stay "moist" much much longer....

 

[Talonz]

Many seem to be misinformed. The temperature difference between one paste and another is fairly small (maybe 2C at most). You're attributing temperature improvements to remounts, not the thermal paste itself.

QFT. But a tube of AS5 will last you a very long time

 

[Retsam]

Id definitely agree with that. I always find it interesting when people say AS5 or "some paste" is better than "another paste". Ive tested many different pastes and compared and found that almost all pastes are identical. Stock crappy white paste benched the same as AS5. Id definitely say no paste is going to help an overclock whatsoever. 1C difference isnt going to do anything for an overclock.

I would agree that the longevity is a difference though. Thats probably why I use AS5 over other pastes. Shin Etsu and AS5 and ceramique are the only pastes I use for that reason, not because of how they perform. While the performance might be nill to none, how long they last is my determining factor. Shin etsu is probably the best out of those 3, but it is a bit harder to work with.