So yeah, I just dissembled my PC and reassembled it. (To clean the dust.) And when I remove the CPU Heat sink (I did it right, I read the manual), I heard a *smack* sound. And when I look at the CPU. It has thermal paste applied to it. So I can only assume i broke the thermal paste seal.
Now I put everything back together, and it's working fine. I'm wondering if breaking the paste's seal will affect my PC's performance? Like increasing the temperature or something?
You can't really "break" the thermal paste. But you can break the seal. If the computer is relatively new it should be ok. But if the computer is older remove the old thermal paste, and reapply new paste.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Intel i7 950 @ 4ghz | Asus Rampage iii Formula | 12Gb Gskill Ripjaw @ 1600Mhz
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
So yeah, I just dissembled my PC and reassembled it. (To clean the dust.) And when I remove the CPU Heat sink (I did it right, I read the manual), I heard a *smack* sound. And when I look at the CPU. It has thermal paste applied to it. So I can only assume i broke the thermal paste.
Now I put everything back together, and it's working fine. I'm wondering if breaking the paste will affect my PC's performance? Like increasing the temperature or something?
What do you mean "break" the thermal paste?
When you take the heatsink off (which you don't need to do to clean the dust) you break the seal the thermal paste makes between the CPU and heatsink.
You need to disassemble, take out your CPU and heatsink, clean the paste off with 99% alcohol, let it dry, put new paste on and put it all back in. This is not optional. You also NEED to clean it off you cannot just put more on.
What you ended up doing when putting it back on was creating huge air bubbles in the paste that insulate the heat the CPU generates rather than transferring it to the heatsink, which will lead to overheating.
Video help:
Squeeze a grain of rice on the CPU once it's in the mobo, press down on the heatsink and lock/screw the heatsink in place, if it's squeezing out the side you put on too much and need to start over.
You can't really "break" the thermal paste. But you can break the seal. If the computer is relatively new it should be ok. But if the computer is older remove the old thermal paste, and reapply new paste.
Wrong term, oops.
The thing is, I ordered my computer at the local store. I list the parts and they build it. They never told me they applied the paste. My PC is quite new, it's 6 months old.
CCC says it's 60°C now, it's around 44° before when idle. So yeah... Guess I'll have to remove the paste and reapply it. Thanks for the replies.
One more question. What's the best way to remove the paste? I'm reading articles I found on Google now. But I wanna hear how you guys do it.
applying too much thermal paste can cause heat issues, as it will isolate instead of conducting heat.
best would be too reapply it. scrape off the old paste with a drip of 90% or higher ethanol/alcohol. and use one of these: to scrape it off.
then put on a bit of paste the size of a single piece of rice.
If you can't get/find the ethanol/alcohol, I've found that using an eraser works pretty well with removing old thermal paste. Though its probably better to use the ethanol/alcohol.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Intel i7 950 @ 4ghz | Asus Rampage iii Formula | 12Gb Gskill Ripjaw @ 1600Mhz
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
I didn't really build it myself. So I was curious of what's under it. (Even though I know what it is, I still wanna see it myself.)
The thing is, I ordered my computer at the local store. I list the parts and they build it. They never told me they applied the paste. My PC is quite new, it's 6 months old.
The PC would not boot if there was no thermal paste.
The PC would not boot if there was no thermal paste.
I've seen newegg PC building tutorials, and they didn't use thermal paste on the stock fan. Mine is a stock fan as well. Now that i broke the seal, it still boots up. So... I don't get it. Would you please explain why? (Not to sound disrespectful)
I've seen newegg PC building tutorials, and they didn't use thermal paste on the stock fan. Mine is a stock fan as well. Now that i broke the seal, it still boots up. So... I don't get it. Would you please explain why? (Not to sound disrespectful)
The stock fans come with a thin layer of paste pre-applied.
Many times it's not enough (rarely there is none at all due to manufacturing error) so a lot of people prefer to get that off and put on their own.
I turned on my AC and it drops from 60°C to 50-52°C.
I don't think I'll be getting the Alcohol and Thermal Paste until at least Saturday.
FML.
As I said before; I've found that using an eraser is a great alternative for taking old thermal paste off. I've done it on a few PC's before. Takes the old crap right off. You just have to clean the surface up a bit after.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Intel i7 950 @ 4ghz | Asus Rampage iii Formula | 12Gb Gskill Ripjaw @ 1600Mhz
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
I turned on my AC and it drops from 60°C to 50-52°C.
I don't think I'll be getting the Alcohol and Thermal Paste until at least Saturday.
FML.
That's still incredibly hot for idle/web browsing temps.
But as long as you eventually do it.
My web browsing temps for comparison (when idle my cores usually drop into the 20C and lower range) Keep in mind it's balls cold outside (10-20F) and the heat is constantly on to make it 70-80F in this room:
As I said before; I've found that using an eraser is a great alternative for taking old thermal paste off. I've done it on a few PC's before. Takes the old crap right off. You just have to clean the surface up a bit after.
The thing is, after I take it off, what then? I don't have the thermal paste. So I'll probably not going to use the PC for a few days.
That's still incredibly hot for idle/web browsing temps.
But as long as you eventually do it.
My web browsing temps for comparison (when idle my cores usually drop into the 20C and lower range) Keep in mind it's balls cold outside (10-20F) and the heat is constantly on to make it 70-80F in this room:
Now I put everything back together, and it's working fine. I'm wondering if breaking the paste's seal will affect my PC's performance? Like increasing the temperature or something?
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
What do you mean "break" the thermal paste?
When you take the heatsink off (which you don't need to do to clean the dust) you break the seal the thermal paste makes between the CPU and heatsink.
You need to disassemble, take out your CPU and heatsink, clean the paste off with 99% alcohol, let it dry, put new paste on and put it all back in. This is not optional. You also NEED to clean it off you cannot just put more on.
What you ended up doing when putting it back on was creating huge air bubbles in the paste that insulate the heat the CPU generates rather than transferring it to the heatsink, which will lead to overheating.
Video help:
Squeeze a grain of rice on the CPU once it's in the mobo, press down on the heatsink and lock/screw the heatsink in place, if it's squeezing out the side you put on too much and need to start over.
Wrong term, oops.
The thing is, I ordered my computer at the local store. I list the parts and they build it. They never told me they applied the paste. My PC is quite new, it's 6 months old.
CCC says it's 60°C now, it's around 44° before when idle. So yeah... Guess I'll have to remove the paste and reapply it. Thanks for the replies.
One more question. What's the best way to remove the paste? I'm reading articles I found on Google now. But I wanna hear how you guys do it.
I didn't really build it myself. So I was curious of what's under it. (Even though I know what it is, I still wanna see it myself.)
GUYS! I WAS WRITING MY POST WHILE YOU GUYS WERE POSTING! I ONLY NOTICE YOUR POSTS AFTER I POSTED. Kay.
If you can't get/find the ethanol/alcohol, I've found that using an eraser works pretty well with removing old thermal paste. Though its probably better to use the ethanol/alcohol.
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
The PC would not boot if there was no thermal paste.
I've seen newegg PC building tutorials, and they didn't use thermal paste on the stock fan. Mine is a stock fan as well. Now that i broke the seal, it still boots up. So... I don't get it. Would you please explain why? (Not to sound disrespectful)
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
The stock fans come with a thin layer of paste pre-applied.
Many times it's not enough (rarely there is none at all due to manufacturing error) so a lot of people prefer to get that off and put on their own.
I'll remove and reapply the paste ASAP.
Well it obviously depends :tongue.gif:
AFAIK a lot of modern mobos are built with a sort of failsafe that prevents booting without a heatsink, though I could be wrong.
I don't think I'll be getting the Alcohol and Thermal Paste until at least Saturday.
FML.
As I said before; I've found that using an eraser is a great alternative for taking old thermal paste off. I've done it on a few PC's before. Takes the old crap right off. You just have to clean the surface up a bit after.
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
That's still incredibly hot for idle/web browsing temps.
But as long as you eventually do it.
My web browsing temps for comparison (when idle my cores usually drop into the 20C and lower range) Keep in mind it's balls cold outside (10-20F) and the heat is constantly on to make it 70-80F in this room:
The thing is, after I take it off, what then? I don't have the thermal paste. So I'll probably not going to use the PC for a few days.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/215/pctemperature.jpg/
:/
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU
I need the internetz though :sad.gif:
It's not an iPhone. Just a shitty Sony Ericson Aino.
Turning off PC now. Might not be online for a few days.
You don't need to do it now. Do it when you plan on replacing the paste. >_>
2x Ati 5870 in CF | 120Gb Intel SSD | 1.5TB Storage | Noctua NH-D14 CPU cooler | Corsair HX1050W PSU