AMD Athlon 64 3000+

[bob]

I bought a motherboard and AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor yesterday.

I asked about thermal paste, and the guy said all the thermal stuff was
included with the CPU. However, I was reading the CPU manual, and it
says thermal interface material is necessary. I don't know if it's
some kind of tape that's already on there, or if I really do have to
buy something else. Anyone know?

Thanks.

 

[Jed]

I bought a motherboard and AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor yesterday.

I asked about thermal paste, and the guy said all the thermal stuff was
included with the CPU. However, I was reading the CPU manual, and it
says thermal interface material is necessary. I don't know if it's
some kind of tape that's already on there, or if I really do have to
buy something else. Anyone know?

Is this a retail boxed unit? If so, it should have come with a stock
heatsink. If you look at the bottom of the heatsing, you'll see a thin
matte grey rectangle. That is the thermal paste. It will spread
between the heatsink and the cpu when you install the heatsink and
apply pressure by closing the clips that retain it. Most people find
that stock paste sufficient. Others, especially those who overclock,
remove the stock thermal paste with 99 per cent isopropyl alcohol or
some other remover and replace it with Arctic Silver or the like which
gives a slightly better seal and cooling performance.

If your cpu didn't come with a heatsink, you'll need to buy one and
some thermal paste.

 

[Lez Pawl]

I bought a motherboard and AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor yesterday.

I asked about thermal paste, and the guy said all the thermal stuff was
included with the CPU. However, I was reading the CPU manual, and it
says thermal interface material is necessary. I don't know if it's
some kind of tape that's already on there, or if I really do have to
buy something else. Anyone know?

Thanks.

does it have tape on it....

 

[Jan Alter]

does it have tape on it....

If you bought it with a heatsink then there is a thermal tape square on
there that will work perfectly instead of using the thermal paste.
If you bought it without the heatsink then you'll need to either purchase a
thermal tape square or thermal paste.

 

[Noozer]

I bought a motherboard and AMD Athlon 64 3000+ processor yesterday.

I asked about thermal paste, and the guy said all the thermal stuff was
included with the CPU. However, I was reading the CPU manual, and it
says thermal interface material is necessary. I don't know if it's
some kind of tape that's already on there, or if I really do have to
buy something else. Anyone know?

Most likely there is compound on the heatsink. It should be OK, but I
personally don't like that stuff. I usually scrub it off the heatsink with
some alcohol or paint thinner and use a thermal paste.