Intel P4 Boxed - New Thermal Pad Color Change?

[bucko]

Anyone notice that the Intel factory thermal pad on the new Retail Boxed P4-3.0C is
silver/gray colored compared to that found on the Retail Boxed P4-2.4C SL6Z3, which is
black.

I wonder if they changed thermal pad material composition on the faster P4s?

 

[kony]

Anyone notice that the Intel factory thermal pad on the new Retail Boxed P4-3.0C is
silver/gray colored compared to that found on the Retail Boxed P4-2.4C SL6Z3, which is
black.

I wonder if they changed thermal pad material composition on the faster P4s?

You're putting too much thought into this, it's just a pre-applied
thermal transfer material, is applied by heatsink manufacturer, not
Intel.

If you want best temps use a decent heatsink compound and lap the base
of the heatsink if needed. In can also help to lap the CPU
heat-spreader, a little bit or even a LOT till the middle is flush
with the edges, but that would void your warranty and it's a matter of
how much work you feel like doing for just a few degrees cooler CPU.


Dave

 

[@drian]

You're putting too much thought into this, it's just a pre-applied
thermal transfer material, is applied by heatsink manufacturer, not
Intel.

If you want best temps use a decent heatsink compound and lap the base
of the heatsink if needed. In can also help to lap the CPU
heat-spreader, a little bit or even a LOT till the middle is flush
with the edges, but that would void your warranty and it's a matter of
how much work you feel like doing for just a few degrees cooler CPU.

Can you buy the Thermal pad's seperately, the Intel version that is? As I'm
looking at another motherboard, I assume the one on my P4 won't work again
when used on another M/B.

@drian.

 

[kony]

Can you buy the Thermal pad's seperately, the Intel version that is? As I'm
looking at another motherboard, I assume the one on my P4 won't work again
when used on another M/B.

@drian.

The best thermal pad they used is machine applied, not some "sticker"
to peel off and stick on a heatsink. You want to buy the machine?

There is no reason to want one, it's only the cheapest way to do an
interface in mass production environment, not an optimal interface.

Buy some decent heatsink compound, though on a CPU with a
heat-spreader it makes little difference which you choose, maybe a
degree or two, a $1 compound should be fine unless it's too thick.


Dave

 

[~misfit~]

Can you buy the Thermal pad's seperately, the Intel version that is?
As I'm looking at another motherboard, I assume the one on my P4
won't work again when used on another M/B.

Not that I know of. I think you'll have to use thermal paste.

 

[@drian]

The best thermal pad they used is machine applied, not some "sticker"
to peel off and stick on a heatsink. You want to buy the machine?

Alright, how much?

Buy some decent heatsink compound, though on a CPU with a
heat-spreader it makes little difference which you choose, maybe a
degree or two, a $1 compound should be fine unless it's too thick.

I'll try some of that Artic Silver compound.

@drian.

 

[gandolf_one]

Anyone notice that the Intel factory thermal pad on the new Retail Boxed P4-3.0C is
silver/gray colored compared to that found on the Retail Boxed P4-2.4C SL6Z3, which is
black.

I wonder if they changed thermal pad material composition on the faster P4s?

my 2.8c had a silver/grey

 

[@drian]

The best thermal pad they used is machine applied, not some "sticker"
to peel off and stick on a heatsink. You want to buy the machine?

On a serious note, Dave, I called Intel and they are sending a tube of their
thermal grease. Apparently I'm to use all of it. As I remember, there's a
lot in that tube. That advice doesn't sound correct to me, but anyway...

@drian.

 

[kony]

On a serious note, Dave, I called Intel and they are sending a tube of their
thermal grease. Apparently I'm to use all of it. As I remember, there's a
lot in that tube. That advice doesn't sound correct to me, but anyway...

@drian.

That's nice of them.
Unless the tube is incredibly small, you're right, only a paper-thin
layer should be used.


Dave

 

[Nicolas The Great]

Anyone notice that the Intel factory thermal pad on the new Retail Boxed P4-3.0C is
silver/gray colored compared to that found on the Retail Boxed P4-2.4C SL6Z3, which is
black.

I wonder if they changed thermal pad material composition on the faster P4s?

I would use THAT PAD. Don't waste your time with paste. I got that straigth
from the horses mouth(S). Why would that put that pad there? so it'll ruin
your CPU? No, it's there because IT WORKS. Use it and don't worry.

Nick

 

[jeffc]

"bucko" <[email protected]> wrote in message P4s?

I would use THAT PAD. Don't waste your time with paste. I got that straigth
from the horses mouth(S). Why would that put that pad there? so it'll ruin
your CPU? No, it's there because IT WORKS. Use it and don't worry.

A lot of things WORK - barely. Power supplies that put out 200 watts on a
good day, CD drives that break after 9 mohths, and my favorite - bad
capacitors on the motherboard that burst after 2 years. THAT PAD is there
because it's cheap and fast and easy to install on the production line. It
works, but not as well as other methods. Whether or not the difference
matters depends on the specific application.

 

[hu man]

That couldn't have been said better.

Boxed
P4-3.0C is faster

A lot of things WORK - barely. Power supplies that put out 200 watts on a
good day, CD drives that break after 9 mohths, and my favorite - bad
capacitors on the motherboard that burst after 2 years. THAT PAD is there
because it's cheap and fast and easy to install on the production line. It
works, but not as well as other methods. Whether or not the difference
matters depends on the specific application.