Is thermal grease still important?

[PSiegmann]

Hi again.

Maybe it's a dumb question, but.. is it still neded to use thermal
grease with the new processors? (core 2)

The last time I built a pc (athlon xp) it was absolutely needed, now I
bought a core 2 duo 6420 (boxed), there is a small instruction manual
included, but they don't mention thermal grease..

Maybe I missed some new trend here... is thermal grease useless now?

 

[PSiegmann]

Just noticed.. on the heat sink of the cooler is thermal compound
already pre-applied.. So, I guess I don't need thermal grease.

 

[Gerard Bok]

Maybe it's a dumb question, but.. is it still neded to use thermal
grease with the new processors? (core 2)

Yes. Vital. Grease, thermal pad, whatever.
Just remember: 'cold' == 'too hot'

The last time I built a pc (athlon xp) it was absolutely needed, now I
bought a core 2 duo 6420 (boxed), there is a small instruction manual
included, but they don't mention thermal grease..

It probably mentions 'qualified personnel only'

Maybe I missed some new trend here... is thermal grease useless now?

No. It's the CPU that (quickly) becomes useless if you fail to
apply thermal compound

 

[GT]

Yes. Vital. Grease, thermal pad, whatever.
Just remember: 'cold' == 'too hot'

Yes you need thermal 'stuff', but what do you mean by cold == hot mean,
Gerard?

 

[Gerard Bok]

Yes you need thermal 'stuff', but what do you mean by cold == hot mean,
Gerard?

Cold mounting yields a hot CPU

 

[GT]

Cold mounting yields a hot CPU

So 'cold' as in clean and no paste? I see!

 

[DaveW]

Thermal grease is MANDATORY on ALL CPU's to prevent frying it.

 

[Trimble Bracegirdle]

In manufactured units Thermal grease has mostly been succeeded by thermal
pads..
Pieces of sticky thick tape like stuff.
Easier to manufacture & supply ...don't think its any different in use .
Clean the surface its being connecting to.
Mouse
@@@@

 

[kony]

In manufactured units Thermal grease has mostly been succeeded by thermal
pads..
Pieces of sticky thick tape like stuff.
Easier to manufacture & supply ...don't think its any different in use .
Clean the surface its being connecting to.
Mouse
@@@@

There is one significant difference in use, that if you ever
want to remove the heatsink, it may not release off the CPU
after it has melted, unless it's reheated. It's also more
of a chore to clean off, typically easiest is to use
petroleum based solvents.

For this reason alone I typically get rid of the original
thermal interface material before ever using it, and in
"some" cases the thermal transfer efficiency of (a good)
grease is better. It's also possible to achieve a thinner
layer of grease than with the thermal pad which even further
increases it's thermal transfer efficiency.

 

[ProfGene]

Hi again.

Maybe it's a dumb question, but.. is it still neded to use thermal
grease with the new processors? (core 2)

The last time I built a pc (athlon xp) it was absolutely needed, now I
bought a core 2 duo 6420 (boxed), there is a small instruction manual
included, but they don't mention thermal grease..

Maybe I missed some new trend here... is thermal grease useless now?

With the newer processors they already have the thermal grease on the
processor. You might have to peal something off but it should be there.
The dual core computers also run much cooler than the Pentium 4 ones so
the chance of problems with overheating are lessened.