replacing stock AMD phase-change material

[Matt]

My new Barton Athlon XP 2500+ came with a heatsink with a pad of
phase-change material on it. I need to replace the the material, so I
plan to use Arctic Silver 3.

The pad of material is maybe a half millimeter thick. If I use a 0.005"
thin layer of AS3, will the difference in thickness cause any problem?
Will the HS still fit snugly enough?

Also AMD seems adamant about using this precious phase-change material,
which hardly seems to be available. They say to consult their website,
but I haven't found anything useful there.

 

[Stacey]

My new Barton Athlon XP 2500+ came with a heatsink with a pad of
phase-change material on it. I need to replace the the material, so I
plan to use Arctic Silver 3.

The pad of material is maybe a half millimeter thick. If I use a 0.005"
thin layer of AS3, will the difference in thickness cause any problem?

Nope applied right the chip will run cooler as well.

Will the HS still fit snugly enough?
Yep.


Also AMD seems adamant about using this precious phase-change material,
which hardly seems to be available.

And yet on other chips they suggest using thermal paste.. I wouldn't sweat
it and use the AS3.