Installing a XP120 on an AMD 64

feylya · 23-01-2005 9:58pm #1

I was looking at the instructions for installing the XP120 heatsink on an AMD 64 (here) and they say cover both the cpu and heatsink with thermal paste. Do those instructions make sense to anyone? Surely covering both components would slightly decrease the effectiveness of the cooler?

padraigf · 26-01-2005 6:25pm

You only need to cover them with an incredibly thin layer. I just covered my CPU though, and it was enough. XP-90 and 120 are so smooth you dont need a whole lot.

fiacha · 26-01-2005 7:01pm

depends on the paste i believe. Arctic Silver 5 only needs a tiny bit in the centre of the heat spreader. I had originally used too much and after re-doing my idle temps dropped 8 degrees.

follow the instructions that came with it and you should be ok. use a credit card to get a thin layer on the cpu.

feylya · 27-01-2005 7:51pm

Ends up I couldn't use the XP120. Needs a backplate to fit Gigabyte boards (should have read up on that) plus the DPS on the Gigabyte nForce 4 Ultra board would be in the way. Thinking about picking up a different cooler.

.ak · 28-01-2005 12:32am

Go for it's smaller brother, the xp90, or the SLK98

neokenzo · 28-01-2005 12:40am

XP90 should do better. Dont think it has compatibality issues like XP-120 has.

airetam_storm · 01-02-2005 7:53pm

Is there much temp difference between XP90 and XP120?

neokenzo · 01-02-2005 8:02pm

Only 2-3C difference afaik.

SpooN_9k · 01-02-2005 8:56pm

neokenzo wrote:

Only 2-3C difference afaik.

just wondering is that running at stock or overclocked and under load or idle?

kinkstr · 02-02-2005 3:00pm

Do you need different paste for an AMD chip than what you would use on a pentium?

SpooN_9k · 02-02-2005 5:08pm

nope

"Arctic Silver 5" is one of the best out there if your looking for some

kinkstr · 02-02-2005 5:10pm

Thanx SpooN

quarryman · 02-02-2005 5:34pm

i've wondered about this "tiny dab of paste" advice. Does ensuring that the complete surface area of the chip (and HS) not increase heat conductivity?

surely a smaller amount will only connect the surfaces less. hope this makes sense.

neokenzo · 02-02-2005 6:14pm

I just put a tiny bit of AS5 in the middle of the HS. I didnt even bother to spread it all over the cpu. Temps are great. 28-32C on idle

SpooN_9k · 02-02-2005 6:37pm

i always put as thin layer as posible on but at the same time ensuring i have the whole surface covered

neokenzo · 02-02-2005 6:42pm

I actually removed my heat sink and saw that even with the way I applied it, it spread all over the cpu by itself.

Installing a XP120 on an AMD 64

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