Thermal Pad vs. grease and who sells pads?

[mikesw]

Articles from AMD suggest thermal grease for lidded processors and pads for non-lidded.

Is this the same for Intel?

At what maximum temperature should one use pads vs. grease? if it is greater than 115watts use pads

and below that to use grease or vice versa?

Who sells thermalpads and what is the typical cost? AMD says the pads are based on phase change material.

I came across this site but they want $26.39 for just one pad...

http://parts.digikey.com/1/parts/988651-th...-1500-4-x4.html

or,

http://www.intermark-usa.com/products/Thermal/index.shtml

http://www.intermark-usa.com/products/Ther...0-%20123008.pdf

Hmm, a 4 piece demo kit from intermark is $230. I don't think so. I wonder how Dell and the computer manufacturer can use

thermal pads when the stuff is so expensive?

Edited January 27, 2009 by mikesw

[RJM]

The Digikey pad you have listed is 4" X 4" and 1/4" thick, I think you might want somthing more like this.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/shpc.html

I myself have always prefered thermal paste. It seems to me that some of the pads deform with time and heat cycles and the heat sinks

loosen up.

Although, the pad at the link is most likely thin enough not to have this problem.

Edited January 27, 2009 by RJM

[mikesw]

The Digikey pad you have listed is 4" X 4" and 1/4" thick, I think you might want somthing more like this.

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/shpc.html

I myself have always prefered thermal paste. It seems to me that some of the pads deform with time and heat cycles and the heat sinks

loosen up.

Although, the pad at the link is most likely thin enough not to have this problem.

Thanks. They said it was AMD approved. Does anybody approve it for intel processors which can run hotter?

There wattage is 3.8 C W/m**2 and starts softening at 48 C.

Does anybody make a higher W/M**2 and is 48C a typical number?

[Zenskas]

Thanks. They said it was AMD approved. Does anybody approve it for intel processors which can run hotter?

There wattage is 3.8 C W/m**2 and starts softening at 48 C.

Does anybody make a higher W/M**2 and is 48C a typical number?

It starts softening at 48C. That does not mean it cannot handle a CPU that runs over 48C. It just means it gets into the tiny little cracks in the heatsink when the temperature gets to 48C. That is a good thing because then it should transfer heat even better.

I however recommend thermal grease. I use arctic silver 5 on my 9600gt and my core 2 duo e7300. Lowers temps by a couple of degrees compared to the thermal grease that came on them stock.

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm has never let me down. its cheap too

[mikesw]

http://www.arcticsilver.com/as5.htm has never let me down. its cheap too

From newegg they mention this.

Components you attach with Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive will stay attached forever.

So, this means if I replace the processor in the future, that I can't since it creates a permanent bond,

or can I still do the twist and remove to break the bond?

[PC_LOAD_LETTER]

Components you attach with Arctic Silver Thermal Adhesive will stay attached forever.

ive never used the thermal Adhesive (though ive heard of people using it on GPUs where the fan assembly hangs from the card) but the thermal compound does form a pretty tight bond but nothing a slight 1-2 degree twist wont break

[Gradius2]

A nice review here:

http://www.overclock3d.net/reviews.php?typ...aste_comparison

Coollaboratory sells Liquid MetalPad now:

http://www.coollaboratory.com/en/product_metalpad.shtml