***Warning: Questions within this post maybe of a novice nature!*** I'm currently in the progress of upgrading my current PC's components and its now time for the CPU's cooling. I was wondering whether the i7 920 used a thermal pad or paste for the stock cooler as I'm curious to know before working out what to purchase (not enough to pop it off my motherboard to take a peek without the new cooler ready to go on!)? (I purchased a motherboard & CPU bundle so it all came pre-installed and my google skills are lacking ). If a pad is used, does that mean I'd just be able to go straigth into installing the new cooler without worrying about removing and cleaning the CPU? I figured since so many people here swap out for watercooling or the much better 3rd party air coolers it would be a good place to get some simple answers! Many thanks
It is recommended under any circumstance to change the thermal paste when changing a cooler. I can recommend Arctic Silver 5. It is quite good. Edit, you will most likely need to clean the CPU. When doing this, remove your socks. Make sure you are standing somewhere without a carpet, and touch something conductive like a radiator before touching any of the vital PC parts. The just use some 93 or 95% alcohol for cleaning.
Yeah Arctic silver 5 one of the best, You can buy the cleaning fluid pretty cheap, if you are useing the intel cooler I would recommend you get a better cooler the intel one's are not very good
Same recommendation here, look at the bit-tech buyers guide, and get a recent CPU cooler. You will be able to overclock your 920 like crazy on a good air cooler.
Thanks for the responses thus far. I've already picked out a cooler (unsurprisingly, the Titan Fenrir) but i'm curious as to the TIM of the stock cooler, as in is it a pad or paste really. I hope to give my i7 920 a good little overclock with the cooler once i've built up the courage as i have a habit of tweaking too much!
the supplied TIM with the fenrir isnt that great - i went to MX-3 and lowered temps by 3-4 degrees: http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/heatsinkacc/ac-mx3-4g http://www.quietpc.com/gb-en-gbp/products/heatsinkacc/acl60
I concur. thoroughly clean HSF and/or CPU Heatspeader with Isopropyl Alcohol or similar to remove any TIM residue, re-apply AS5 or MX-3 compound, nominal difference in performance between the two IMO.
Be sure you read up on the right way to apply the TIM you dont need much I prefer to put a small pea sized bit in the middle of the cpu and to twist the cooler to the right then to the left and then straighten then fully tighten the cooler people tend to use too much TIM
