Thermal Compound, how much of a difference does it make?!

So, recently I have had to take my PC into a computer shop for some assistance as I was stuck on a failing to boot problem for a while ( Turns out a replaced a faulty PSU with another, brand new faulty one). Also, when getting a new PSU, I also upgraded my case to the NZXT Lexia S, which has 5 120mm case fans.

When I collected the PC, they had left the CPU cooler off, so naturally I thought best to re-apply the thermal paste, as I had none left I asked the shop for some and kindly free of charge they gave me some. It was the bog standard 'Cooler paste' with a conductivity off >1.93 W/m-k, when I used to have some Arctic Silver stuff ( Can't remember what type).

Now, my problem is my CPU AMD 64x2 6000+ idles at around 50-51C and full load around 63-65c!!
Surely with my new case it should be running cooler? (Not sure exact temperatures)
So I'm asking, is it the thermal paste that is causing so much difference!?

Thanks for your time!

i'd try resetting the heatsink or check the heatsink and make sure it's on right .
if it's pushpins make sure you have them locked down.

scrooge

65C is still inside the allowed temps, IIRC.
I'd say it's most important that #1 thermal compound has been used and #2 that it has been applied correctly. True..there is a difference in effectiveness between low cost/standard grade and the better brands like arctic silver. But by no means it would make a 10 degree difference...5-6 degrees at best. What I'm trying to say is: if you look to lower the temps dramatically, it's not the compound brand I would worry about.
Make sure the heat sink is seated correctly and the air flow is not obstructed by cables, extension cards etc. If that all doesn't get you where you'd like to be, maybe consider replacing the stock cooler with a more efficient system.

-DG

kerfuffler said:

So, recently I have had to take my PC into a computer shop for some assistance as I was stuck on a failing to boot problem for a while ( Turns out a replaced a faulty PSU with another, brand new faulty one). Also, when getting a new PSU, I also upgraded my case to the NZXT Lexia S, which has 5 120mm case fans.

When I collected the PC, they had left the CPU cooler off, so naturally I thought best to re-apply the thermal paste, as I had none left I asked the shop for some and kindly free of charge they gave me some. It was the bog standard 'Cooler paste' with a conductivity off >1.93 W/m-k, when I used to have some Arctic Silver stuff ( Can't remember what type).

Now, my problem is my CPU AMD 64x2 6000+ idles at around 50-51C and full load around 63-65c!!
Surely with my new case it should be running cooler? (Not sure exact temperatures)
So I'm asking, is it the thermal paste that is causing so much difference!?

Thanks for your time!

Yup, very high on both ends.

I'd recommend re-applying the thermal paste, and making sure the CPU cooler is properly mounted.

ickymay said:

i use the same cpu and I found the heatsink and fan I use is important then installing it properly with a thin layer of heatsink paste gave me best results

using an Arctic Cooling Freezer 64 Pro I achieve steady temps of 38 deg C at idle and never any higher than 50 deg C under full load

the contact between the polished surface of the CPU and the polished base of the heatsink is critical for effective cooling and the heatsink paste is used to fill in the imperfections in these contact surfaces, so you can imagine only a very thin smear should be necessary

In the earlier days of computing when overclocking I used to flatten out and polish the CPU and heatsink surfaces to maximize metal to metal contact and this always worked better than a thicker layer of heatsink paste, but with todays CPU's and good quality heatsinks this is no longer neccesary :)

Thanks for the advice, cooler sounds good! I think I'l try it out, looks better than my current CPU cooler.

Also, I've noticed it comes with cooling paste pre applied, so I would only apply to the CPU myself?