Processor
Help Pages
6.
I am installing a new processor in my system, what sort of
heatsink and fan do I need and what about thermal compound?
Cooling is an important issue with
almost all processors. All pentium class processors and above
require cooling (as did the faster 486 series processors).
The latest processors (Intel flip chip processors (pentium
III etc) along with AMD Athlon and Duron also need thermal
compound in addition to ensure adequate cooling.
Always buy a heatsink and fan
that says on the box it is suitable for your processor. If
in doubt get another one.
Most of the newer heatsink/fan
combinations come with thermal compound already applied to
the bottom and covered with plastic. It is important that
this plastic is removed before you install the heatsink. Secondly
this pre-applied compound is designed for use once and once
only. If you remove the heatsink for any reason then you should
clean the compound off the processor and the bottom of the
heatsink and then apply some new compound which you can buy
separately in a tube.
Bear in mind that the faster
the processor the more heat it will emit and the more important
adequate cooling is to stop it overheating.
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