Silicone heat sink paste!

[bboysatch1]

I recently put some Silicone heat sink paste on my P4 2.0ghz cpu. i put a very thin film on the back of the cpu, where there is a square metal piece. My mainboard is MSI and i read about installing mainboards, it said "it is recommened that you apply some heat sink paste here." i of course got some and appyled it, but when i went to the computer store, the technition didn't recommend me putting heat sink paste on the cpu!!! He said "u already have a heat sink and do not need heat sink paste." WHos right, MSI!!! or the computer guy???
Also, when i put heat sink paste on the cpu, will there be a difference in performence right away? and is it ok if i want to look at the cpu with the heat sink paste on it?or will it wreck the "Heat distrobution!" process, and like maybe have to reapply it or something?

[curtybob]

normally, intel puts a little square of black greasy stuff on the bottom of their heatsink/fans. it is only good for 1 squeeze, just like any good tube of gook should have on the label. If the square was there, you will need to peel it off (it will have a foil backing that needs to come off), and clean the heatsink with acetone or alcohol. then apply some thermal goop, but i like to put it on the heatsink itself, not on the chip. (that will probably cause replies to the contrary!)
there are a couple of good reasons to reapply the goop, but the main one is that it can get a little thicker over time, and if you reuse it, it can cause air bubbles in between the chip and heatsink, and air does not conduct heat. so if you take the heatsink off, reapply the goop. Unless you are overclocking or having heat trouble, you probably won't get any performance increase, but your computer will continue to function as opposed to burning up.

[bboysatch1]

ok, i already put some heat sink paste on my cpu, will this cause any problem at all? because i think there was that black stuff at the bottom of the heat sink. my computer runs fine!and if i do have to take it off, how will this paste come off, its really sticky and how will i take it off the cpu? im scared it will break!!

[curtybob]

aside from the slight chance that there is a chemical incompatibility between the two, everything should work fine. If you want to take it off, then take your time cleaning it off with stuff around the house. cottonballs or q-tips are good. when you go to get it off the heatsink, you don't have to be very careful. just don't gouge the surface where the processor will touch it.

[ESALADUANE]

I thought you guys might be interested in this site.

http://biorobots.cwru.edu/server/how...comp/mountcpu/