Arctic Silver Necessary?

[EmTSea19]

If I am not going to Overclock anytime soon, do I still need to put Arctic Silver on my CPU?

[breez]

If no OC then it's not necessary.

[jazztrumpet216]

It is really best if you have some thermal conductivity somehow between the CPU and the HSF. But no, it is not critical, just highly recommended.

[EmTSea19]

Okay, two posts, two different opinions, *lol*. I guess if it helps, I'll use it.

[TC]

You don't have to use Arctic Silver, but you MUST use some kind of thermal compound!!

[IronPlasma]

Well I think they were both saying the same thing. Arctic Silver is really not neccessary if you're not trying to squeeze out every last degree. But SOME sort of thermal compound between the CPU and HS is recommended. Even if it's just a thermal pad that came with the stock HS. Something is a lot better than nothing at all.

-IronPlasma

Edit: TC beat me to it. ;)

[EmTSea19]

Okay, I get it. It doesn't have to be Arctic Silver, but I have to use something.

I'll go with the arctic silver then, because it helps. It's better to go with the thing that helps than the thing that's just there because it's better than nothing.

[TC]

Joe reviewed a bunch of the fancy thermal compounds recently. He couldn't find enough difference between the brands to justify the price premium of Arctic Silver over say Arctic Alumina. Any of the higher grade compounds will work well.