How does a shim protect the processor

[joey_rjm5]

I realize this might sound dumb, but I am wondering how a shim protects the proc. Does it just provide an easier mounting surface. Does the core crack when the hsf is being put on uneven or what? Can someone explain exactly how a shim works.

[ReTiCuLeX]

Don't put one I fried my processor puting a nonconductive blue anadoized shim.The heatsink wasn't making good contact with the cpu core cause of the shim. The shim was in perfect condition no bents no nuttin flat as heck.So it fried my 1.2 Instead of proctecting my core from geting cracked when puting on my heatsink, it fryed my cpu instead lol.

[StarThresh]

Well, I wouldnt say outright DONT use them, but I would be extremelt cautios. In the end, I think, the shim a) forces the heatsink to fit for flatly on the cpu, if it is mounted incorrectly, and b) MAY help transmit heat from the ceramic packaging of the cpu to the heatsink. Dunno if this helps, but I gave it ma best :).