copper shims

[antfer]

okay putting new system together, should I use a copper shim or not ?

[phantom punisher]

this is a confusing issue. when i first heard about them every one said to get them and it would reduce temps by a few degrees. now that the there not new im reading from decent sources that there just usefull in making sure your heatsink sits flat on your chip. one artical even refered to them as training wheels for you water block. as for me im not going to bother, but ive never tryed them either.

[Tim-]

The most consistent results seem to be that if you are using air cooling- no. If you are using water or a pelt, yes. In many cases the temps are worse with air cooling when using shims.

[batboy]

I ordered a copper shim at the same time I ordered my GW FOP cooler. While waiting for my order, I read an article that they dropped temps on the non-flip chip CPUs, but raised temps on the FC-PGA CPUs. In all cases, it did assist in stabilizing the heatsink.

I got my order and not wanting to waste money, plus I wasn't totally convinced from only one article, I installed the shim and measured temps. I removed the shim and got a couple degrees drop in temps. Hmmmm. I lapped the shim real good and tried again, same results. I covered both sides of the shim with Arctic Silver and tried once more, again same results.

Well, it was a waste of money buying it for my flip chip CPU after all. I tossed it into my junk drawer and it's never to be seen since. Live and learn.

[LutaWicasa]

Yeppers, the Bat's right. I got one tha I'm thinkin' of usin' as a tiny picture frame :)

[antfer]

thanks for the help guys. I not going to use it.

[Lancelot]

A shim will also trap a pocket of hot air around the CPU-die. There's also a topic about shims in the cooling section...