What the heck is a copper shim?

[dborden]

I bought a copper shim to come with my SK6. What the heck is this thing? Does it help? Looks like it fits between the processor and the HS. Isn't that what those 4 little pads are for?

[TranceBear]

Most people on here would say never use a copper shim. I am one of those people. It is used to install the heatsink with little worry on crushing the die. It rarely works that way and you risk not installing it right. If you think you cannot instal your heatsink correctly, take it to a friend and have them do it. If you feel nervous when you do it, your hands are shaking and this is when accidents happen. Good Luck!!

[dborden]

So it does NOT help with cooling? I don't need help installing a HS/F. I've done it 10000000 times. I thought it might help with cooling though. Is this not the case?

[TranceBear]

nope, not at all.

[Phil]

I don't know what the clip on the sk6 is like but I know I would never have used a FOP without a shim.
It can hamper cooling by a few oC but unless you are willing to take the risk of cracking the core I would still recomend most people use them. There are none conductive ones available that won't short the birdges if the accidentally come into contact with them. Of course if the sk6's clip is very gentle you'll probabally be ok, I know I wouldn't bother with a shim on the glaciator as that clip is so easy to use.

[Rottys-R-Us]

Plus you SK-6 is all Copper anyway.

Now if it was a "100% Silver" shim it might be a little different,to help transfer the heat.

I am happy with my SK-6.

You may want to lap it though, mine was not truely flat.

[dborden]

What is lapping??????

[i12bina3]

i dont understand why they make the clips so hard from times to time ... what does it matter if its a bit harder ... it wont come lose and it wont cool it down more
or am i totally wrong?

[dborden]

I saidddddddddddddd.. WHAT IS LAPPING! :)

[Phil]

I don't know if a harder clip would improve cooling or not, it depends on how well you apply the thermal compound.
I've never heard of a shim helping with cooling.

As for lapping, this is sanding down a surface until it's flat(ter)
I'll have a look for a guide but basically what you do is get several sheets of sand paper, starting from a low grit such as 300 and lay the paper on a flat surface and then rub the base of the heatsink on it until it is all level, then move up in grades getting rid of the scratches from the previous grades, most people stop at about 1000-1200 grit but some go up to 2000 and use brasso to get a mirror finish, I'm not sure if this actually makes a differance or if it's just because it looks good

[chawken]

The copper shim that you got - put it away. The shims actually increase the temps. With the SK-6, all you have to do is be careful with putting it on. Yes, the clips are a little tight, but not that bad. I have put the SK-6 on several rigs, and never felt as though the core would crack. The only HSF's that I have used, that I thought would crack a core, were ThermalTake Orbs (worthless pieces of crap).

[minoukat]

Originally posted by chawken
The copper shim that you got - put it away. The shims actually increase the temps. With the SK-6, all you have to do is be careful with putting it on. Yes, the clips are a little tight, but not that bad. I have put the SK-6 on several rigs, and never felt as though the core would crack. The only HSF's that I have used, that I thought would crack a core, were ThermalTake Orbs (worthless pieces of crap).

How do you know when a core is about to crack ?

[TranceBear]

When you hear a little crunch and you say some choice words. There is no way to predict if you will crack a core, just be careful when you are working with the CPU. I made it a point to first buy the easiest heatsink to install the very 1st time I O/C. The Vantec. I has since tried the Swifty, then the Glaciator, then back to the Swifty. All very easy to install.

[Phil]

One thing I found out recentally after modding my FOP is that an 80mm fan fits it is that intel chips can also be damaged, though they are a lot tougher. The corner of my celeron has ben crunched off, it's only a very small peice and it still works fine but I will be more careful in future.

[i12bina3]

ok dborden i dont know where you're from but as ive read you arent interested in that copper shim thing ... you know what ill pay for it ... i really need one ... just email me or pm me and we can work something out, im willing to pay some bucks for it

[Mystikal]

I have the SK6 PRO, you will not need that T-Bird or "cooper shim". That if only need for those heat sinks that do not rest on the CPU properly, Its just for heatsink stability.

[i12bina3]

ok jeremy are you willing to sell your copper shim to me
thx

[Phil]

Originally posted by Mystikal
I have the SK6 PRO, you will not need that T-Bird or "cooper shim". That if only need for those heat sinks that do not rest on the CPU properly, Its just for heatsink stability.

I wouldn't say they are for heatsinks that don't rest properly as a heatsink would have to be very badly made not to rest on the cpu properly. It's to protect the fragile amd core. If you are very careful when installing the heatsink then chances are it won't break, but if you have a very tough clip and are working in a tight space it only takes a small mis judgement and crack goes the core, the shim prevents this as it stops the heatsink rocking and putting un-even pressure on an edge of the chip. They do worsen performance but if your using a heatsink with a touch clip then I would really recomend it.

well i just took off my copper shim to see if i would run any cooler and i am ,8 degrees cooler

8oC or 8oF?
If it's 8oC then thats quite a bit much more than the usual 2-3oC I've seen most people report. If it's 8oF than thats not all than much really.

[i12bina3]

how can it get hotter with a copper shim? i just cant understand that ... just think about it that aint logic
copper doesnt get things hotter just vise versa ...

[Phil]

the shim isn't there for heat transfer purposes, it dosn't contact the core so won't be absorbing heat from it.

[!-=sky=-!]

well....from my experience shims do their job but it will raise cpu temps a few C...................as long as you don't use your hand+force to push the clip down on the heatsink you should be fine, i use screw drivers and now it's all fine.......

the only times i chip cores is when i use force to push the clip down

[Phil]

I still don't understand why they make clips so stiff, it only makes them easier to snap and as for performance, the glaciators is really gentle and that has a c/w of around 0.12-0.18

[wild_andy_c]

That Glaciator of mine is sure sweet !!!

[Phil]

you lapped your didn't you? did it perform much better after being lapped or did you not test the differance?

[wild_andy_c]

Originally posted by Phil
you lapped your didn't you? did it perform much better after being lapped or did you not test the differance?

I sent it into a guy a know at an engineers and he turned it into a mirror with a perfectly flat wet stone polish - excellent !!!!

Performance isn't great, but it sure is some beast - certainly quieter than the Silver Mountain it replaced (that is the best cooler I ever did see)

[Tomas]

How much noise does the glaciator make??

I got a fop38 which is so da*n load"46,5dba" which is a bit too much when having it running 24/7.

And does anyone know where i can get the glaciator?? Im in norway so gotta be a place that ships to there..

[Phil]

the glaciator is very quiet, I don't know if you have ever ran the delta fan at 7v but it's about that volume maybe quieter.
I know overclock.co.uk (http://www.overclock.co.uk/) stock them and I think they ship to norway

[Tomas]

Originally posted by Phil
the glaciator is very quiet, I don't know if you have ever ran the delta fan at 7v but it's about that volume maybe quieter.
I know overclock.co.uk (http://www.overclock.co.uk/) stock them and I think they ship to norway

Can i give me an more exact link?? Couldnt seem to find the glaciator on that page

[Phil]

Here (http://www.overclock.co.uk/formproducts.php?offset=5&producttype=Coolers#MTS)

[Tomas]

Originally posted by Phil
Here (http://www.overclock.co.uk/formproducts.php?offset=5&producttype=Coolers#MTS)

Thx alot:)